Third Refused mouse, starting to freak out....

Don't worry about it, 3 refusals in a week is nothing. DON'T switch prey items, he'll eat what he's been eating.
Check his belly. Does it look pinkish? Are his colors a bit dark and dull? He may just be going opaque, and getting ready to shed. Most ball pythons refuse food when in shed.
If so, just leave him alone, and wait until he has shed, then offer him food again.

No he just shed a week or two ago, its like he smells the mouse and then is just un-interested. I bought two live mice today from Earl May in Fort Dodge and thought I might try pre killing them just to get some food in him. Hes lost a little bit of weight in the last two weeks.

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Originally Posted by Clint Bundy

I wouldn't try the gerbil yet. I have never had to go that route but I have heard of problems getting balls weaned off of them. Like I say I have never had to do that so they are stories to me. I would love to hear any stories about gerbils being used as feeders. Yes a small white mouse will do. I have a 2 and a half month old Mojave baby that just ate a hopper for me tonight for the first time. He hadn't ate for me since I got him 2 weeks ago. I am relieved for now. I juts hope he keeps it up. Good Luck

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I have had my BP for almost 2 years. After eating great for the first few months I got my first refusal. After months of making sure that my temps and humidity were perfect and making sure my BP had nice tight fitting hides I finally decided to try feeding live. I had really good luck with live for quite some time. I started breeding my own because feeders are expensive where I live and the only source is not up to my standards of care. When I started needing to feed 2 mice and then 3 I decided I would need to move away from mice. My BP was better on live but still not a great feeder so I got worried about rats outgrowing my needs.

After reeding a lot of warnings against it I finally decided to start breeding gerbils. I can get a gerbil here for 6 dollars and a rat (regardless of size) was costing me $5.50. My situation is a bit unique so I would not recommend feeding gerbils. I can say that in my case gerbils are only slightly more expensive than rats. They do not outgrow my BP (largest so far 90 grams). I supervise all of my feedings closely. Gerbils have much less oder than any other rodent I have worked with. For my needs they breed and grow fast enough. They are very friendly, breeding for over 6 months with no bites. Finally I can't get ASF's easily either. PM me if you have any specific questions about gerbils as feeders.

Well it would be much more economical to feed frozen thawed, so if I plan on keeping him on frozen thawed then I shouldnt even attempt feeding live?

Unless he's lost substantial weight, it's not a big deal.
ALWAYS wait at least 7 days between feeding attempts. Even skip a week to give him more time.

Ball pythons going off food for months on end is normal, and should only be cause for concern should they lose 30% of body weight.

Trying to feed 2-3 days apart will stress him out, and will add to the problem.

dont know if anyone said yet but next time just clip the top of the mouses head off to get some brain showing before you try asf or gerbils. This usally gets em goin if they are think about going off mice.

So I should wait a week, and just leave him alone. Then if he wont take frozen thawed, as a last resort feed live or pre-killed? Honestly I dont think I could bring myself to kill a poor little mouse. I have no problems feeding him f/t, I just couldnt kill it myself or let it suffer.

And he just shed 2 weeks ago so I dont think thats it.

? Anyone?

Wait a week.

My normal girl will decide suddenly not to eat for 2-3 weeks sometimes(she's a 2 year old though), then suddenly starts eating regularly again.

It's nothing to worry about if the BP won't eat for a week... The point you would start to worry a bit for a youngling would be when you're hitting 3 weeks, though i'm no expert. Just taking an educated guess.

Honestly your BP just might not be hungry, lol.