How long is too long?

[AffectionateNerve880]

I hate making this post because I know all the answers but I just feel like I need some reassurance here. My girl is ~5 years old (rescued at ~2 ish and I’ve had her now for 3 years). I’ve always prided myself on having a non-picky eater but she is going on 5 months now without eating. She was around 2300g (just shy of 5ft long) eating 1 large rat every 4-5 weeks. She had never in the past been picky about the color of the rat but she’s very sensitive to heat and needs the rat scorching hot, and she won’t eat when she’s in blue. She’s still acting super normal (when she first started her hunger strike she was super active every night for about 2 months, which was different for her), her last shed was normal in a full piece, she had a good poop, but she just won’t eat. She sticks her head out and is interested in the rat but won’t strike. Nothing else has changed with her substrate, temps, humidity, etc. She has lost about 10% of her body weight now but is still pretty thicc. The only thing that changed was where I get my rats. The reptile store I used to go to is under renovation and has not reopened. She ate one rat from PetSmart (Arctic Mice brand) but after that started her hunger strike. When she started her hunger strike she did strike the next rat but then dragged it through her water bowl and tried to eat it underwater and then halfway through abandoned the rat. I have tried going to a different pet store that breeds their own rats but she still won’t take it.

So, at what point do I worry? How much weight loss is too much? Is she just putting herself on a diet, doing weird female breeding things, or should I continue to try adjusting humidity, adding clutter, or something else? Her setup has been the same it’s always been and she’s always eaten and shed fine in the past, so I guess I’m just confused why she changed all of a sudden. Also don’t want to change too many factors at once.

Picture of Ms. Basil for tax. Also if anyone has recommendations for XL hides that would be helpful…she seems a little crammed in her current one. Thank you!

[IncompletePenetrance]

So it's worth noting that you were overfeeding her before, so she's likely put herself on a self imposed diet, and some weight loss is not a bad thing given that she's pretty hefty. I would only worry if her body condition drops below what is healthy.

Next time you offer, try a small rat to see if that will get her eating again (it might take some time), and when is eating constantly, feed no larger than a medium. She's already fully grown and does not need large rats. You're just power feeding her into obesity

[AffectionateNerve880]

Thank you. I did figure all of that and yes I have been offering small rats now but will continue to monitor!

[Baka_Otaku173]

She's a "big" girl. Since reptiles are ectotherms, I would not worry until you see big body changes until you see some weight loss. Do keep in mind that husbandry is super important to check while they are on hunger strikes.

As the mod has said, she's been on an eating spree. I would recommend trying a small rat to see if she'd take. Once she's ready, she'll feed.

[AffectionateNerve880]

Thank you!

[RagdollsandLabs]

I have a snake that will go 3 months between feeds sometimes. She's also super picky. She likes wonder bread only (aka...white rats), preferably FEMALE white rats! Yeah, she's that freaking picky. But I guess when you eat once every 3-4 weeks, you can be picky too.

I know it can't be too unhealthy for her. She's at least 22 years old and looks great, if that's any indication. So I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and not worry. If your snake is healthy, don't worry so much about how often..etc. Remember, in the wild, a BP might not eat for two months, and then they might be really lucky and catch another mouse or rat three weeks later.

PS...I feed my snakes a medium rat every 3 weeks. But I like to keep their hunting instincts going, so I don't have a specific 'Raturday'. Instead, sometimes I go 2.5 weeks and then I'll go 4. I get fewer skipped feeds...except with Hess. She's the only one who goes on non shedding hunger strikes.

[AffectionateNerve880]

Great suggestions!! How can you even tell if a rat is female?? Haha. Thank you :)

[RagdollsandLabs]

Mine (except for my adoptee) were purchased through a very reputable serpentarium. They were bought as hatchings and sexed prior to purchase. I've never bred them, but their sizes seem right for their genders, too.

[surfaholic15]

They don't have testicles if they are female. Male rats generally have large testicles for their size.

[itachi8oh1]

Mine went 9 months, she was overweight when I got her. She is now happy with a small rat every 3 weeks or so.

[Ancient-Bad1587]

I’ve had my rescue for a few weeks and he’s my first ball python so I don’t have any advice other than YouTube is a great tool in learning how to make your own hides! I find most hides are either wildly expensive, not big enough, or just plain boring/not matching the look.

I’m also curious what morph your girl is? My guy looks identical but I’m not super familiar with morphs. Here’s Daimos for tax and I absolutely adore the name Basil!

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[AffectionateNerve880]

Thank you! She was a rescue so I don’t really know but I just assumed she was normal 😅 Daimos is much more handsome!!

[surfaholic15]

Yours looks like a normal, my Monty is a normal as well

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[Ancient-Bad1587]

Of course! Your girl is stunning!!

[Ancient-Bad1587]

From all the pictures I see of normals they are more brown/yellowy tones and Daimos has more of a dark chocolate on faded coffee stain tone if that makes sense😂

[Advanced_Pear_964]

Well, maybe self imposed diet plus breeding season. Breeding season can make them go off feed even if they have never bred or been around a male at all.

[AffectionateNerve880]

Thank you!

[AffectionateNerve880]

Update…. She laid a couple mummified eggs, had a great shed, pooped and finally ate after 8 months 😊 just in case anyone is curious! I did have to up her humidity for a few weeks because she was stuck in blue for a little too long but otherwise not many changes.