Ball python striking, starts to wrap around, then lets go. Help!

[courtneyla43]

Hi, my ball python is about 3-4 years old. Last week he struck at the rat about 5 times before he actually ate. Today when I tried feeding him he struck at the rat around 9 times and tried wrapping around it 4 times but he ended up letting it go every time. I'm starting to get worried because he has an obvious interest in eating and acts hungry but it seems as though he can't.

A little backgroud: I got him as a gift 2 years ago. I started college about 9 months ago so he had to stay with a family member during that time because I was living on campus. I got him back about 3 weeks ago. When I brought him back home i noticed that the scales were very pink and red in some spots. A few days later it became, what I believe, scale rot. I gave him baths in betadine and applied triple antibiotic ointment to the affected area once a day for 4 days before his vet appointment came. The vet didn't tell me what it was, just said that what I had done worked great and that I didn't need to do it anymore. It's healing up and looks really nice. Didn't know if this might cause a problem when eating.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Albert Clark]

No guarantee but it's possible he is still recovering from the scale rot and or whatever condition the vet didn't disclose to you. What type of enclosure are you housing him in and what are your temps, humidity and heating apparatus working? Does he have enough hiding areas. Reptiles heal slowly and that may also be a factor in his reactions to the prey items.

[Kibbleswhites]

Feed him rat pups with their eyes closed until he gets over his strike and release. A scared rodent with its eyes open can would the snake both physically and mentally. The snake may refuse a rodent species that has caused damage to it in the past.