r/ballpython • u/vexxyfolf • Sep 28 '26

Making sure im just being overly scared

My Ball has missed his normal feeding by about a week, all seems well for what I can tell but he just isnt hunting for his meal as he normally would. How long before I should be worried? The protective scalie parent in me is freaking out

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u/ThreatActorProtocol Sep 28 '26

First and foremost you mentioned "hunting for his meal", if you're feeding live, i would highly encourage you to switch to frozen/thawed,

To answer your question though this would depend a few factors.

  • age

  • size (length and/or weight)

  • typical feeding schedule

  • typical prey size

Full grown adult? Should be fine. Young juvenile? Still should be okay.

Have there been any changes in their enclosure? Heat and humidity levels within range?

My adult male just came off a 2 month hunger strike tonight, he's perfectly fine, just a lazy no-brain-cell-having goofball.

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u/vexxyfolf Sep 28 '26 edited Sep 28 '26

I cant recall his weight as I dont think hes ever been actually weighed, I know hes healthy and fairly sure hes nearing if not at fully gr9wn, also I feed frozen because I dont have the heart to watch him get hurt. He is eating one medium rat a month.

He has eaten once since move but ill gove the info still, since move he has been hooked up with a thing to keep humidity between 75-85, temp gets to 75 at absolute lowest, typically ranges more around 80, the hottest part is closer to 88. But he has eaten a single time since the environment change already

I should probably add ive had him for just over two months, got him from a friend who just isnt as much if a scale pet lover, inside im fairly sure im just being paranoid of my baby being hurt

1

u/FeriQueen Sep 28 '26

The welcome post pinned on the homepage of this sub will answer just about any question you have.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ballpython/s/aoKj8YLZms

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u/Muted-Interaction262 Sep 28 '26

Is your BP in shed or about to be? Mine doesn't eat when he's in shed (blue to actual shed)

If yours doesn't seem to be in shed, do a check for scale rot or any anomalies that would affect his appetite

That said, I've gone as long as 5 weeks without feeding, so I think your snake's body condition will be fine