Sigh. He's a diva.

[kiiarah]

Just a couple of things that stand out to me. Could you clarify what you mean by basking spot? Ball pythons don't need top heat, they need belly heat to aid in digestion. The floor temp in his hot hide should be 90 degrees and ambient tank temps should be around 80. Floor hide in the cool hide is usually not a concern as long as it is on the opposite side from the heating mat and allows them to get away from the heat and still be hidden. If he doesn't have a spot he can rest his belly that is 90 degrees it could contribute to food refusal. They are quite good at realizing when conditions are not ideal to digest and they will often refuse rather than risk the food rotting or being regurgitated.

You are right that it is normal for them not to eat while in blue or while shedding, and it sounds like he is in good health. Any time you are encountering food refusals you want to keep a close eye on their weight and make sure they are not losing too much. Their weight should stay about the same through fasting, with maybe just very slight loss of weight. Do remember that a loss of say 20 grams is almost nothing for a full grown ball python, but for one as little as yours it is a much bigger percentage. Keep the members here posted on his weight and progress because they will be able to tell you if he is entering the danger zone for weight loss and should be seen by a vet. I read somewhere that the record for a snake refusing food and recovering with no damage done was 22 months. Definitely don't panic over a few weeks of refusals, or even a month or two, as long as weight is stable and all other signs of health are in order. It could be something as simple as breeding urges, hormonal changes, or any number of natural explanations. That being said, I would absolutely ensure that the floor under one of his hides is 90. Basking heat doesn't aid in digestion the way belly heat does, so it would make sense that if he doesn't have that he might be more prone to refuse meals.

Best of luck and keep us posted, there are tons of very knowlegable keepers here who are always happy to help!