My 3 year old ball python won't eat

So 5 weeks ago, I have tried to switch my ball python to f/t and none of the methods that I tried worked. Before i started switching, I did feed him a live rat which he ate and had a shed. After the 5 weeks I decided just to let him eat a live rat than try the f/t rat, but he didnt eat the live. He looked at it, touched it and then backed away. I dont know if he is stressed or not because he stays in his hide during the day and comes out at night like every ball python. Why isnt he eating? If it was f/t than i would understand, but he is a live eater.

Had the same problem with my 24" female today. She is a live feeder and when I dropped the rat in she smelled it, tracked it, and what looked like tasted it... She struck at it 5 or 6 times before she finnally took it. She is extremelly moody and bipolor. Shell get excited and active when she sees me 1 day and the next she will hiss at me lol.... Her names medusa btw ;) just watch him, make appropriate changes check temps and humidity and offer it again in 5-10 days

Given the age and assuming the animal in question has a good body weight there is nothing I would worry about.

It's not uncommon for mature males to go off feed especially at this time of the year.

Make sure your husbandry is on spot offer food less frequently and maybe even smaller prey if you do not already so (55 grams rats) and wait it out.

It could take a few weeks or a few months just keep monitoring him and make sure he is well hydrated.

he seemed so interested and then when he looked at he just backed away. The rat was there for at least 30 minutes. good thing i had another bp that eats live and frozen.

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Originally Posted by Maddumpling

he seemed so interested and then when he looked at he just backed away. The rat was there for at least 30 minutes. good thing i had another bp that eats live and frozen.

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Having other animal that will eat what other don't definitely helps :gj:

1) dont worry about a ball that wont eat for a few weeks. my albino ate 3 weeks ago for the firsst time in 215 days. nothing changed in that time thats just the way he is.

2) dont give up the f/t it may take time but i was succesfull in switching over 3 and 4 year old live feeders.
what methods are you trying?

Yea i wouldnt worry bout it at all. Adult balls will go off feed for a number of reasons. They can actually go off feed for up to a year an even more. Now thats in extreme cases but it happens. During breeding season my girls go off feed for months. Im sure your issue is a confusion issue with the frozen thawed experiment.

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Originally Posted by Mr. Constrictor

1) dont worry about a ball that wont eat for a few weeks. my albino ate 3 weeks ago for the firsst time in 215 days. nothing changed in that time thats just the way he is.

2) dont give up the f/t it may take time but i was succesfull in switching over 3 and 4 year old live feeders.
what methods are you trying?

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I tried everything that people can think of. The primer first then the f/t, leaving it in the cage or in the hide, heating it with a heat lamp and a hairdryer, doing the zombie dance, dipping chicken broth on it, get rat bedding and scenting the rat, irritating the snake with the rack (like moving the f/t rat on its back).