Why won't my ball python eat?

Question

He is about 1 year old and has been eating weened rats for quite some time. my usual store where I buy his food didn't have any of his usual size rat, so i got 2 adult mice, which wouldn't come close to putting a bulge in his gut, but its better than not eating. the mice shouldn't intimidate him, but he won't even strike. He's not shedding and I've had him since he could fit in the palm of my hand easily. Have had him for a year, that's why i guessed his age at +-1 year. please give me some reasons why he won't eat. thank you.

Answer 1

He might be refusing because it is breeding season. But to answer your question correctly, we need to know the following things:

-Type of enclosure (Tubs and cages like animalplastics.com are best, aquariums can cause stress and are hard to keep at the right temps/humidity)

-Temperature gradient in his cage (should be 88-90F on the hot side, 78-82F on the cool side)

-humidity level (should be 50-60%)

-substrate, hides, etc (newspaper is the best but aspen chips work too)

-what element of heating do you use (heat lamps suck and should not be used, use an under tank heater under 1/3 of his cage)



Hope this helps. I can help you better, email me if you would like :)

Answer 2

Well either he just doesn't like mice (as some BP's will turn them down) or he's deciding to take his winter fast right about now. Males often do this in the winter, due to it being breeding season. Female's do it too, but its safe to say that most ball pythons, regardless of sex, will take a winter fast. This of course is nothing to worry about. Its just the nature of the snake. Keep trying to feed him on a regular schedule, and it doesn't hurt to try your luck at the rats again. Make sure your temps are right, and if you're really worried, refrain from handling for a week, then offer food again. Good luck and hope you figure out what's wrong!!!

Answer 3

You say he's been eating fine and he's about a year old. I don't see any reason he shouldn't take a mouse. Usually if a ball python won't eat a live mouse does the trick because they reek and are quick moving. It could be that it is breeding season, assuming your temps/his security hasn't changed. Some males will quit eating this time of year for that very reason. If that is the reason why he quit eating I would expect him to start eating again in the next 2-3 months. It won't hurt him to go that long without eating at his age, but I would continue to offer him food once a week till he eats again.



Some people believe that their ball python won't eat mice, or won't eat rats, or won't eat anything but white rats/mice, but I don't buy it. I think your bp should eat the mouse even though he's used to rats.



I have a section on my ball pythons care sheet that gives lots of tricks and advice to get ball pythons eating again. Feel free to check it out. http://www.slitherinsisters.com/ball-python-care.php

Answer 4

Your snake should be feeding on hopper mice or small rats of that same size for his age.. My 5 ft female ball python eats 3 adult mice every 7 days. She should and can take half grown rats but, she will not take rats. The reason is because some ball pythons, like mine, will imprint on one type of rodent and recognize only it as food. The scent and chemical signature of a mouse and rat are different and some picky ball pythons will only go with what they are most familiar with and stick to eating that one food item. With some ball pythons, is does not matter. Those ball pythons will feed on either mice or rats. In a way, your snake is letting you know what it prefers to eat. A big bulge in a snake's stomach after a feed means a long digestion period. If you feed your snake weekly, the right size prey should put only a slight bulge in your snake's mid-body. This will ensure, if the cage temperatures are correct, that digestion will be completed by the time your ready to feed her again. Over-handling can cause a ball python to stop feeding. If you handle your snake alot stop handling her till she feeds at least 4 times regularly. Some, not all, ball pythons are fasters during this time of the year. My snake is a faster. To see if your snake is a faster, offer her, her normal food when it becomes available. If she refuses to feed, and continues to behave like this and she is otherwise healthy,chances are she may be a fasting ball python.

Answer 5

Another possible reason:



Ball pythons are notorious for being finicky eaters. Sometimes they'll eat, sometimes they won't. Most people just keep offering food, and I suggest you do that too. If he continues to ignore his food, you could get a checkup at the vet. As you said, eating the mice is better than none at all.



That's just a possibility. Keep trying with the food =] Don't be worried unless it goes on. I would go to the vet if he still didn't eat.

Answer 6

I think everyone with a ball python comes across this problem every year. lol i am having the same problem right now and i just recently found out about the breeding season fast. as much as you want to feed him just be patient and dont force it in front of him. just try like once every week or so. He will eat when he is hungry.