Feeding issue?!

Ok, so I know that snakes may not eat for a while through winter. But, Zuka has been eating fine every 5-6 days. No hesitation. He denied after the first 4 times I fed him so I spaced it out like 8 days after denying and he took fine. Now it's been 12 days and he denied again. But what's funny is that he's been acting weird. He spends every bit of his time in his hide, never comes out that I know of. Last 3 days he has been out and about, moving around. Even caught him poking his head out of his hide, so I figured.. he's gotta be hungry. Didn't move anything in his enclosure, offered him food.. denied again. It's just getting old that I have to keep throwing mice out. They are F/T by the way.

My two questions
1. Not knowing his age or weight, how often should I feed him. Every 2 weeks? Since he's denying?

2. Should he be eating small mice now? It's the step up from the pinky from what I'm seeing.

Here's his current size.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5a1a502d0f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...7c9385f8ec.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...e8e303ae15.jpg


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It's very likely that it's because of the mating season. I'd say he should eat a hopper but I'm not for certain, try feeding live.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by OneEyedFox

It's very likely that it's because of the mating season. I'd say he should eat a hopper but I'm not for certain, try feeding live.


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This animal is not near sexual maturity based on it's size so refusal is not the reason, hopper are what are fed right out of the egg, this animal is not right out of the egg either.

OP

Feeding issues with new owner are generally husbandry related, at this size your animal should be voracious.

The keys are

Optimum husbandry, proper temps, measured with a digital thermometer and at the surface of the substrate.

An enclosure that is not too big, too big means the animal will stress over time and refuse to feed.

Proper hides very tight providing the required security.

Minimum stress which often means minimum handling if you are experiencing issues.

Proper food size until the animal is 500 grams is a prey equal the girth size

Changing prey (F/T to Live) or Mice to rats or vice versa) may work however this means you must be able and willing to do this in the long run, if not keep feeding what used to work.

At this size this is the setup I would suggest, or 15 quarts max https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-hatchling-101 and appropriate size meal https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ing-Guidelines