Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My ball was my first snake (now the initiator of my obsession) and I bought her the summer after my sophomore year in college (summer 2000).

Since the first day I owned her she was a pretty picky eater. She rarely accepted f/t and if I "read" her correctly and could tell "it was time" I could get her to eat a live mouse (now rats) every few months. Back in the winter of 2001 she went on a 6.5 month fast and refused f/t, live, everything. Scared the crap out of me but she lived and made it through unscathed...

NOW, my question:

Just recently she has totally changed her eating habits. I have not changed anything but reduced her light cycle significantly in the past few months. A snake that barely accepted live rats once every few months if I was lucky now is snappy and eating any f/t thing I place near her. In my four years of owning her I have NEVER, EVER seen her this ravenously "hungry" for food. She has downed three rat's in the past three or so weeks. I just went to spray her down tonight and she opened her mouth as to anticipate food and I accidently sprayed her mouth.

Has anyone seen this drastic behavior change in balls before?

Thanks

Are you sure it's a "she" and is she close to breeding weight?

I've seen marginal girls pick up going into the breeding season. It's like something clicks and they decide they need to get it in gear to make the breeding season. One of my pickiest ones started eating like crazy this spring so I left her with the male and sure enough she passed her better feeding sister up in weight and laid 7 eggs in September.

Incidentally, only 5 of those 7 eggs where fertile but the first piped last night. She is a 25% chance het albino breed to a now proven het albino male (purchased as a 66% chance). The first one isn't albino but hopefully one of the other 4 will pip with a yellow head in the next few days.

I agree with Randy 100%. I had two girls who were both about 2000 grams who ate about once a month all last summer. As soon as I put a male in with them in October, they will not quit eating. They are both pushing 2500 grams now, and I think they "know" they need this weight to drop some eggs. Pretty cool.
Jason
Circle City Serpents

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