Why Ball Pythons STOP Eating - And How to FIX Them!

JKR ProTip: Why won't your Ball Python eat? Here are the 4 main reasons Ball Pythons go off feed and what you can do to get them eating again.
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0:00 Why Ball Pythons stop eating?
0:58 Reason #1: Stress
1:50 Reason #2: Picky
2:28 Reason #3: Season
3:00 Reason #4: Habit
4:05 Getting them back on food
4:19 Solutions: Stress
5:45 Solutions: Picky
6:14 Solutions: Season
7:18 Solutions: Habit
8:36 Assist or Force Feeding?
9:06 Medical Concerns
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Justin Kobylka is a professional reptile breeder who has pioneered cutting edge Ball Python morphs and combos since 2003. He is known not only for producing amazing animals, but for spreading interest in the reptile hobby through his popular KZbin channel and social media.
Justin has traveled worldwide lecturing about Ball Pythons and helping hobbyists develop their passion. He operates J. Kobylka Reptiles out of a dedicated breeding facility in NE Georgia where his innovative work with designer Ball Pythons continues to redefine what is possible with this incredible species.
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[@reppost]

One of my boys went off feeding for over 7 months. Based on what was said in the video, pretty sure it started as seasonal and became habit. He seemed perfectly healthy the entire time, active, drinking water, just wouldn't eat. Towards the end of that period he finally started showing signs of losing weight so I started to worry a little at that point. Just out of curiosity, I tried giving him rat pups and he hit those right away. I gave him those for a few weeks then moved to weans and he hit those right away as well. After a few weeks of those, I tried the adult smalls he was eating before the hunger strike and he took it. That was almost 2 years ago and he's been good ever since.

[@ethanhobbs4811]

I’m about to try this :( my snake won’t eat

[@camillelabrecque9182]

Thanks for the info, I'm gonna try this. Mine hasn't eaten for 1 month and he was on big rats, gonna try feed him small ones instead

[@StretchGamesHD]

My snake hasn't ate for 7 months I've tried every week for the last 7 mo ths I've noticed her losing weight but have no one to ask for advice with snakes. I'm going to buy her some rat pups and see if she takes to them. Hopefully she does. I have a feeling she is on her way out but I hope and prey she is fine after if she eats

[@reppost]

@@StretchGamesHD I can't say for sure, I'm not an expert by any means, but switching to a smaller rat has worked for me twice now. My other boy just came off a 3 month hunger strike. I still have some weans in the freezer so the last time he ignored the adult rat, I offered him a wean the next day and he ate it and a second one. The way he was behaving, he probably would have taken more if I'd given them to him. I waited a few days and gave him two more weans which he snapped up immediately. I'm gonna try giving him an adult again the next time I feed the other guy. If he turns his snoot up at it, I'll just continue giving him a couple weans more frequently until he (hopefully) decides he's willing to eat the bigger ones again. It almost seems like it could be smell related. He would perk up when I held the adult rat in his cage with tongs and come over and check it out but then just cruise away. He hit the weans like they were trash-talking his mom.

[@mallorimoreno4250]

Its been 4 months for my boy :(

[@billh1491]

Justin love your explanations you are good at keeping things simple and to the point

[@jennacoleman1888]

I can not tell you how happy I am I came across this video. My BP is a 1.5 year old male. Was well established on frozen thawed rats, never refused. He stopped eating for 4 months starting in January. We are in Canada so I assumed it was seasonal, but as another commentor stated I think a habit was developed. He would still come out and drink but totally uninterested in his rats. He would come out looking like he was but would never strike.My husbandry was on point, nothing changed. I really didn't know what to do. So we moved him from a high self to a lower one on the other side of the room. Left him for a week. His behavior changed I could tell he was more active at night again. I got some frozen rat pups just to change it up from the adult rats he was being offered. I read another commentor did this. Sure enough he struck and coiled instantly. Thank you so much!! Such an easy fix!!

