Ball python not eating

[Bo 17]

I have a ball python who just recently has stopped eating. He has refused food for a little over a month. He is a little over 2 years old. I know that a month with out food is nothing and that it’s probably just a normal feeding strike considering that it’s winter and he has just reached maturity. But the thing is that when I offer food he seems very interested. He has almost never missed a feeding before this. When I try to give him food he will go into a strike position and stare directly at the rat. He looked like he is about to strike but never does. I’m just wondering if this is normal for a feeding strike and if there is anything else I should try. He also has stayed in his cold side and not come out except for water in a while. I just want some advice on how to get eating again. Thanks!

[Bogertophis]

Yes, as you know, it's fairly normal. I think what you're seeing is his indecisiveness ("I want it, it looks yummy, but I know I shouldn't...") because his survival instincts tell him NOT to get stuck with food in his gut that he cannot digest. Instincts are not ignored logically by snakes ("hey, my owner has got this...my cage is heated"). I wouldn't worry about it, & whatever you do, don't offer too often- wait 3 weeks if you think there's a chance he'll eat then. Offering too often usually backfires, & stresses them into more refusals. Maybe in 3 weeks he'll change his mind, or maybe he won't. Are you sure his home temps. are where they should be? Most snakes sense when our rooms get colder & daylight gets shorter...there are things you can do to fix that. If he still won't eat though, try not to stress about it. This is what many BPs do in winter.

[Sonny1318]

I pretty much agree with Bogertophis, I have a different way of describing that look, that’s the either eat or mate stare... Lmao ✌️

[Bo 17]

Lol he just ate this weekend. Big relief after about 3 months of not eating. I guess it was just a winter fast. I switched to mice, got a smaller size, and thawed in a bag. Worked like a charm he was super hungry and probably would have taken another if I would have had one.

[lovepig78]

Glad he ate for you.