Adult male won't eat

[kgrindle]

Hello, I have an adult male ball python that I acquired in April and I have not been able to get him to eat. He was eating live rats before I bought him, but live rats are illegal where I am. I have tried f/t rats, quail, chicks, asf, and mice as well as live mice and live asf. I have downsized him from a 38 quart tub to a 15 quart tub. The room is kept ambient 26°, so just around 80°f. Heat tape is the main heat source in the enclosures. He is the only snake out of my 20+ that will not eat. Today he had a big poop with some dark mucous in it, as well as urates. I was shocked to see it because he hasn't eaten with me. He now looks pretty skinny and has lost some weight. I still see him drinking and thermoregulating. I don't handle him whatsoever other than weighing or changing substrate. I am at a loss. I have had experience with assist feeding and force feeding an I'll snake after being shown how by a vet, so I have considered that but it's my very last resort since I know how stressful it is. Any advice before heading to a vet? I recently done parasite and cryptosporidium tests with the vet and those were negative.

[EL-Ziggy]

Sorry your BP is being so stubborn. Sometimes there's no rhyme or reason for their feeding breaks. In some places it's getting colder and it's breeding season for lots of species so many snakes are going off food. It is concerning that he hasn't eaten since April but if he's pooping then he still has reserves. Your temps are in range and you say the snake isn't sick so you may just have to let nature take it's course. I had a BP that went a full year without food and he was just fine. I'd keep offering food once a month until he decides to eat again but I wouldn't assist/force feed a snake that was previously eating. I hope he gets on track soon.

[GoingPostal]

Does he show hunting behavior or any interest in the food you've offered?

[Zincubus]

I’ve sent you details of the hairdryer method .. certainly worth a try ..

If all else fails leave a couple of thawed chicks in the viv overnight..


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