[@lcrhodeful]

Great video, incredible & sound information! Thanks for sharing!

[@raredog939]

Far too many people in the snake groups say assist/force feed. It's such common advice. Common but wrong advice. Thank you for addressing this misconception.

[@butteballpythons9345]

Always great content! Good points to think on.

[@StLMikie]

Thank you for sharing this one Justin.

[@traggerhippie]

Had a ball python rescue once, he was totally messed up, burned all over his body, he was kept in a plastic fish tank with an exposed light bulb which he wrapped around because the enclosure was too cold. He got handled by the human a lot before the accident happened and was totally stressed out. When he was brought to me, I put him in a nice warm moist enclosure on top of my clothing closet in a very quiet spot. Every day I treated him with udder ointment to treat his skin for the extreme burn marks, but eating was still an issue, after a couple sheds and no food, his skin health seemed to be under control, I even got my hopes up he would totally recover and become a beautiful snake again, like 3-4 months in, I left a death mice in his enclosure like I tried many times before, thinking he wouldn't eat it, but finally found an enclosure without a mice inside. Some sheds later his skin totally recovered, and he didn't skip a meal after the first mice I left for him. On a snake forum where I had the post of his recovering process I spoke with somebody who did not have the money to get a snake, so I gave him the ball python and the enclosure for free, as my passion was with Boa Constrictors.

[@markw7412]

Thanks for the info love the help you always put out !

[@Wulfgeist]

Thank you, Justin! Perfect timing on this video. I sold someone a 2 year old male and we have been discussing his not wanting to eat for her. I sent her the link, it should be very helpful!

[@snakeshack7114]

Really informative!!!! Thanks Justin!

[@samcraver7267]

Great video Bro!

[@yadhirahernandez363]

I have my first ever ball python and he was super good at eating until about 5 months ago where he first went on strike, he hasn’t lost a ton of weight thankfully but it gets me super scared as a first time snake owner, thanks for the info! Finna put all of it into work!

[@nessreefer5735]

so did it work? were you able to get him eating again

[@Nexus917]

Same, my snake hasn’t eaten in two weeks, which isn’t too worry some but it’s still concerning as a first time snake owner!

[@Snakeman19781]

I so needed this video thank you

[@joeducos214]

Great info. Thank you!!

[@moans33]

Wry well said! Thank you for this awesome info

[@juscollaco]

Thank you!! Video was concise and organized 👌🏼

[@PACracks]

Well said. Thanks Justin 😁👍🏼

[@mannysj9612]

Great tips!

[@thecharlietuna]

Thanks for the vids!!!

[@morphaddicts9635]

Such valuable information 👍

[@timjanday51]

Thanks...this was very helpful

[@GMoneys05]

Good information 👍🏾

[@ericd1053]

Well said Justin!!

[@806pythons7]

Great info! Stay Safe!

[@Alulish]

Great tips!!! Thanks a lot🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@KINOVAReptiles]

You're so welcome!

[@nemeseax7123]

Thank you so much! Just going through this problem with my new 1 year old girl Lilith. She isn't my 1st ball python but she is definitely my 1st problematic eater as my boa c ,corn snakes and 2 other ball pythons are eating great. Will try all the methods you described. Hopefully something will help .

[@ricky5279]

Amazing video thanks again the king of ball pythons

[@charleshamby575]

Loved the video the information was great fortunately I haven't had this problem with lil guy but he is young still good to have this information just in case so thank you

[@proplayercoolboy641]

Love the video

[@myherpshed1298]

Awesome video,thank you for sharing....👊👊👊👊👊👍🙂👍

[@myherpshed1298]

@@KINOVAReptiles the pleasure is all mine,always eagerly awaiting for he new instalment of #Hetflix....👊👊👊👊👊

[@stefanpdreid1364]

I sometimes just make the head of the rat warm. So the Rat doesn‘t look so big to the snake. That also sometimes help.

