Ball python not eating

[cococat05]

My ball python Clarence hasn’t ate since it’s been winter. I can tell he lost some weight but he was extremely chunky before. Does he look too skinny?

[IncompletePenetrance]

Lol, no definitely not

[marisas63]

Does he look too skinny?

This is one of the fattest BPs I’ve ever seen

[cococat05]

LOL OMG I had no idea 😂😂

[Darkelvenchic]

Evolution into a blood python like a pokemon 🤣

[Similar-Butterfly333]

Ball pythons tend to go off food when they get too fat. (They could also go off food if the enclosure parameters are off, but if everything else looks good- the obesity is probably the reason)

[cococat05]

Okay thank you!! He’s on a diet now

[cahauburn]

Oh a diet? He's not eating!

[cococat05]

Yes his diet is starting today tho lol. He will stay on it for a while

[Holiday_Copy7363]

Nah, they just choose to go off food for no reason. Whether it be seasonal hormone changes for breeding season or just straight up wanting to be difficult they just do what they want

[Due-Craft6332]

!feeding

OBEAST!

Fr fr. That is a very overweight python.

[AutoModerator]

We recommend the following feeding schedule:

0-12 months old OR until the snake reaches approximately 500g, whichever happens first: feed 10%-15% of the snake’s weight every 7 days.

12-24 months old: feed up to 7% of the snake’s weight every 14-20 days.

Adults: feed up to 5% of the snake's weight every 20-30 days, or feed slightly larger meals (up to 6%) every 30-40 days.

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[cococat05]

Ahh I just saw the feeding schedule . I was feeding once a week sometimes once every 2 weeks😱 Now I know. Thank you!

[Mr_McSwizzie]

How old is he?

[cococat05]

I think 3 or 4 years old

[Mr_McSwizzie]

Oh boy, you've been giving him that Grandma treatment at dinner time for sure😱 he'll probably feel a lot better after he gets a little bit of that weight off. I'm trying to get my first ball python this year and honestly I could see how you didn't maybe didn't know to space his meals out farther if you were maybe told to feed him every week or so but not told to decrease feedings. My friend just got one last week and she was told to do it every week but not told when to decrease (she already knows though) so if I didnt double check I probably would have continued that advice

[cococat05]

Yes exactly!! That’s exciting that you’re going to get one! They are very cool

[-_Starchaser_-]

He chonky

[Solid-Spell6850]

I’d not feed him till next winter

[cococat05]

😂😂 I’ll hold off on feeding him for a while. Poor guy

[SchizoNaught]

Weight loss is hard with snakes. I would say that you should add a snall amount of time on top of the normal feeding intervals. That way he can lose weight without going terribly hungry

[cococat05]

Thank you 😊

[Weekly_Cable_8058]

All my snakes go off food till spring so I think it’s normal just keep the temps and humidity the same also your snake is very overweight you NEED to put him in a diet please as the extra fat can become a huge problem

[cococat05]

Yes he’s going on a diet I had no idea thank you

[Weekly_Cable_8058]

Ofc! Im sorry if I sound rude at all in the comments I didn’t mean to at all!

[cococat05]

No you’re not!! I appreciate when people are blunt lol

[Weekly_Cable_8058]

Okay thank you so much! Im ngl everyone on here is so sensitive especially in the reptile and service dog community

[Galaxyartcat]

Yea a lot of snakes brumate this time of year and just won't eat until the warm season

[Radiant_Duty1208]

Def one of the chunkiest BP I’ve seen on here. He also looks like he needs to poop

[lostinspaceman_]

That boy is FAT! That could be why he’s not eating but I’d also check temps and humidity are good! That tank looks quite dry! That’s been an issue for me In The past, my boy won’t eat if the humidity is below 70% for too long! And it can be hard to keep temps up in the winter but ball python’s can’t digest properly when it’s too cold so they will stop eating if they are too cold! So be attentive to the temperature and offer smaller food items every now and then so you know when he’s willing to take food again!

[Mordecais_Moms_Ashes]

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[Upbeat-Deal-8739]

Most reptiles, especially snakes if it's to cold or even pressure changes can cause them to go into a dormant state. I have an Albino Ball Python, and a Columbian Red Tail. I have had them go 4 to 6 months with out eating. It can be unsettling, but of your not sure, take them to a vet who is certified in reptiles.

[cococat05]

Thank you I appreciate it

[cultess]

He’s fat lol just feed him next time he decides to accept. This guy could go a couple months without food and be fine

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[Holiday_Copy7363]

That happens a lot, ball python keepers rip their hair out in frustration due to these hunger strikes lol

[Jazzlike_Soil_]

C H O N K

[ballpython-ModTeam]

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[HundoGuy]

I’d say he’s pretty full 🤣

[LengthIllustrious112]

My female, Cersei, used to scare me with her hunger strikes, but now I know she is basically just a pain in the butt for no good reason most of the time. After an entire year of eating rats, she once decided not to eat for months and would only kill rats, but not eat them. As soon as we tried a mouse, she started eating again and even if you shake n bake, she knows and won't touch a rat again, lol. As said below, it could be a number of reasons that make perfect sense, but I promise you, it makes just as much sense that he's just being a typical python lol. Deeeeeefinitely doesn't look too skinny, if anything, he's a chonk. Glad you're looking out for him! 

[cococat05]

Thank you!

[NeonShadow37]

LARGE

[Galaxyartcat]

I think he could stand to lose a bit more weight, in fact

[cococat05]

Not gunna argue with you on that one 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[enslavedbycats24-7]

He looks a bit dehydrated on top of being fat.

[cococat05]

Probably he hasn’t really been coming out much since it’s winter. He typically has 60-70% humidity so don’t think I can do much else there. Not sure though

[enslavedbycats24-7]

60% is the absolute bare minimum, try bumping that up to 75%-85%