OK, I sort of know what y'all are going to say.....but I'm going to ask anyway because I'm a bit of a hypochondriac about my pets and this is my first snake.

Background:

I adopted Dexter from a reptile rescue group about a year and and a half ago (shortly before Christmas 2006). At the time, he was about 2 years old.

That first winter, he ate like a dream!!! Every week, like clockwork. Of course, at the time, I was still feeding f/t mice.

That summer, I moved up to f/t rats. He still ate like clockwork, but now every 10-14 days.

Then, last fall, he decided he was an adult and went on the mating season hunger strike (which I realize is normal). He last ate in mid-September.

I coped my way through the winter, periodically offering food and always being turned down.

But NOW, mating season is supposedly over. Since March, I've offered food 3 times. Each time, he shows interest. He sniffs it, examines it, you can SEE him thinking about it. But each time he rejects it.

Someone (on another group) suggested that it sounds like he is "coming out of mating season mode and starting to show interest". But how long does his coming out take? WHen I offered on Sunday, he yawned, he stretched his mouth (which he used to do often before eating)......but he still ignored the food.

Could there be something wrong with the f/t rats? I just bought it on Sunday from Petco. Could there be something wrong with him? Should I be worried since he really seems interested but then doesn't eat?

Sadly, I didn't weigh him before he went on his hunger strike so I can't say if he's lost weight. He FEELS thinner.....but definitely not "skinny" as in feeling bones or skeleton or anything.

I know I probably sound like a neurotic mess....but Dex is my first snake. And he's so sweet and gentle and friendly. I just want to do what is best for him.

Patience young grasshopper, patience.

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~*~Lacey~*~

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Sigh......but for how long??? I mean.....if he starts eating NOW, and then goes on strike again in September, that will be barely 5 months out of 12 that he actually EATS. That can't be good, can it?

If he is hungry, he'll eat.

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

LOL Thats just life with the ball python!
Mine hasn't fed since November. Pains that they are!
I will try to feed the mine tomorrow night and here's hoping!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

The snake will know when it is hungry and ready to eat. It will not take much persuasion; one time you'll offer the rat and bam! he'll snap it up and eat it. There is probably nothing wrong with the rats... it's just not time yet.
For us, it seems like an eternity to fast, but this seems to be what male BPs are meant to do. You are not alone!! Mine hasn't eaten since the beginning of December. He's lost some weight, but is active and seems fine. So it's just patience, patience and more patience!

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Andrea

I had a male that went 5 mths without eating. Dont worry to much yet. I know its stress but he will eat again.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

Sigh.....y'all realize that patience is NOT my strong suit.

Dex is active. In fact, he keeps acting like he's in "hunting" mode which used to be a good indicator that he was hungry (once we switched to rats and I was trying to figure out his eating pattern).

BTW, this is Dex.......(just so you'll know who I'm talking about):



I took him to bellydance class that day. I was worried at first that it might be too many people touching and handling him.....but he really seemed to love it. Inspected each person that held him (they were all very careful) right up in their faces......examined their hair (he LOVES long hair).......never once pulled back or acted nervous.....no balling up. He was Mr. Personality.

i know where you're coming from. i don't have a ball python but I do have a rosy boa. i've had him for about 3+ years and when I got him from a friend he was around 5 years old I believe. anyway, he goes off food anywhere from july/august and doesn't pick up again until february/march. so I can understand being neurotic about it. i was too the first year then just realized this was the way he was. i'm not as nutty about it as I was. i expect it now. infact he just started feeding again around the middle of march so i'm glad he's eating again.

its just alot of patience and learning to expect it lol

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yes i am a she ^_^

~My Babies~

1 Rosy Boa (male) Chaos
1 Snow Corn (male) Blizzard
1 Anertherystic Corn (male) Bullet
1 Senegal Parrot (male) Shadow
2 dogs (male) Spot (RIP) and Bear

I still don't get it. I mean, I know I'll learn to accept, anticipate and even plan for it. But I don't get it. I'm just trying to cut back on what I eat (especially junk food) and I'm ready to gnaw off my own leg and eat it. And here it's been 7 months for Dex and STILL he turns down food.

If I were him, I'd be turning into the plant from "Little Shop of Horrors"......"FEED ME!!!"