[@colinjava8447]

That's interesting, I thaw mine out and present them pretty warm. She tends to constrict them more in the summer, but can faff about for nearly an hour before swallowing them outside of summer.

[@geneticpaletteoutpost7194]

Awesome video JKR. We have a Pastel Lesser Yellow belly Het Pied that was off for a while right after the 1000 gram wall. She hit 1120 went off and it was frustrating. We dropped off small rats to XL Mice. She exploded to 1400, now eats everything lol. Thanks for the knowledge Justin.

[@geneticpaletteoutpost7194]

Absolutely, thank you for the advice you offer in your videos. We need more like you.

[@LanceKirkman]

Thank you

[@salohcinstudio]

Great commonsense advice with an important animal first approach, thanks for posting this video! By the way my Royal Ball Python is now 29 years old and during those years he has traveled the world and lived on three different continents!

[@KINOVAReptiles]

That's very cool!

[@TheCowboy98722]

Thanks for the info man. I have a male that I have been thinking about putting on paper to see if he might eat again. He bred for me this year and has eaten two rats since breeding started. I am guilty of offering too much so I am gonna put Him on paper towels and let him sit for a couple weeks and see what happens. You are by far my favorite on youtube! Thanks again for sharing. Hopefully my clutch drops soon its been 26 days since pre lay. So exciting! Stay safe man.

[@TheCowboy98722]

@@KINOVAReptiles I know I said I was over offering. I just have to tell you after one night of being on paper towel he took a rat and ended his 3 months of refusal. I thought I would try just to see one last time before I waited two full weeks. Thanks again man!

[@margiewalker1808]

Thank you for the video. I have six Ball Pythons, one male out of my six is off feed. I'm very frustrated about it been trying everything. Hopefully changing up his environment will help.

[@moshballs7477]

Thanks so much this got me thinking about what I changed and it was starting to use the Sous V to warm the rats. My littlest girl was striking a coiling but leaving them uneaten. So I switched back heating method to just warm water from tap and Bam. She ate this time. The sous must have been cooking it slightly since her rat was the smallest. Thanks again.

[@albatraozgirl]

I have a female that's about 200g and she just struggles to eat. She'll take it, but I check later and she hasn't eaten it. I just warm it again and give her another try. I think she's just derpy and struggles to find the head to swallow it properly 😂 she always gets it on the 2nd attempt.

[@rack-itralphs5769]

Really useful video thank you. My son started with a pet snake last year which I soon fell in love with and so have recently set up a small business having bought 22 snakes to breed. They are all in good condition but I haven’t been able to get 2 of them to feed, I think the stress of them moving put them off food. This has given me some great ideas of how to make some changes and try and get them back on food. 😊

[@rack-itralphs5769]

@@KINOVAReptiles one of them ate tonight, I’m so happy. She was 1229 grams when I bought her 2 months ago and had dropped down to 1101 as she hasn’t once fed so I was wondering if moving her had triggered her hitting the wall. Anyway I put her in a smaller RUB, gave her extra lots of extra hiding places and she definitely seemed more interested when I tried to feed her at the weekend but she still wouldn’t take the rat. I’m in the UK so can only use frozen/thawed and have tried her with rats and Multis but decided to change up as much as possible on your advice and I consequently purchased some XL mice and tried her with that tonight and she took it. Not the biggest of meals for her but it’s a start and that’s amazing. Thanks so much for the advice. 😊

[@jaysonoliveira4752]

My female is roughly 4ft, she eats every 6 days like clockwork and it's ferocious. The second I slide the cover she comes popping out of her hide, but from Oct to Feb she won't eat anything at all. I don't even see her come out what so ever, not even at night. Usually if she's hungry she climbs up on her branch and goes towards the top of the tank.

[@colinjava8447]

My 26 year old bp would always do the same, then after laying parthenogenesis eggs for 2 years she now eats over winter. Has had 27 rats (100-150g) in a row now, but may go off over winter again. The thing is though, they barely lose any weight (unless laying eggs), so if they are healthy then a 6 month period without food shouldn't be too bad.

