need some help here...

Hey all,
So I got Eve back in September, and she fed several times just fine (frozen mice). But the last time she ate was all the way in mid-December, and I'm a bit nervous.

She's also starting to get feisty. Last night, she attempted to strike in my direction (the top was on, and she hit the wall of the tank - ouch!). She's never done that before, in fact, never shown any real signs of aggression other than the normal s position...

To add even more confusion to the whole thing, it's almost like she *wants* to eat. Out of desperation, i put one in her tank overnight (i know, it's a bad idea), and she obviously took some interest in it (it's all ruffled and whatnot), but she didn't *eat* it.

I know it's a common question, but i thought maybe you guys could give me some help here. I'm getting pretty worried, both about the crankiness and the not eating...

--thebigfunk

Hello, how old is your Ball Python? my Ball Python is the same, its natural for them to go off feeding, especially during winter months, mine gets really grumpy some days, they are really shy snakes, are you nervous around her, if you are she will pick up on that which will just make her worse, if your a bit nervous about picking her up, try firstly with gloves so she gets used to being handled and you will feel more at ease too. leaving a food item over night is ok as long as its not more than that, I leave food items in my BPs cage over night as he wont eat untill we are asleep and is totally dark, its not advised but sometimes its worth the try if it gets them to eat.

Don't fret,,,,she'll eat. It's a very common thing with balls. Just be patient

Donna I think that they mean they left a live mouse in there overnight. If so that is DEFINATELY not a good idea.

As asked how big or old is your snake. Don't sweat the not eating if its an older snake. They can go an incredible length of time without eating. my male has gone 6-7 months at a time during the winter fast. Even a younger snake can survive longer without food than you would think.

Originally Posted by Merlin

Donna I think that they mean they left a live mouse in there overnight. If so that is DEFINATELY not a good idea.

oops, my bad thought they meant F/T, no live is very dangerous to leave unattended for any length of time...

Thanks all,

I left a f/t mouse overnight... when I got Eve, she'd been eating f/t, so I've stuck with that.

Eve is about 2 years old now...

My main concern was that she might get sick having not eaten for several months, but it's good to hear that that's completely normal. I knew they fasted some during the winter, but i didn't realize how long they sometimes went!

Thanks for the encouragement... one last question... do you think it might be wise to try pinkies for a change? I'm wondering if the *size* of the mice are an issue...

Thanks again,
thebigfunk

How big is she? At 2 years, I think at the very least, adult mice should be fine for her. Mine is less than a year and on adult mice. But if you're concerned about it, it can't hurt to try getting her back on feed using pinkies, and work your way back up to whatever she used to be on. But really, a couple months without food is just fine for them. I was reading on another forum that someone's snake hadn't eaten since August '04. As long as she isn't losing a lot of weight, she should be fine. You've just to try to not to worry, as hard as that may be.

My Ball Python, Monty is 10 months old and I've just recently converted him to F/T pinky rats. (I rubbed a defrosted mouse on them to start, but Sunday night he took one immediately without "scenting".)
Monty is a fussy eater and sometimes makes me want to cry: I've found out a few things that generally help, though:
1) I feed him in a separate plastic bucket warmed with a heating pad underneath.
2) I put one of his hide boxes in the feeding bucket too.
3) I put him in there for about 15-30 minutes before the feeding and have the food defrosting in warm water near the bucket (so he can start to smell it.)
4) I take out the pinkie and use a blowdryer to warm it up. It needs to be really warm 98F-100F or he'll just nudge it like "it smells like food but???????" and ignore it. I highly recommend buying a temp gun -- they are worth gold when feeding BPs IMO!!!
5) Also, make the room as dark as possible, but leave enough light that you can see what you're doing. If he takes the food, quietly leave and turn out the lights... let him eat in the dark.
6) *** Be prepared to get hand and wrist cramps from wiggling the mouse or pinkie rat with feeding tongs!

Good luck!!

My Ball Python is about 18 months old and hes on quite biggish rats, that feed usually lasts him about 3 weeks, I usually try him before 3 weeks but he wont take it so I presume he is still full, he will not eat in a spare container no matter what I do, so we lay paper towels down in his cage and place his rat inside, he just drags it into his hide if he is hungry and just ignores it if not, last time he fasted for 6 months, it is worrying at first but believe me, you will get used to it

Originally Posted by thebigfunk

I left a f/t mouse overnight... ,

Oops! My mistake! leaving a FT overnight is just fine. But being out that long you have to pitch it. You can't refreeze it.

Eve is about 2 years old now...
My main concern was that she might get sick having not eaten for several months, . I knew they fasted some during the winter, but i didn't realize how long they sometimes went!

Yes its part of the breeding cycle. My male routinely stops feeding in November and kicks up again in April or May. The female has never fasted and she is in the same tank in exactly the same conditions. It takes a bit to get past comparing their feeding tendencies to those of warmblooded animals. Since they don't have to generate their own body heat they use much less food.

do you think it might be wise to try pinkies for a change? I'm wondering if the *size* of the mice are an issue...

I would just stick with what she is normally fed. Pinkies for a 2 year old will probably be too small for her to even take notice. The prey should be about the size of the body at the widest part. As Donna said you might consider switching her over to rat pups. You will eventually have to move up to rats anyway so might as well get it started now. They have more meat per feeding.