Pied male possibly stressed out and not eating

[Billy305]

Looked like about 10 days ago he had retained eye caps so I soaked him over night and it looked like they were gone. Ive tried feeding twice since then but still the same thing. Doesn't seem interested in eating and only strike at the prey as if hes pissed off at it if it gets near. No coil up or eating though. Its been months now since he has eaten. I know BPs can go on strikes but I think its weird for a snake this small. His max weight since ive had him, probably with food inside, was 304 grams. He is currently as of today at 262 grams. I have him with hides, tried feeding him at different time of the day each week. I've tried adding crumpled newspaper to add more security. I have triple checked the temps.

I'm not sure whats going on with him or what I am doing wrong.

[MorphMaster]

Try a live hopper mouse. Like many others have said, it drives ball pythons nuts!!!

[Billy305]

I would but I really dont want to have to get him on to mice unless I have to. Breeder I got him from was feeding him rats and he ate 6 in a row for me and then just stopped.

[HerpIsAhobby]

You are afraid of trying mice because your afraid he might eat it? I'm all for a ball on rats but if its driving you crazy with him not eating this long give him a mouse and if he eats it get a few meals in him and try to switch over later. Mice are not as bad as some people think. A 30g mouse is better than a 0 g rat.

[Billy305]

You are afraid of trying mice because your afraid he might eat it? I'm all for a ball on rats but if its driving you crazy with him not eating this long give him a mouse and if he eats it get a few meals in him and try to switch over later. Mice are not as bad as some people think. A 30g mouse is better than a 0 g rat.

It's not that im afraid to feed him a mouse so let me try this again. How long and how much weight would you let him lose if he seemed otherwise healthy? I'd like to give him rats but also want whats best and healthiest for him.

[angllady2]

He eats live right ?

Have you tried F/T or prekilled ? I know that sounds like a contradiction, but believe it or not I've tricked a few of mine into eating by offering prekilled when they were fine with live before.

I had a het pied female do this to me, defensive strikes and all. Eventually I just left her alone. Didn't even offer her food. Tracked her weight once a week, not on feeding day, and just left her be. Three weeks of that and she's at the front of the tub when I'm feeding the others giving me the "Where's mine?" stare. So I offered her a little tiny rat. And she ate. I still believe she was just being stubborn.

Gale

[apple2]

You could also try just leaving a prekilled rat overnight with it. That works most of the time for me.

[Andybill]

My spinnerblast was feeding on live small rats when I received him but I couldnt get him to feed for me at all. I put a live mouse in there and he had it down in just a couple minutes. sometimes you gotta take a step back before you can move forward.

[alkibp]

I would try a rat pink. That won't be very mobile. Sometimes if the prey item moves around the tub a lot, my snakes will refuse to eat.

[Billy305]

Tomorrow will be 3 months with out a meal. He refused yesterday and has lost a total of 30 grams since March 1st. I think next feeding day I will try a live mouse and see what he does with it. If he doesn't go for it ill try leaving a pre killed with him the following week.

Is the 30 grams over 3 months and him not eating during this time a cause for very serious concern or have you all seen worse?