[@UncleRicosCamper]

One of my bps literally refused for almost 4 months but barely lost any weight. We still every week supplied food but he wasn’t having it. Husbandry was spot on no sickness or illness. We just couldn’t figure out what the deal was. Two weeks ago he started eating again. Fingers crossed that he keeps eating. 😀 he was the only one out of our entire collection who was refusing.

[@UncleRicosCamper]

@@KINOVAReptiles I do believe it was seasonal. He slammed both rats these past two weeks. I was clapping for him 🤣 genuinely excited to see him get back into eating. We kept such a close eye on him and weighed him frequently to monitor him. I wasn’t going to assist feed or force feed him. I believe that would’ve made the situation worse for him.

[@metaknight115]

He still eating?

[@lukasisraellapodilorenzo4500]

We love you men, thanks !!!

[@jeffmoore6289]

Thank you so much Justin, great ideas!!

[@dollswithballsreptiles5550]

Thank you SO MUCH for making this video!!! I help troubleshoot feeding issues constantly and although many people want to argue about this, there is ALWAYS a reason they stop eating. This myth of hunger strikes and ball pythons being generally problematic eaters needs to be busted for good.

[@garethashton4610]

Having the problem at the moment 3 months no feeding , think its stress as I moved house and they escaped a few times going into hibernation mode will try these methods and see if I can get it eating again

[@jimiwilliams7176]

Great video i keep frozen rats mice and asf in different sizes and change the food type every couple of weeks and size up and down not to keep them in the same pattern and that works well and that was something i got from gavin at balls2u great advice but great video from you on the subject

[@jeremyr7661]

This helped!! Thank you! My 7 mo ball python usually eats every week but lately he was refusing the rat pups and I had to throw at least 3 away even after refreezing them. He would act interested, but wouldn't strike them. It was 2 weeks since he last ate. I figured maybe he wants a bigger rat so went to the pet store last night and bought 2 small rats. After thawing the rat out, offered it to him and he sized it up and looked pretty excited....boom! He took it! That was a big meal, his biggest yet! I'm relieved haha

[@waynekieft4952]

Never ever re freeze rodents!!!!

[@samasiaskipperable]

Mine quit eating in September and I offer live they all were started on FT none will eat it now. Justin I am surprised you did not mention ASF rats.

[@chuckwalla325]

My BP (over 12 year old Male) was on 5 month hunger strike. He finally ended the hunger strike tonight. Tried a significantly smaller prey item and it worked. Hope this helps for others.

[@chuckwalla325]

@@KINOVAReptiles thank you. T'was a small meal, so might attempt another feed in a week, but i dont want to push my luck.

[@PreCiseIV]

This is such a GREAT video! I got an adult 1.0 Banana Pinstripe for my breeding project. Awesome snake, healthy as an ox. He was a little flighty and seemingly afraid at first. I chocked it up to him living his entire life in a tub rack system, whereas he was now in an aquarium style enclosure-lots more space, new environment, etc. I offered him a frozen/thawed rat his first week-nothing. Second week-nothing. This continued for 2.5 months. I was at whits end. He hadn’t lost significant weight at all and he was exhibiting signs of comfort in the enclosure. I eventually decided that I would try removing him from the enclosure on feeding days and I decided to offer him a live mouse. What do you know? He snatched that bad boy up like it was nobody’s business. I did the same last week with a small rat and BOOM! I’m going to do this for a couple more weeks to solidify his eating. Hopefully I can figure out the way to transition this to him eating in the enclosure and eventually, going back to frozen/thawed-which is what the shop told me he was eating. At either rate, this was a phenomenal and much needed video. Thank you for that!

[@williamantichrist555]

what is the proper ambient humidity?

[@BenG47986]

My BP hasn't eaten since September. She's been to the vets and has been given a clean bill of health. Habitat has been checked and everything seems to be fine. Tried feeding her every 2 weeks and she keeps refusing. Tried rodents and chicks and she wants neither.

