Not eating Afraid of mice and rats

[Kittenchehire]

So i got a ball python 2 years ago and he stopped eating all of a sudden he was already afraid of mice and he hasn't eaten in 5 or 6 months and im really worried

how can i get him to eat

[KMG]

What was it eating when it was? Rat, mice, size?

Have you tried feeding a smaller size prey item?

Are you feeding live or F/T?

[Sonny1318]

Are yours temps good? More info would help people help you.

[skatefastdieyoung]

Perhaps its his way of fasting as he was already afraid and spontaneously stopped. Also it may be the way you offered the rodent, Not much info.

To get him eating properly again try making the stench of the rodent more potent by microwaving it for a short period of time instead of Thawing.

If you do not feed F/T perhaps you should try. Maybe the rodent being alive is spooking him... Like i said not much info.

[anicatgirl]

Needing some more info to make any accurate logical leaps as to what is going on. Temps, humidity, type of feeder being offered, how you heat it, when you feed....?

Perhaps its his way of fasting as he was already afraid and spontaneously stopped. Also it may be the way you offered the rodent, Not much info.

To get him eating properly again try making the stench of the rodent more potent by microwaving it for a short period of time instead of Thawing.

If you do not feed F/T perhaps you should try. Maybe the rodent being alive is spooking him... Like i said not much info.

You should always thaw to room temp at least. Cold insides on a feeder would hurt your snake. And you'll only suggest a microwave until you have a feeder blow up on you

[Kittenchehire]

He has an under the tank heater that keeps him at 85. he gets fresh water every day. he is fed frozen mice previously the reptile store that had him was feeding him live and when i bought him he had a bunch of scars on his face and upper body he was afraid of even the dead mice when i tried to feed him . Ive offered him large mice and small rats he was eating medium rats before he randomly stopped eating about the time he stopped eating was normal brumation season until it wasnt and he didnt start eating like our other snakes did
I thaw his food in a nice warm cup of water like the packaging says to do
he never had a problem eating before. The normal routine for feeding is the following:

1. I wait until it is night when he is more active
2. I place him in a clean feeding aquarium
3. I tempt him with mouse like normal

As I said, in the past this system worked fine. he would coil, strike and wrap his coils around the mouse, then eat. Now he just explores the aquarium a little, he seems very disinterested in even looking at the mouse.
Handling is not a problem. He has never tried to bite me. I will hold him and he will slither up my arm and explore whatever area we sit in.

[frostysBP]

How do u measure temps how do you control them? What is humidity at have you tried feeding rats like it was eating instead Of mice. You do not need to place him in a different enclosure To feed it causes more stress. Try and heat just the head of the rat up with a blow dryer after it's dethawed. Another note do you know how much he weights now and when he went off feed. Balls can and will fast for up to a year or more in some cases. As long as he his hydrated and hasn't lost crazy amount of weight. He will be just fine. I just got one of my breeder males to eat after 7 months off food. You can also try to offer African soft fur rats(ASF) or chicks.... Sorry For long replie we just need more info pics of snake and enclosed would help

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[frostysBP]

85 might be a little cold for hot spit try bumping up to 88 And ball pythons do NOt brumate fyi

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[Kittenchehire]

i use brumate as a loose term for the time he stops eating around thanks giving till usually February i always try to feed during this time i use an electronic temperature gauge i have tried feeding him both rats and mice
he wont eat in his normal tank

he hasnt lost much weight in fasting and has lots of water

[frostysBP]

Do you have a tstat on the heating pad? Humidity. How big of tank is he in. Have you tried changing his husbandry. I moved my male from a 41 q all white rack to a 28qt black rack and after a week of settling in he ate right away. He 1100g

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