Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had my ball for a little over a year now. he has always been a good eater and very healthy. Around the end of January he stopped eating though. i know its common for balls to go off feed for the winter so i wasnt that worried. But now its may and he still isnt eating. He did take one medium rat in mid March but thats it. He isnt losing any weight and is still very active just like always. My setup is fine and i can think of nothing im doing wrong. I use a boaphile plastics tank, warm side 92, cool side 80 during the day. I dont drop the temperatures at night. There are plenty of hides and clean water is always available. I keep him on newspaper and humidity is 50%. Is it common for a ball to still be off feed this late? He had a perfect shed three weeks ago if that means anything. I use tongs to dangle the frozen thawed rat but my snake just doesnt seem interested at all in eating. I have been trying to feed him about every 2.5 to 3 weeks so he doesnt get stressed with a rat in there all the time. I left a frozen thawed rat in the tank with him last night but still no luck. I am worried that the problem may be something more serious than just being off feed. Thanks for any and all help.

Rob Woods

It so far sounds pretty 'normal' for a ball....especially if it is a 'he'. I would try prey that is smaller than he might normally have taken and see if he goes for it. Also, mine often go for f/t more readily than prekilled. Don't ask me why. I am betting he starts again in the next week or two.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

I agree with sonya..and if he's not losing weight or changing activity than it is just fine. satrt trying to feed every few days to a week and soon it'll eat when ready.
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0.1 Leos
1.1 Corn snakes (1 Lav & 1 Ghost)
0.1 Banan California King
0.0.1 Childrens python
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow boa
1.0 Rat (as pet not food)
1.2 Ball pythons (1pastel 2 normals)
"whats with you and all those dang reptiles?"

Actually you offering food when you do is fine. If you offer food every few days to every week he will more than likely stay off feed longer.

Both my male and female bp just came back on feeding, the female was off feed for about 8 months and my male was off feed for 9 months. So 3-4 months is no problem.

Keep offering food. Make sure the rat is HOT enough for them to see (but not hot enough to burn, don't cook it!)

When I was offering my bp's a rat every week they just seemed to be able to get into a tighter and tighter ball, where if I waited a few weeks (2-3) before offering they ATLEAST sniffed it or raised up as if to strike. Try waiting one month (4wks) before offering again. Without the stress of a rat being offered, he may get his appetite back.
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1.1 Ball Python, 0.1 motley amel corn, 1.0 western hognose, 1.0 red blood

yes but as long as the offering does not seem to stress out the snake...like you said if he tightens up...then I dont see anything wrong with a weekly feeding..if its just a healthy Bp off feed then he will eat as soon as he's hungary and..mine only went two weeks and now he's eating with gusto...I do use slightly smaller prey though when I offer weekly.I know some people that offer every fortnight as long as the snake isnt stressed..but for me thats too often because i think that much rejection would stress ME out..LOL
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0.1 Leos
1.1 Corn snakes (1 Lav & 1 Ghost)
0.1 Banan California King
0.0.1 Childrens python
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow boa
1.0 Rat (as pet not food)
1.2 Ball pythons (1pastel 2 normals)
"whats with you and all those dang reptiles?"

n/p