[@ifuknew-who3781]

I haven’t had this issue with my ball pythons not eating. They always destroy there food. But I’m definitely gonna keep these tips in mind. So if it happens then I have ideas on what to do.

[@ifuknew-who3781]

@@KINOVAReptiles that’s exactly why I watched the video. Thanks for the tips keep up the great work.

[@Infocapcus]

Kobylka fans from Indonesia 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@wigglyfin1213]

My ball python has a habit of eating and the next feeding it won’t Eat and then the week it’ll eat and it repeats itself eats rlly frustrating

[@hiddenworldexotics2659]

What is your opinion on ASF rats. Obviously in some states its not available. But for those that do have that access. I do hear pros/cons that they are a natural diet they would eat and are much healthier in a sense. Con is that its not available in every state as well that the smell of them is different that a BP can be stuck on it and refuse normal rats???🧐🧐🧐

[@eiriniskl7641]

Tbh I trust this guy with my life and my future snake's life

[@babyjixbengil7052]

Hoping you can notice... and about taming ball python, is it good for them or not? or one of the reasons that can be off feed the ball python?,

[@christopherhulse8385]

If you own a Retic or Boa, life is generally easy for you and they eat without issues, spare a thought for us Ball Python owners who really struggle at times to get our snakes to eat.

[@yagalshaw7415]

Is it the same for royal pythons I don't know what to do about her

[@markhutchins3643]

Hey Justin here is one for you. I have a male that was breeding. He went off food in the middle of the season but maintained weight so he finished the season. All my girls went except one who is due to lay in 21 days. He has been done breeding since January. Still won’t eat and is starting to lose weight. Any suggestions to get a breeding male back on food? My other males have been back on food for a while now it’s only him not eating. I have cleaned his tub, moved his place in the rack, husbandry is on point (checked daily) and I even gave him a bath to get Female scent off him. I have offered smaller then his normal rats all the way down to pups, mice, and ASF.

[@colemancoclips9522]

What span of time (months) would be considered a normal seasonal fast? I know you said middle of winter but when does that typically start/end?

[@renlysotherlover294]

This is what I want to know

[@atabeyhealing2442]

I got my BP two weeks ago and she has not eaten. I have tried to make sure to set up everything well for her and do not know what to do.

[@GOCUTUBER]

I am no expert but I would add another two options. Bordem. Like any animal in captivity, it needs to have some sort of out of the routine event to get its juices flowing. Get it sniffing the air. In the wild, they wander around, they look for prey. Sitting in a tub 365, every day, all day, wouldn't you get bored? The other one is dehydration. I often find giving a bp that hasn't eaten in a long time a good 2 hours soak in warm water - works like a charm. Get it out of the tub, give it an electrolyte soak if needed, get its natural curiosity juices going. Treat it like a captive animal 24/7/365 -- you would stop eating too.

[@jimiwilliams7176]

That's a great tip aswell i get mine out daily only got 14 at the moment but only started with ball pythons last year but keep reptiles for 30 years but taking them out on the garden is great for them

[@camschlaggel5459]

I’ve had mine for 2 weeks and he just won’t eat

[@beachratsandballs3340]

Any advice on a wild caught adult female BP not eating?

[@williamwilcox794]

During feeding I dropped the lid to his humid hide hitting him on the head stress! He didn't eat for months I reduced size of food and served frozen thawed he hasn't refused since

[@damnitae9963]

I just got a new BP that’s probably no more than 3 months old I picked her up at a reptile expo. I’m worried she won’t eat

[@CaptMuntz]

Thanks Justin! As far as a substrate change, I’m on repti chip now. Should I go to paper towel if all the other options are exhausted

[@joshuasantiago7781]

Will try what JK said today. Have a male I got early in the yr after he was bred and he ate a few times but has been completely off the last 3 months and starting to look skinnier. Hopefully this works thanks for the video.

