winter starvation

[spike]

I have a 3-y-o female ball who basically won't feed in the winter (I live in Philadelphia). That means 2 or more months of turning down live rats that she'll eat once a week the rest of the year. Anyone understand why? How does she know it's winter? The house gets dry in winter, but I try to keep some moisture in her cage by spraying it daily.
Maybe she's fine, but I'm curious if anyone else has the same experience.

[Robilyn]

I'm sure plenty of people more experienced than me will tell you all about how balls like to go off their food. From what I know, a couple of months a year without feeding will do her no harm. If her temps are constant, maybe she's picking up on a photoperiod change that triggers her brumation.

[Thomas Jones]

I have several that are not eating. Alot of BP's do stop eating during the winter. It is nothing to worry about unless they lose alot of weight. Some can stay off fed for a year or more.

[spike]

thanks everyone. that's a relief to hear. i was concerned because i had a retic several years ago, and he was always hungry.

[Thomas Jones]

Retics are always hungry. It always seem no matter how much I fed mine they were still hungry. They have a very high metabolism.(spl)