Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm starting to get really irritated that he won't eat and I can't figure out why. The temps and humidity is near perfect in my eyes, he's not going into shed, in fact he just shed last night. I offer him a meal once a week and he doesn't even lift his head, he doesn't care. I don't know what else to do. Any ideas?
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1.0 Ball Python - Keo
1.0 Bolivian Boa - Cyn
3.0 Ferrets - Bijou, Bosco, Dew
2.0 Cats - Bocephus & Arnold
2.0 Dogs - Stewie, Bo
0.2 Rats - Gwen & XG1

I do not know the history with your BP but there is a slim chance he/she could be goin into a small fast. 2 months really isn't too long believe it or not. As long as the animal has decent wieght/girth and isn't losing alot of wieght it should be find. Also if the animal is hydrated thats the most important thing.

I'm assuming he/she is alert and moving around alot, mostly at night I would assume and if he did shed thats definatly a good sign.

However when in doubt, a phone call to a qualified vet that has had a number of years dealing with herps directly could be helpful.

1 of my BP's goes 4 months or a little over that every yr for his winter fast. Over the corse of the summer he goes into 2 wk fasts sometimes 4 wks for some odd reason but it has happaned. I've had him for almost 4 yrs but I got him when he was approx a yr old.

What have you tried offering it for food? And how big/girth and long is the snake? Cage setup? This is my own opinion but I've noticed they seem to feed better when the humidity is 60%. A few others have reported to me they somewhat agree with that theory. Just a thought.

Good luck. Don't worry too much. They snagged the prey when you least expect it. Thats the Royals specielty.

Here is a pic of my cage setup. He is about a year or so old, a little over 3 ft long, and before he started fasting, I couldn't touch my middle finger and thumb together when I held him, but now I can, just barely. I offer him (and have always offered him) live prey, he won't eat anything else. his humidity right now is 55.....I don't know if I forgot anything else. heh. Let me know what you think.

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1.0 Ball Python - Keo
1.0 Bolivian Boa - Cyn
3.0 Ferrets - Bijou, Bosco, Dew
2.0 Cats - Bocephus & Arnold
2.0 Dogs - Stewie, Bo
0.2 Rats - Gwen & XG1

get some HIDES!!!!
get some clay flower pot bases and chip a hole in the side.
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
0.0.1 ball pythons (FELIX!!!!!)
2.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, Bear, and Tony)

My image Gallery

I think the blue striped object in the middle of the picture is some sort of hide. I agree fully that hides are important. Giving a couple of choices definately can't hurt. Take care.

Jeremy

Your cage setup looks excellent! In my opinion though, having the cage directly under or in front of a window allows for extreme temp. fluctuations over the course of the day. That may be too hot for an hour or so in the summer or a cool draft in the winter. Also watch out for heating or cooling vents blowing directly on the cage. An easy way to tell if your temps are fluctuating some is to get a digital thermometer from Radio Shack or somewhere like that that can record highs and lows over a period of time. I have those all over my animal room and they work great! Thats just my two cents. I hope he picks back up for you soon. Take care!

Jeremy

I just had a female start eating after a 10 month fast.
I have one that has not ate a meal in almost a year.
Yea I am worried a bit, but I know in the end they will eat..........
Or die! (just kidding
It will be fine.
Good luck.
Evan

Very true. After having other snakes for most of my life (corn, garter, rat, racers, milks, kings, burmese, retics) after I got a ball it used to worry me when it didn't eat every week. Now it's no big deal - slide out a tub - eat? no? Move the food to the next tub... One of the balls will eat it.
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