Great news!

Bubba, my 5 year old male ball python has just eaten his first meal since some time around december. I offered a very large live gerbil and he took it within seconds. I'm very, VERY happy at this moment. I was really starting to worry about the little guy.

Wow, congrats Will! I am sure you and he are both feeling better. Here's hoping he'll make a new habit of it. :)

I can imagine the REFLEIF you gotta be feelin, man! Great news!

thanks guys... :)

one question though... how long would you suggest i wait until i offer again? and should i offer another gerbil or try to get him back to rats asap? i dont mind spending the extra cash on gerbils if he's gonna eat them...

How long was he on rats before his fast?

If for some reason he was on a fast, if he had taken many rats before, you at least know that the reason he went off feed didn't have anything to do with the type of prey being offered. Sounds like the gerbil just reawakened his feeding response. I would definitly try to offer a rat again sooner than later, while the whole idea of eating is fresh.

And since gerbils are very close to their natural wild prey, I would feed gerbils if I could afford to. If you don't mind spending the extra money, I'd say go for it.

Build back up bubba's fat stores for a month or two. Then start scenting rats.

Excellent! I'm very happy for you.

Great to hear, Will!
Xaero gave me just over a month with no food..........I was wackin and freezing rats like mad trying to keep the population down. Nowhere near as long as Bubba fasted, but I can imagine my joy when mine finally ate again multiplied by ten in your case. You should change his name to Ghandi :roll:

I'd try rats next, but have a gerbil source ready as a backup, personally, and I wouldn't give him too long before trying again so he doesn't forget how good eating was. :)

Congrats! I know how good it feels when your balky ball python finally decides to eat. It's a sigh of relief.