Ball Python not eating

[kirby921]

I have a ball python that is about 8 years old. For the past 5 years or so, he has steadily eaten adult rats with no issues. he has not eaten in quite a while now, months actually. We tried many rats, even mice, he just "makes friends" with them and won't eat any thing. This is our first ball python and our first feeding issue, anyone have any suggestions?

[The Serpent Merchant]

Welcome to the site!

A few questions

1. What size/type of cage do you have?

2. What are you using to heat the cage?

3. What are you using to measure temperatures/humidity inside the cage?

4. What are the current cage temperatures/humidity?

5. Has anything changed recently?

6. Are you feeding live, pre-killed, or frozen thawed rodents?

[steve_r34]

its breeding season he probably just got other things on his mind .. happens all the time they stop eating then start again

[kirby921]

1) 50 gal bowfront tank. About 2 yrs in that
2) heat lamp above, heat pad below. Pad is usually used in colder months or when temp in cage drops too much.
3) small zoomed thermometer that sticks to sidewall. No current humidity detector, it broke and I know, I gotta get a new one.
4) temp about 78-80 avg
5) biggest change was when we moved back in july, but it was before that that he stopped eating.
6) he eats live...started with mice upgraded to rats.

He is very active and his 'routine' really hasn't changed....he is very alert, just doesn't seen as interested in his food. He used to gobble them right up.