Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I have a subadult female BP that is arounf 900 grams. She used to puond f/t rats, but now she will refuse them! Is it because its breeding season or what? Please help!
Steve

try live Mice and rats, could be the season? could be in shed? could be needs a nice warm area to bask? could be just another ball python doing the old not eating right now trick? as long as the animal is not in need of food and as long as fresh water, clean cage and warmth to bask, then just give the animal some time to have the urge for food again. If the animal does not come around to food in a reasonable amount of time and if the animal looses weight or appears under the weather then a reptile vet would be a wise choice. What cage are you using and what heat source?
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Kyle Stevens
Royal Variations

Many a false step is made from standing still.

i am keeping them in a rack with heat tape fresh water every day and cgae cleaned every week.

np
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Kyle Stevens
Royal Variations

Many a false step is made from standing still.

n/p

If all else is good, you should have nothing to worry about. Just doing the ball python thing. Three weeks is nothing unusual..... had my female pied shut down for almost 7 months... talk about throwing off schedule for a year. When they shut down like that, when healthy, it's just more of an inconvenience for the people trying to get them up to weight for breeding. Doing the "I'll show you" thing, I guess. LOL.

Just try offering food once every week or two. It'll come around when it feels like eating again... hopefully sooner than later. Good luck!

Eric

Depending on your locale she may be shutting down. You could try keeping a 14-15hr photoperiod & heat cycle, but even then you might not trick her. Best Wishes
NorthernRegius

when I have snakes try to pull the "I'll show you trick" I stop attempting to feed them often. After the third refual on normal schedule I leave them alone for 3-4 weeks and then throw in live. They'll generally build an appetite and since they haven't been offered any food they see it as a chance opportunity and usually take.

Note: This doesn't always work. I've had probably an 80% success rate with it though.

Cole Maas