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Ball has gone off feed |
| This is what our member has to say: My ball python has gone off feed. I have had her since April and she had been eating like a champ like no tommorow, but ... |
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12-12-2006, 07:18 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
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Ball has gone off feed
My ball python has gone off feed. I have had her since April and she had been eating like a champ like no tommorow, but will only eat live under supervision. It was fed once a week when it was a baby, feeding first on rat pinks and then to adult mice then several adult mice. It has already grown huge, at which point I started feeding once every 7 to 10 days, medium sized rats. This was about 2 months ago that I switched to medium sized rats. She took to them immediately. Then, after eating them twice, he just stopped eating. So, I tried small mice again and she ate them again after a few feeding, but ate several like before. THen, after several feedings, she stopped eating alltogether. This was like 5 and a half weeks ago. I have tried over the last 5 weeks, offering every 5 days, I try medium rats, adult mice. It refuses everytime except once, which was two weeks ago he took in one single small mouse (like smaller 1/10 the size of what it usually eats), but refused everything since.
She is still fat and VERY active, in fact, somewhat more active than it was before when it was eating like mad. It looks like its hungry. But it don't eat! I asked my snake friends they say its winter, its cold, balls go off feed, live with it. But I keep my temps up in the low to mid 80s always (heat the whole room). WHat's up with that???
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1.0.0 Green Iguana - Tyler
0.0.1 Sulcata Tortoise - Mantow
0.0.1 Ball Python - Se se
0.1.0 Leucistic Texas Ratsnake - un-named (Suggestions welcome)
1.0.0 Blizzard Cornsnake het Anery A - Xiao Xiao
1.1.0 Normal Corn snake het Anery A het Amel 66% poss. het stripe - un-named
1.0.0 Red Chain Snake - un-named
0.0.1 Twin spotted rat snake - un-named
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12-12-2006, 07:37 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
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A very common occurence with Balls, we have many members that go through the same thing. Some can even go up to 6 months. Though your temps are constant, they just seem to know it's winter. He'll be fine.
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Ken
" The United States Marine Corps......sure we are a department of the Navy,,,,,,we're the MENS department "
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12-12-2006, 08:17 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
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Why's it still moving around like its looking for food or something. Is it because winter's breeding season? I mean, I still eat when I'm really really @^$%.
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1.0.0 Green Iguana - Tyler
0.0.1 Sulcata Tortoise - Mantow
0.0.1 Ball Python - Se se
0.1.0 Leucistic Texas Ratsnake - un-named (Suggestions welcome)
1.0.0 Blizzard Cornsnake het Anery A - Xiao Xiao
1.1.0 Normal Corn snake het Anery A het Amel 66% poss. het stripe - un-named
1.0.0 Red Chain Snake - un-named
0.0.1 Twin spotted rat snake - un-named
1.0.0 Grey Chinchilla - Gee Gee
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12-12-2006, 08:48 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2006
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It could be because of the seasons. I'm sure he will eat, you could keep offering him food and he may just take it one day. He may also not and like said below he maybe of for up to 6 months.
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12-12-2006, 08:49 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2004
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They do not tend to brumate or hibernate when temps are constant the way some reptiles do. They will go about their normal routine, but without the eating part, lol. Its nothing to worry about, mine have gone as long as 4-5 months.
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MARSHA
:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!
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12-12-2006, 09:12 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2004
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I second Venus on this one, I still get worried, but it happens every year. Mine won't eat again until March!!!
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12-13-2006, 03:52 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2004
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If she doesn't start losing weight I wouldn't worry too much about it. Some balls just like to stress out their owners. Good luck!
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12-13-2006, 10:18 AM
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Anthony they are just genetically coded to go off feed this time of year. Its their nature. It has nothing to do with temperatures. When mine did it for the first time I did everything I could. Increased temperatures, lengthened day cycle increased and decreased humidity,...everything that would signal summer coming back,....Nothing!
This happened for several years starting about November and he would start eating again in around March April or May.
The wild part is the female he is housed with in the same enclosure has never fasted and never turns down a meal.
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Merlin,
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