Hasn't eaten in 5 weeks and about to go into shed?

[regiusloki]

Hey all, I'm going to try to make this simple:
I purchased an approx. year old ghost ball pthon 5 weeks ago. Since then I have offered a frozen prey item once weekly, and he has yet to eat once. Emailed the breeder, and he suggested to supplement with a live mouse just to get him to eat something. Okay fine, he's continued to look healthy since I've gotten him (no other signs of possible diseases).
The conflicting issue is that he looks like he is about to shed. His belly went a bit pink, his color looks like it may have that "faded/bluish" hue and his eyes look very slightly clouded (but I've never seen either of those in real life, so I'm not sure), and he's spending all his time hiding in his hidey log (which he usually spends much of the dawn/dusk time exploring and climbing), and it even looks like the scales may be different.
My question is should I go ahead and try to feed a live mouse to my ball even if he is going into shed AND hasn't yet eaten anything?
I feel like after all that I have read, that this may make him more anxious, and I'm at a catch 22.
Also, please note that I have taken all the precautions and done all the research to ensure that he is getting the best care possible.

[Vasiliki]

They can survive quite a long time without food. I'd skip this meal, let him get hungry, let him not get stressed because he is shedding and then try again next week or the week after he sheds. I've skipped meals with my guys before and their weights don't really change. In fact, skipping a meal might help him feel hungry enough to eat after he sheds. Win-win.

So I'd say skip it, let him settle, let him shed and try again later. He won't suffer without a meal for a week or two, haha. Just look at some of the BPs who are on their 4-6 month food strike.

I like to skip meals now and then with my guys, to make sure they do remain interested in eating. Although with my corn, that's never a problem

[The Serpent Merchant]

It won't hurt to offer food. He may or may not take it. It really depends on the individual BP.

Just to be sure check out these 2 threads to make sure everything is perfect. In my experience something isn't right if a BP is off food for that long (but some will not eat for no good reason too)

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...04#post1845904

[The Serpent Merchant]

I will add that there is nothing wrong with skipping this feeding if that is what you want to do. Either way is perfectly acceptable. Some of my BP's will eat for me during shed and some won't. A healthy BP can go a year or more without food. A few weeks doesn't matter.

[regiusloki]

Thanks guys. I think because his eyes look suspect and not totally clouded over I'll try live. hopefully he'll eat and I won't have a new pet. Ant other tips snd trickas are always appreciated.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Making sure that your temperatures/humidity are perfect, that you have good hides (hides with only one enterence/exit and are the right size *shown below*), and a correctly sized rodent are the most important aspects of a successful feeding. Whatever you do, do not leave a live rodent unattended with a BP. the rodent can injure the BP if given the chance.

Good hide: nice and sung with only a single enterence/exit

[regiusloki]

He shed last night... He hasn't yet come out of his tiny little log, but when he does he'll get a live meal this time at least.