[@joshuasantiago7781]

@@KINOVAReptiles when you change back how long do you wait before offering?

[@anthonymorrow1856]

Mine is drinking water and he has plenty of hiding spots and he’s 6 months old and he’s been on frozen mice but he’s stopped eating frozen mice and I tried live mice and live rats and he won’t take any of it. But I woke up the other morning and he’s going into shed so I think that’s why he hasn’t been taking anything

[@SkyDaisyAnimations]

My 4ft 6 year old male ball Python is refusing to eat, its scaring me because its been about three months. He usually goes through phases of either very quickly taking prey or taking it a bit slower. Recently he hasnt been eating at all, he acts slightly interested in it but wont eat, i recently got a baby redtail and their cages are next to eachother, could that be a reason he is refusing to eat? He stopped eating around the time i got my redtail so im guessing their cages being next to eachother might have something to do with it? I really need some help, ive had him for over a year now and he’s only ever refused one other time. He eats a large rat every three weeks, he hasnt had any trouble with them before now

[@renlysotherlover294]

Had mine for almost two years always feed frozen mice but then all of a sudden 3 weeks ago he just stopped eating. We are on three weeks now going on week 4 and I’ve had zero luck getting him to eat it

[@jessicap3496]

My larger ball pythons (Male Fire Enchi ((5yrs old)) and Female Normal ((4 years old)) ) have been off food for a month and a half. My supposed 3yr old Bumble Bee is eating weekly on small f/t rats. I bought him without knowing his condition. Malnourished, severely underweight and very hungry. He eats weekly. He has been doing fantastic. I got him on Feb 15th of this year. But my other two just went off food. My fire enchi was a breeder but my bf bought him off the breeder. Any help would be great.

[@samasiaskipperable]

What is your thoughts on African Soft Fur rats❓❓I have tried to find some live ones in several states. I’d love to know if they would work. Also what about chicken chicks ?

[@colinjava8447]

Asf's are good apparently, very nutritional. I wouldn't feed chicks, they are not very nutritional (the beak and claws worry me a little when it comes to swallowing), and I've heard they can struggle to go back to rats if you feed them chicks, so I personally would not bother with them.

[@rebekahwatts2904]

This video is the best I’ve seen on pythons that refuse to eat. My boy was rehomed twice and he is very picky when it comes to his food. Currently I’m on his second refusal of the size he normally has and I’m wondering if it’s just mating season so he’s looking for a lady friend lol

[@camillelabrecque9182]

Should I keep handling my snake even if he doesn't eat or should I stop? I don't want him to be stressed but I want to keep him tamed as well

[@judybobsin8870]

My little one weighs 219 and hasnt eaten for a month. He was such a good eater. The only thing thst changed was.me putting grommets on something. There was alot of metal on metal hammering. I also gave him a different hide on the cool side. We also turned A/C central air on. We switched from local pet store F/T to Perfect Prey. Thats all that changed. Im going tomorrow to get him a different hide. Im going to also refresh his enclosure with a cleaning an slight remodel. Hopefully he will est soon. Ive cried so many times over him not eating.

[@thenewkidontheblok]

Did he eat

[@kylelowder1883]

I’m new at breeding In the first year . My male just killed his rat but didn’t eat it I found out this morning? But iv fed him once a week he’s 1000 grams now n has him got maybe 2 months but just started pairing to with to females but only a few days a week per female only two females? Prolly messing it all up ll

[@itzjdub282]

My BP went off feed from Dec. 26 to April 15th🙄

[@MapleBunnie]

My ball Python is a little over 6 weeks and he is refusing to eat for over a month and I am getting really scared for him and I don’t know what to do… his tank is 87 degrees, he has a hideout, a branch to climb on and of course his water bowl. I feed him frozen thaw like what his breeder told me and still nothing…

[@ronaldkoepke9080]

Do you have any for sale ?

