My ball python ate like a pig the first year I had him. Then around October last year stopped eating regularly. He has eaten 4 rats (40-50grams each) since 10/31/2012. I've tried 90-100gram ones as well b/c he was around 1200-1300 grams when this all started. He seems interested at first but eventually completely ignores the rat. He has never once struck at the rat when I put it in with tongs, instead I leave it lay outside his hide and those couple times he has ate it later in the night. I've tried feeding in the evening and later at night, makes no difference. Heating with hair dryer, not heating with the hair dryer makes no difference either.

As far as husbandry goes he has 2 identical hides, temps are 78-80 ambient and a hot spot of 91-93.

I don't hardly handle him anymore, just been trying to leave him alone for the most part, but nothing seems to help. I haven't really weighed him lately but I can tell he looks skinnier. Guess I can do that later.

How long should I let this go on? Is it time to pull the plug on the F/T idea and try feeding live? What would I do with a live rat if he doesn't eat it? I have one snake so it's not like I can offer it to another one. Maybe someone knows a breeder in the Raleigh area I could either buy rats from or give an uneaten specimen to. I certainly don't want a rat for a pet.