python not ate for over 1 year need Help

Appologise in advance for this long post

I have had my male ball python for a little over a year now he is approx 4 yrs old currently weighs 796g
Since I got him over a year ago he has only ever been force fed 2 rat pups he is not the slightest bit interested in food

Understandably he refused to eat recently as he had suffered from scale rot which has now cleared

He was offered a brained gerbil a few wks ago got it half way down and regurged it so have tried the same 2 more times and not even showing an interest

i have tried mice, rats
smaller items ie small mice, small weaner rat

I have tried live feeding with a small mouse and he didnt even show interest in the mouse it got right up to his face and he done nothing

Even heated food up tried strike feeding drop feeding nothing seems to work

My temps are sitting at 89 - 90 on the hot side, kept in a 33L Rub with 2 hides
keep him in a quiet spot
havent been handling him unless needed

If anyone else can give me some advice I would b grateful as I am running out of ideas :( worry that if he doesnt eat soon i might lose him
apart from him not eating for over a year now he is still active and looks in good health

i am even picking up a female ball python on friday whos ready for breeding was told that might help him come out of this feeding fast

I have another python plus 4 corns 1 boa,1 hognose & 1 yellow anaconda and they all eat every time not often they refuse a feed unless in shed

Thanks

What is the cool side temps and ambient air temps?

Have you tried getting him a vet appointment in this whole year? Parasites can often make them lose interest in food.

Same as above and have you tried ASF's?

Ever ran a fecal?

kitedemon: temps are at 80 at the cool end, humidity sits between 50 - 60 %

thewesterngate: had him at the vets over this past year and apart from 1 case of scale rot he is healthy, even been working with someone who has kept reptiles for many year is a expert with them and he is struggling to think for ways to feed him it was him that done the assist feeds for me
i have 2 ball pythons and they are like night and day one eats every time without fail and my other one doesnt eat

2kdime: no not tried them, no thats a gd idea ill contact my vets they have never mentioned doing that

Did he keep the force feeds down? If so you could do that again and wait for the poop so that can get tested.

All good advice I'm sorry your going through this. I would def try ASFs if you access.

What time of day do you try feeding? I find I have the best luck at night and not turning the lights on high...just a small lamp at the front of the room.

i second the ASF suggestion....

How are you attempting to feed it? In the cage or out? Tongs or by hand? Are you hovering watching the whole time or do you leave the snake alone and check back?

MasonC2K: yes he kept the force feed down im going to get him force fed again try and get a sample from Him to make sure there is nothing wrong

womsterr: I am going to source a asf and try him on this once I have got a fecal sample to rule out any health problems
I have been leaving the food in with him overnight and covering his rub with a thin bed sheet so he cant see out

MikeSchultz: I have tried feeding him in a viv, in his rub,
Tried feeding him by hand, with tongs, drop feeding, heated food, brained food, live mouse in rub (enclosed in small tub) with dead small mouse beside it (live mouse used for stronger scent), tried live feeding small mouse, gerbils, rabbit foot
Apart from when he was offered a live feed I cover his rub and leave him overnight before checking on him again

What is the ambient air temp? If it is too low or high the snake no matter the surface temp will be unable to digest, and typically will not eat either. IR guns cannot measure ambient temps.

What is the size of his enclosure and his hides like? Where is he placed in the room? Could something be stressing him out and putting him off feed? It sounds like there is something wrong - if he is checking out okay at the vet, then there is a husbandry issue.

Ottergorun: I keep him in a 33l rub and he is kept in my bedroom on top of 3 stacked vivs
He has 2 log hides one on the hot side and one directly across on the cool side with his water bowl in-between he fits snug into the hides as I got advice before saying ball pythons dont like alot of room in their hides makes them feel safer
My temps are 90 at the hot side and abt 80 at his cool side
Humidity is kept between 50 - 60%

Can you think of any changes that happened when it went off feed? It is drinking at all? I would also still consider taking it back to the vet.

Wilson1984 what is the ambient temp? Not the hot side surface or cool side surface but the air inside the enclosure.

Snakes have a long lung that runs past heart liver and all major arteries. The air in the lung will cause the core temp to drop and the animal will simply not be able to get enough warmth from a warm surface to heat the core. The reverse it true as well if the core is too hot you simply cannot cool down by contact.