[@KINOVAReptiles]

Yep! www.kinovareptiles.com

[@Bassflexr]

Hey Justin, I have a Pastave Male and a Superfly Vanilla Clown Female. I want to create some darker more orange clutches. What genes in a few more snakes should I look to buy. Any advice would be welcomed.

[@KINOVAReptiles]

It’s tough to get those colors with pastel in the mix. The pastel tends to make everything yellow … I’d put OD and Enchi into the mix

[@Bassflexr]

@@KINOVAReptiles Would it be okay to ask if you have any animals available with those suggestions. I do like to raise from juvenile.

[@Ken9284]

I’ve got a piebald where nothing in his his husbandry was off. He kept drinking water. But he wouldn’t touch his mice. In the summer this was no big deal. Now it’s mid winter. But after three weeks of no eating I took him to the vet and the doctor force fed him. He is still refusing to eat. A week after force fed. Doc says he looks healthy. He’s a 1.5 year old male. Any suggestions? Or should I chalk this up to weather changing?

[@KINOVAReptiles]

If he's not losing weight there's no reason to force or assist feed. Just let him ride it out. Try these tricks if you haven't!

[@wandilebhengu9237]

Hi what happens when a ball python goes off feeding for a while ,mine went off feeding for 2 months and I just ate again today ,so I am not sure if I should feed it again tomorrow and give it a break or I should go as normal with the weekly cycle?

[@primatespongebob6597]

Weekly cycle

[@KINOVAReptiles]

Continue with the usual weekly cycle.

[@sj3920]

Any idea why one would consistently strike and kill the rat, but not actually eat it? Happens over half the time she eats! I try to get it later and re-offer, but she won't take it. Same thing if I offer another live rat...

[@themonsterbaby]

The size of the rat could be an issue. I don't know how big your snake is or how big the rats are you're feeding it so it's hard to say. Try giving it a couple nice instead of 1 large rat and see if that works.

[@karen-cm3yr]

we got a Lemon Blast 3 weeks ago he is refusing live and frozen

[@NathansWildLife]

My friend snake hasn’t eaten in two years and he had him for 2 and he’s from trying live in frozen though I told him to try chicks and he’s working on it now

[@KINOVAReptiles]

If it's been two years he needs to go to the vet.

[@NathansWildLife]

@@KINOVAReptiles ok

[@williamadams4843]

Okay so i am reaching out for help with should i force or assist feed. I purchased a male vanilla,pastel,yb. He was maybe a month old at the time. After having him for two months i went back to the store and got a female od,fire,Mojave he is twice her size and they were born within a few days of each other. I gave her a week to settle in to her new environment. They told me they had to assist feed her it is now two weeks and she still refuses food. She is the first ball python i have ever had who refuses food consecutive weeks. To me she is underweight she has that spine ridge she is maybe 10 inches long she can barely wrap and hold on my wrist. Should i wait another week or two? Or should i assist and give it a few weeks? Any advice is appreciated

[@KINOVAReptiles]

I would return him to the store / breeder. They should sell an animal they have been assist feeding to a customer

[@roygranger8555]

My bold python was born Sept 9 2019 he hasn't ate in about month and a half maybe 2 months he is about 4 ft long and he has been eating frozen but I thaw them out he normal takes it but I don't know why he just stopped I need help please

[@gonzo9564]

Mine also hast eaten for 2 months too

[@LuisRodriguez-nv8dv]

Mine went on strike from April to December . He is a healthy 1000 gram 3 year old albino piebald

[@mysterymadam8555]

What would it be considered if my snake went off feed after a really bad shed?

[@KINOVAReptiles]

Stress!

