I received my python on the 2nd this month, and after leaving him alone for about 6 days have been trying to feed him, in decreasing size every 4 days, a f/t mouse. I tried in the tank, he ignored it. I left it overnight and nothing. I tried in the tank first the second time around, he looked at it, sniffed it, and ignored it. I then tried moving him to a tub after leaving him with the mouse for a little bit, and he a few times would watch it on the tongs, smell it, and even poke it with his nose but not even try to strike at it. I left him in the tub in his tank with the mouse (in the middle of the tank, a little towards the cool side) overnight and he had just shoved it into a corner. This last time I tried a fuzzy, which is less than his girth (at 108g), that was heated up in hot, not boiling, water and even tried dipping it in chicken broth. Still just got the occasional glance, a poke or two, and then ignorance. I contacted Snakes at Sunset, where I ordered him, and I was told to try an appropriately sized live rodent which would be a small mouse in my case. I assume this means he was fed live at the breeder's, so I can see why that may effect this. I have not handled him outside of moving him to try to feed and putting him back, and he's been left alone for a couple days now.

He is set up in a 40 gal, but I have loaded it with plants, a couple hides and have three sides (currently four as I have draped the towels on top of the tank over the front as well) covered. The warm side is at 86-90, the cool side in the upper to mid 70s. Humidity is kept to at least 50% with damp washcloths on the screen lid, a sheet of plexiglass covering the top, and then towels over top that. He is pretty active, I hear him slithering up the foam background or rustling (and falling) around during the day on occasion and at night. He seems to be pleased with his hides as well, and uses both cool and warm ones.

Should I go to live next time? I plan to do so in a tub he has room to move around in and will supervise. Or is there something else to try first? Wait and keep trying f/t? I realize I can switch him over off live after a few meals. I also do not know when they fed him at the facility last, so I am not 100% when his last meal was. It must not have been very recent, as he has not pooped so he may have digested it (which sounds most logical as he was shipped) before I even put in the order.