Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a three year old female ball python. She has always been a sweetheart and a great eater. The past couple of months she has been very tense and not eating well even though she is showing signs of being hungry. Nothing has been changed and she seems healthy. Any ideas?

welcome to the world of picky ball python eaters. It is normal for ball pythons male and female to go off eating for many months. This year one of my girls (who usually fasts in winter) was off food from Oct-end of March. One of my males is still off food since Oct.(and he would eat anything before, hence the name garbage gut).

Have another female that just decided to stop eating in about the last month(she is younger). And another male that randomly eats weeks and weeks can go by between meals.

The thing to watch is if the snake starts losing alot of weight cause then you may have a real problem and a trip to the vet may be needed.

Otherwise, just hang in there they will eat when they are ready not when we want them too I guess.

I am soo tired of keeping "pet" mice and rats myself!!!!!
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Misty Sprouse Ball Pythons

Thanks for the advise. I got a little concerned because we have had her for two years and she has never done this. Do your balls get tense and cranky when they go off feed? I also bought a male in the bigining of the winter that I put in the same (4'wx2'dx4'h) cage. I wasnt sure if this was a delayed reaction to him. They seem to get along just fine though.

well that might change my answer to you. Your female could also be prego and expecting eggs. Many females will go off feed when they are near the end of the baby making process. Do you know if they ever locked up?
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Misty Sprouse Ball Pythons

Don't balls have to be burmated? Also my male is only about a year.

some will just lock up given the chance. How big is your male? mine was making sperm plugs when he was in the 500 gram range and many people on here have young males that makes babies.

I'm getting a little excited/nervous here. I have seen them locked up a few times. I don't know how much he weights but he's only around 2'long. Is there any way to tell if sh'e pregnant?