[@RGD-Repairs]

I just got a 5 year old BP, that came from a Rub rack, and now i have him in a 4ft viv. He has a hide each end, and hot end temp set to 31-32c, He just came out of shedding for previous owner... I asked the owner when his last feed was, He said about 8 days ago... So should i be worried that my python wont take a meal? Im aware thats its a new enclosure, New setup, He has just come out of shedding etc, So im guessing im just over-reacting? Right? Also, I heard that handling BP's can cause them to not feed... Is this true? I wanted the snake as a friendly family reptile, that my children can hold etc... But if handling puts them off feeding, Then perhaps its not the best breed of snake to have? -- Sorry for the noob questions.. Im just new to owning a Ball Python...

[@RGD-Repairs]

@@KINOVAReptiles fantastic.. Thankyou for your reply.. Being a new Ball Python owner, i was getting concerned about him going 8 days without food... But thankyou very much.... Great help

[@brettgrelle6700]

Ball python went from eating once a week to nothing in a month and a half. Tank conditions haven't changed. I've honestly given up I don't know what else to do to make it eat. Going to continue offering once a week until she eats or passes away I don't know what else to do.

[@KorokHaze93]

I've even tried assist feeding and that's my absolute last resort so I got no idea what to do with mine🤷‍♂️ Isn't underweight but if it continues not to eat its kinda screwed.

[@KINOVAReptiles]

I would seek veterinary assistance!

[@KorokHaze93]

@@KINOVAReptiles I'm gonna try live feeding and see if that helps. If not idk. There's no vets near me that'll work with a snake the ones that I did find are ridiculously expensive. The snake isn't underweight but I'm concerned. It was given to me and i was told It hasn't eaten in like 6 months.

[@babyjixbengil7052]

My bp started not eating, shes eating only rats then i tried to feed her another type of feeder a hamster then she ate it, at the nxt feeding week i let her tried to offer rats then she refused it again and now i will feed her a hamster cuz it has a high in fat.. what should i do to let her eat rats again?

[@KINOVAReptiles]

You can try to offer a small rat right after you feed a hamster - sometimes that does the trick

[@babyjixbengil7052]

@@KINOVAReptiles thanks sir

[@KingLannis]

My snake is scared of eating rats he always slithers away from them and he’s starting to get a ridge on his back instead of round

[@jrizzy226]

My Mojave went off for a month+..she lost mad weight and I just assist fed her today a fuzzy and she took it..I'm 😁💙💙💙

[@jrizzy226]

@@KINOVAReptiles she ate 2🥰💙💙💙

[@KyleSilva1990]

Dude my snake is going like 10-11 months and I can’t get her to eat. I’m so nervous something is seriously wrong with her. I changed her cage a while back and figured that’s what causes the strike. So I went back and put her back into her cage when she was eating regularly. But still nothing. Any advice from anyone??

[@KINOVAReptiles]

Try all the steps in this video and if that doesn't work might be time to seek vet assistance!

[@NavaReptiles]

Good stuff Justin!

[@REAVER781]

I always find it's seasonal and prey size. This past holiday season 3 went on a fast, they lost ZERO weight, in fact I weighed them on Dec 18, they fed on Dec 26th, they finally took food again on April 21st. I weighed them May 11th, they still weigh 30 or more grams than they did December 18th. ***For new keepers*** pay attention to your snakes, you'll learn their body language and behaviors when they are hungry. If your husbandry is good and all other requirements are met, your snake will tell you when its hungry. I got SOOOO annoyed with my snakes when they would fast, I would have to dispose of uneaten rats, that $$$ starts to add up. LOL I started breeding rats so I always had fresh rats to feed off, plus rats make good pets anyways. My Mocha/Spider is at 2032 grams, Butter/Fire is at 1676, Toffino 777, and Cinnamon / Mojave is at 286, about $15 a week for rats.

[@REAVER781]

@iheart138, same here.

[@jessiesansing2126]

I have redtail boas for the times my ball pythons don't eat. They're basically garbage disposals lol

[@REAVER781]

@@jessiesansing2126 been thinking about that, or a Mexican black king

[@itzjdub282]

How crazy is this? I just wrote a comment saying my ball Python went off feed from Dec. 26 to April 15th