Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I think my ball python is going to starve himself to death. he used to eat rats but he has refused them for a while then he started to accept mice but also refused to eat them. I am concerned because he has lost so much weight. he has been on a normal fasting period before but eventually began to eat again. Is there anything I can do?

It is normal for balls to fast for months at a time during this time of year, they do lose weight but not drastic amounts....How much has he lost?...If he has refused food and is loosing considerable amount of weight you might want to get a stool sample tested for parasites (ex. he may have tape, round worms, etc.).

I have never weighed him but he has gotten really skinny kinda like a hatchling but maybe a little bigger. luckly I got him to grab a dead mouse and he ate it, and as he was finishing the first one i stuck another mouse in my ball pythons mouth so he kept swallowing. These mice were big females so I hope he will start eating on his own after a descent size meal. thanks for your help