Two months, no eat...

[blueberrypancakes]

Bradley just had his first shed with me and it was lovely. So I though he might be hungry...
I attempted feeding but he didn't take the rat. I've had him for two months, still hasn't eaten one single meal from me! He's out of his hide and roaming his tank a lot since his shed (which was just last night). Doesn't that mean he's hungry?

[RobNJ]

He's out of his hide and roaming his tank a lot since his shed (which was just last night). Doesn't that mean he's hungry?

Not really, balls are ambush predators and rely far more heavily on meals coming to them than their ability to go out and find a meal.

[The Serpent Merchant]

It can go either way. As long as you are sure that his temperatures/humidity is correct and he has properly sized hides then there isn't anything to worry about.

I have a few that will cruise around their enclosures the night before feeding day.

[RestlessRobie]

I can understand your concern my Sons normal Peek A Boo just started eating again last week. He had been off feed since the first of December so it does cause a little worried but if husbandry is spot on I wouldnt worry to much

[Daybreaker]

One of my balls and my King have been off feed since October of last year and have just took their first meal since just 5 days ago. As mentioned, as long as your husbandry is on he should come around when he's ready. Maybe you just need to find his feeding "quirk": some of mine will only eat after I do x, y, or z for them (prescenting the room or around their tub, leaving it in with them overnight, etc)

[twistedtails]

Oh, you must own a ball python.
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[Mike41793]

Not really, balls are ambush predators and rely far more heavily on meals coming to them than their ability to go out and find a meal.

I sorta disagree with this. To my knowledge in the wild they move from rodent burrow to rodent burrow to seek out food. Also when i put a rat in the tub mine will come out of the hide and go right up to the rat and get it. Rather than just sitting there waiting for the rat to go into the hide. Just my 2 cents. I only have 3 bps tho so obviously my data could be innacurate.
Let me add i RESPECTFULLY disagree lol. Not trying to start a fight

[RobNJ]

I sorta disagree with this. To my knowledge in the wild they move from rodent burrow to rodent burrow to seek out food. Also when i put a rat in the tub mine will come out of the hide and go right up to the rat and get it. Rather than just sitting there waiting for the rat to go into the hide. Just my 2 cents. I only have 3 bps tho so obviously my data could be innacurate.
Let me add i RESPECTFULLY disagree lol. Not trying to start a fight

Ok, an ambush predator does not always just sit there and literally wait for something to be within reach...if something is in close enough proximity and they can get it, they will. When you're feeding in a tub, that rat is always in close proximity. In the wild, the snake follows the scent of the food source because if there is a fresh scent, there's a good chance that the food source will be coming by again. They are not actively seeking prey as much as they are seeking a place where it is likely prey will pass by.

[Mike41793]

Ok, an ambush predator does not always just sit there and literally wait for something to be within reach...if something is in close enough proximity and they can get it, they will. When you're feeding in a tub, that rat is always in close proximity. In the wild, the snake follows the scent of the food source because if there is a fresh scent, there's a good chance that the food source will be coming by again. They are not actively seeking prey as much as they are seeking a place where it is likely prey will pass by.

I see your point. Just sounded different from how you first responded to the OP.

[blueberrypancakes]

Jacks didn't eat last night, either! He's never refused a meal before. I wonder if there was something funny in the air... I mean, I really wasn't expecting Bradley to eat, 'cause FAIL every time, but Jacks? That boy is always hungry. And it was a day after his usual feeding day. I did, however, have to clean his tub no less than 3 times yesterday (he was very messy with the pee, the upending of the water bowl, and the giant turd- all just a couple hours apart...) so he may have been a little bit "leave. me. ALONE.".