yearling male yellow belly

[Phantomtip]

My yearling male yellow belly is driving me crazy. He's been on strike since beginning of December. I've tried everything except ASFs and mice. I've tried live, p/k, anf f/t on him and nothing. On feeding days he hides, the rest of the time he comes out, explores, and acts normal. He's never been bitten in my care. I've always gotten appropriate sized prey. He's been farting up a storm. Might have to change his name to windbag. When will this goofy boy eat. Why are men so difficult? Its a wonder there are any male bps around. I'm surprised at times the females don't kill them lol

[RockNRollProcelain]

If he stopped eating in December, it sounds like he's more interested in ladies than in food. I wouldn't worry. It's pretty normal for BPs to go off of feed this time of year. =] He'll eat when he's ready. As long as he's not dropping a ton of weight and still looks healthy, he's fine.

[Flikky]

Don't stress it's normal. He will eat when his body tells him it's time. A lot of BPs go on a winter fast and around the 1,000gram mark.

[Phantomtip]

He was around the 470 gram mark when he went on fast now he's around 430grams. He's looking interested today and last week but no go last feeding day which is Mondays. Hopefully the little brat will eat this week.

[Reptile Frenzy]

Well some males can breed at 430 grams as long as they are producing sperm plugs and its possible that he is off food for breeding season but i doubt it. Have you tried a live regular rat? I wouldnt worry about his fast its normal for balls but dont let it drop too much. Also try feeding at night with the lights off.

[Dracoluna]

My pastel enchi boy did the same thing around the same weight. Gave him a nice, smelly mouse and he decided eating was good again. Back to pounding rats now. I've found a mouse or two helps when mine go off food. Pretty sure it's the increased smell... Never realized how much difference there was until I started thawing rats out when I got bps. I can smell it when I'm thawing mice but the rats are pretty much odorless to me.

[Phantomtip]

No I'm trying to hold off on getting a mouse. I don't like mice because they stink. I've tried live and ft rats. I tried a little big a little small and just right. I've tried chicken broth, I've tried scenting with mouse litter from the LPS I get my rodents from. Yes I do have girls, and he was producing sperm plugs when I got him. He was only with my 1 girl once on an accident. He's just being a brat I think. I won't breed till next year with the girls I have. I only have single gene boys and girls so starting small and hoping I can get some better genes going in the future. It just amazes me that he's gone on strike at his age. My parameters, and cleaning is spot on so I know he's not too hot, cold wet or dry. His cage is clean. I spot clean every day. I've fed morning, noon, and night. He starts looking interested and I thaw a rat for him. Then he turns his nose up. I flat out refuse to force feed him. It would be way too stressful on him and me. I don't want the goofy boy to hate me either. That's what my vet wanted to do and I said not just no but take a flying leap off a tall building heck no. Yes I have taken him in because his gas was getting bad. I thought one of my other snakes was regurging when I heard it.

[ViperSRT3g]

Don't worry, my BP is almost a year old and he's also gone on strike. He hasn't eaten anything at all since the beginning of February. He hasn't dropped much weight so if he still appears to be healthy, then he must be fine. He behaves just like yours, perfectly normal, seems like he might be hungry when it's time to eat. But then just about ignores the food once its in his tank. I keep seeing people saying to wait it out. It's much easier said than done lol.