My Piebald has not took a meal in 3 Months!! Need Advice!

[NNJExotics]

Hey Everyone,
So a brief intro....i acquired my Piebald Male in July 2010. He was offered to me from a breeder locally that was selling his collection. He previously sired a clutch of piebalds. He is a 2007 Male Piebald. His temperment is great. He was at 798 grams when i acquired him and has dropped down to 699 grams as of 9/30/10. He was on a f/t rat diet from previous owner. Snake was fed 2 days before i acquired him and defecated a few days later so i know for sure he was eating. Since then, he has not taken a meal. I offered him f/t rats, to freshly killed rats, to f/t mice, to freshly killed mice throughout this whole time and nothing. He has had 3 complete sheds monthly since July. He was kept in a 32qt tub and everything has been kept the same until a few weeks ago. Ambient temp is at 80 and heat side at 90..humidity at 60%. Plain newspaper is what i have been using for his bedding until the past couple weeks. After talking to some breeders, i put him in 15qt tub and provided him with Aspen bedding. I was suggested this because i was told that the less space the better and the aspen will allow him to feel secure by having it surround him. He has been to the vet and has been cleared of everything. I went as far as to having x-rays done today and nothing. I am a little frustrated because i just want him to take a meal. It could be possible that he is off feed and will go on feed sometime in the next months. I have had my normal adult fast up to 6 months. Would prefer any inputs or recommendations. Do you think it's just a piebald being picky? I really am hesitant to start him on ASF's because of the scare availability of them around here.

Thanks so much in advance,
Javier

[WingedWolfPsion]

Well, I'd keep him in quarantine for a year, of course, but apart from that--

If he appears to be healthy he probably is. He's most likely just fussing over being moved to a new home. Try giving him a cardboard box hide, and offer a hopper rat late at night a week later.

There really is no fear that eating an ASF will make him only eat ASFs, but it seems pointless--he obviously likes rats, so when he is ready to eat, he will eat a rat.

Some ball pythons take a move in stride--others really marathon fast afterward, and it takes them a long time to feel secure enough to eat again.

[NNJExotics]

feel a little bit better after hearing that. Thanks

[iCandiBallPythons]

Sometimes they will go off feed randomly around reaching maturity, I wouldnt worry. As Ive mentioned in a couple older threads I had 2 go off feed for 11 months and now they are eating fine.

[BMorrison]

I had the same problem w/ my 07 Normal Male. I switched him to live and since then has not refused a meal. So maybe try live if you're okay with it?

[anatess]

Or you can ship him to me and I'll take care of him.
He is pretty.

I second the live rat suggestion if you don't have a problem with that. And even a smaller size prey than his normal diet. It's coming on winter - they usually go on a fast then. So, it might be you'll have a longer wait coming. Just continue to monitor his weight, keep his environment stable - not too much distraction - and watch for signs that he is not alert. If all seems normal, then just wait it out.

Good luck!

[NNJExotics]

Thanks everyone for the input!

[wax32]

I wouldn't worry. I had one go 15 months.

[bman123]

He's a looker, hopefully he eats soon

[NNJExotics]

No meal since July when i acquired him but he finally took a meal today. He refused frozen thawed and took a live hopper instead. This is a good start and hopefully no more of it! What i did notice is that he was striking at me the past 2 days, so i hinted that he was finally hungry as he has never done this.

Thanks everyone for all the advice!
-The transfer to smaller tub
-the addition of aspen bedding
-smaller hide

everything all helped!

Thanks!
Javier