Hey there,

I know this is a common issue but I feel like I've tried everything I've seen suggested online and nothing is working.

I have a 1+ year old ball python. He's in a 75 gallon tank, 88/90F on the hot side, 45-60% humidity on average when not shedding. In Kansas where it's quite dry - going through a heat spell at the moment. He gets a live rat every two weeks.

He skipped a feeding in late February, ate again three weeks later, but then went on a four month feeding strike. I finally got him to eat in late June, but now he's back to not eating (have tried two times this month).

Apart from refusing to eat frozen-thawed, he's never been picky. Eats any time of day, any color, doesn't mind being watched... Very eager and aggressive; I'd put a rat in and he would immediately cross the tank to get it. Now he gets excited, comes out in a strike position, but won't strike. The rat inevitably ends up bopping his nose and then he seems to act scared and retreats back to his hides.

I've tried changing rat colors, tried changing breeders, tried changing times of day, spiked the heat in the tank, tried holding the rat in the air by the tail, varied the length of time between offering him a rat... I know he's in good health. He didn't lose weight during his 4 month strike, no other signs of illness. His behavior is altogether unaltered - still very inquisitive when he's taken out, very relaxed. I just don't know. I live so far away from the breeder, it's costly to take the rat back every time he won't eat it and I just don't know what's going on or what I could try differently.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. I don't know if this is natural -

I was told by the breeder I got him from to take him to the vet if he got to five months without eating but as I said, he has no other signs of anything being wrong so I'm just so lost on what to do.