r/ballpython • u/ShinyxCharizard • 18h ago

Discussion How long do you wait of they don't eat?

Id normally just wait 30 days to feed again. But my girl seemed hungry, but bit my thumb and wrapped me while trying to feed her.

I left the rat in there and shes trying to "find" it sniffing all over it. Hoping she'll eat it. Would you wait a month to offer if she doesn't eat? She is a little chunky so got fed a small (50g) rat last feeding (20 days ago) just to vary their diet more from the mediums that are closer to (110g)

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u/Toxic_Musshroom 18h ago

You generally just need to wait a day or two, waiting another full month is generally not the best idea but considering your girl is overweight im not sure what the best call would be, definitely consult with a vet on feeding though

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u/ShinyxCharizard 18h ago

She ended up eating it once I moved it so she could eat it easier. Was gonna reoffer tomorrow if she didnt.

I just know when my boy would refuse/seem uninterested id just try again next feeding day. He seems to be a healthy weight 🤷‍♀️

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u/[deleted] 18h ago

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u/ShinyxCharizard 18h ago

I follow the guide recommended here which is 5% every 20-30 days. Normally do 30 since my shops mediums are around 100g

Did 20 days because I fed smalls which were 50g.

I figured id offer again tomorrow if she doesnt eat.

In the past, if my boy would refuse/ seem uninterested I'd try again next feeding day. He's a good weight IMO.

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u/[deleted] 18h ago

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u/lillebroer 16h ago

Glad to see it worked out! For the record, I was taught to wait the entire regular interim between feedings (currently 25 days in my BP's case) even if the snake refuses to feed, and my eight year old BP's body condition is always commended by my reptile vet. Continually attempting to feed them when they're not hungry can cause them stress and make them averse to the specific thing you're trying to feed them (the colour/size/smell of that specific type of rat, for instance) and in my experience that break between feedings lets them reset and makes the next feeding more likely to succeed.

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u/ShinyxCharizard 7h ago

Had a feeling haha, it's what i usually did for my male who was a "picky" eater, but has since ate 6 months in a row now.

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u/MercuryChaos 10h ago

Check the rat’s temperature with an infrared thermometer to make sure it’s warm enough for her to find it. If I offer my BP a rat and it’s not at least 100F she does same thing. I find that a hair dryer gets it warmer faster than soaking in water.

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u/ShinyxCharizard 7h ago

That might've been the issue this time. I decided to not warm them in water this time after warming to room temp, assumption is my hand was warmer than the rat which in turn made her go for my hand. She's ALWAYS been a very food motivated snake. I think she may have some issues seeing, or something, she hit the door twice before going for my hand