Believe it or not, I actually DO own a few BPs (2 normal males), and I am having a bit of an issue with my older male for the first time.
Ike is about 4 now, and this is the first year I am seeing issues with him going off food in the winter. He was doing great on 2 large live mice over the summer, and this fall I was able to get him over to small f/t rats. He ate 3 weeks in a row with the rats, and now won't do anything.
Ike will eat anything live or f/t, and I have never had an issue with him before. Suddenly, for the past 3 weeks, he won't touch food. I have tried a bit of everything - the dead rat dance (which is normally not needed), the dead rat on a papertowel deal, leaving the rat in over night, anything I can think of. But he is being stubborn. It's odd though because when you first put the rat down into the cage (with tongs of course), he comes out all excited, licks the damn thing a million times, then just gives you this look like "nope, but thanks for the offer" and goes back into his hide.
I know that sometimes it can be normal with the change of seasons/weather, but it worries me. How long of no food should I get worried? He is growing, shedding, having huge bowel movements, is still very active, not losing any weight, but I am a paranoid BP mom with him because he was my first snake.
Pluto, our other boy, is snatching the rats off the tongs before you get the things all the way into the cage, no problems. He is one of the most aggressive feeders I have ever seen, yet is a really sweet boy when you go to get him out.

Ok, the husbandry basics (in case anyone wants to know)-
30 gallon breeder cage
Aspen bedding
3 hides (1 warm side, 1 cool side, 1 middle) all exactly the same (those black critter hide things)
Big water bowl changed daily
Human heating pad set on about 1/3 of the tank
Hot side temp 95 (in the hide where he stays 99% of the time), cool side about 75 (measured with digi therm with probe AND checked with a temp gun every so often)
Humidity sits at about 50% unless shedding, then he gets misted every day until he is done shedding
Feeding schedule is once a week on Sundays usually, sometimes on Monday if things around here get hectic.

So, should I worry yet? If not, when do I worry?
Thanks guys and gals!

LOL...Welcome to the world of BP's...No need to worry - They all do it sooner or later...I have adult males that only eat 6 months out the year...I have some that only go off feed for a month or so each year...I wouldn't sweat it - He'll eat when he's ready...:yessir:

What BT said. For the first time it's a bit worrisome but they all develop their own schedule as they age. He'll likely go the whole winter. If it makes you feel any better, you can weigh him every couple weeks just to be sure he's not loosing a lot of weight.

As an example my adults, who are both between 2700 and 3000 grams, will lose a couple hundred grams each winter.

If nothing else, put a female with him to occupy his time while he's on his no cal diet.:lol:

BT and quig are right on.
i kinda like it when the "pets" are done eating for the season.
after that last dump, there's very little maintenance(the occasional spilled water bowl) required. it's a winter vacation for everyone, including your pocketbook. just keep the water fresh and try to feed again in april. unless his body language tells you "it's time" earlier.
good luck with it, for your own piece of mind take quig's advice and weigh him every month or so. last year, onion's het pied male lost less than 2% body weight from approx. (don't have the card here) late nov. 'till springtime.
it's great !
no cleaning !
you should be happy !
enjoy the time off (with pay) !
ck

Ditto on what everyone else said, just monitor his weight.

Thats the beauty of balls.....lol He will be fine!

It's funny, the inconsistancy with which ball pythons eat is what turns people away from them. Once it's understood and accepted that they will go off religiously, at least during winter, then you can just sit back and enjoy them.

While I don't have the amount of knowledge as some on here. This is what I have experienced as well for the first time this year as what your describing. I had a male go off feed for 7 months ate like a pig and now is back off feed again. One of my females tried the same as well. I was a bit nervous as well at first. But like BT said they will eat when they are ready.

Like said above, no need to worry. My 1 BP goes off feed from time to time and has gone all winter without eating. Aslong as you dont see if loosing lots of wieght or anything like that then its fine..

That's ball pythons for you....

Thanks guys, I guess all I needed was a bit of reassurance from the "experts"...he is doing fine now, and I'm not overly worried, just that whole "that's my baby" thing for him being my first BP. And knowing he will probably be my last since Matt hates snakes, it makes him even more special to me. If he goes MONTHS without feeding, I'll go nuts, but as long as he holds weight and doesn't seem to act strange, I'll be ok.

enjoy the time off (with pay) !
ck

Yeah, it's just more money to sink into food for the OTHER 50 some herps here LOL. That or Pluto just gets food for longer before I have to go buy more. Thank god for being able to feed f/t!

Yea problem feeders is just a given with ball pythons. Sooner or later they shut down here and there. My pied female only eats 3 months out of the year..

The good thing is, as much as they are programmed to shut down, they're also programmed to start back up. Sure there are some little tricks to help jump start them a little sooner but in all reality, he’ll eat when he’s ready.

3months 6months even longer are pretty normal

Good luck