Once again - an albino refuses to eat for me!!!!!

This is the 3rd one since 2004.
They NEVER feed for me.
His last meal was exactly 4 months ago on 11/30/09.
Refused every time since. Today I replaced the cyprus mulch with aspen. I have tried everything to get this guy to eat.
I am going to try offerring food again this weekend.
I really hope he starts eating.

Here is a photo of him from tonight. He looks a bit thin to me. If he refuses, should I try an assist feed?

Have you been weighing him? if he's starting to lose I'd try an assist, otherwise I'd leave him a while.

I have a male pastel that goes off feed for 5 or 6 months every year after his first lock up of the season and he gets really skinny to the point I always get worried about his health. The only thing that gets him to eat is the smell of an ovulating female that he has been with. As soon as she ovulates, he goes right back on feed with live first and then frozen the next time. Im not sure if you are breeding him but thats what happens with mine. I hope it helps.

You'll have to learn to listen to Brandi, Steve...remember this comment?

Originally Posted by Miss Tuniwha

WOOOO.. don't jinx it dangit!!

From the timeline, I think he probably ate another meal or two after you posted this

3 in a row!!!!
My albino has eaten 3 meals in a row since I moved him.

Finally, an albino that eats!!!!

Damn snakes, I hate when they do that - I've got several that do it every winter. Did you try picking him up and offering him the food? (I wouldn't recommend that to just anybody, but I've already told you that it works for some of mine, lol)

Originally Posted by hhmoore

Damn snakes, I hate when they do that - I've got several that do it every winter. Did you try picking him up and offering him the food? (I wouldn't recommend that to just anybody, but I've already told you that it works for some of mine, lol)

I may try that.
This one only ate this way for me for a while.

Originally Posted by hhmoore

Damn snakes, I hate when they do that - I've got several that do it every winter.

so you can curse, but when i do i get an infraction?

Originally Posted by Andrews Arboreals

so you can curse, but when i do i get an infraction?

I have a male Lesser who hasn't eaten since 11/26, so I feel your pain. From the picture, I bet he's about the same size as your Albino.

I'd check two things:

1. Is he losing a lot of weight in a short amount of time? If he's staying constant or very slowly decreasing, then I wouldn't worry just yet.
2. Can you still feel his muscle tone? If so, then he's not in the danger/force-feeding zone just yet.

For example, my Lesser peaked at ~650 g, then he quickly dropped down below 600 in a few weeks, which got me worried. But now he's very slowly losing weight (~20g a month or something like that), which is fairly normal for a snake who isn't eating just to mess with his owner (as opposed to something being wrong with him).

Once they start losing muscle tone, it's time for more drastic action, like tube- or force-feeding. I had some discussions about this with my vet when my ~250 g female Woma decided to not eat for several months last summer/fall.

Originally Posted by Andrews Arboreals

so you can curse, but when i do i get an infraction?

I'd suggest re-reading the rules of the site. More closely, this time.

before i would force feed i would try to assist feed there is a difference between the two, if you nned more info look at the complete ball python by Mccurly. good luck.try live rat pup just getting a little color on the head

He is a 2008 and weighs 407 grams as of tonight.
He has been a sporadic feeder ever since I got him.
Over the past few months he has lost about 70 grams but still has good muscle tone.








Anyone have an adult female albino that eats f/t (regularly)? I can make a trade very worthwhile for a feeding female.