My ball python won't eat or shed. Why is this happening and what to do?

Question

I have a ball python about 1.5 years. She was such a good eater and now I’m lucky if I can get her to eat every other wk. she doesn’t appear to be loosing weight and seem healthy but I don’t know why she isn’t eating much. She also hasn’t shed in a month or two. I normally feed her 1 large mouse every wk. do you have any ideas for me? I’ve tried putting her in a desperate container with the mouse and covering it with a towel and i make sure the mouse is warm.

Miranda Sadar, DVM, DACZM · Accepted Answer

Thank you for reaching out about your ball python - she is really cute! There are a few things you can try/check for the appetite. Often times, when we are seeing issues with appetite, the first thing we try to do is check the husbandry and ensure that it is as perfect as it can be. Sometimes in between seasons the temperatures can get off in the enclosure, and I would recommend checking that first. Also, the humidity can affect the shedding intervals, in addition to the temperature. I would recommend evaluating the temperatures in the enclosure with digital thermometers to ensure that they are appropriate. Also, based on how she looks in the photos, she appears to be in fair body condition, so she may also be regulating herself as far as her weight/appetite goes. This would be a bit of an exception for a ball python, as most of them will overeat and become overweight. But, there are exceptions to the rule and maybe she is one of them! For the prey items - I like that you are using a separate container, and that you are warming the prey items in warm water. Please ensure that the water gets them to body temperature for rodents, which is around 100-102F. Often snakes will eat prey items that are cooler than that, but if a snake is being picky I try to encourage owners to get them measure the temperature to ensure it is warm enough. I hope that this gives you a place to start, and if she doesn't eat despite all of these changes, I would recommend a veterinary visit for her!

My ball python won't eat or shed. Why is this happening and what to do?

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