Hi guys,

So Im not sure how worrying the title is to the guys who have been at this longer than i have.

I have had Terry, 2 y/o Ball Python, we call him male but we dont actually know. since approx November 2015 so about 9 months and he has eaten once and shed 3 times whilst in my care. we got all his kit from his previous owner as he only had the one snake.

Shortly after we got him he had his first shed which didn't go so well, very patchy and found scraps of shed everywhere. since then i have focused more on the humidity and temperatures and he has had 2 great sheds in single pieces! which as i have not had a snake before it is a very impressive sight to see.

His old owner told us that he could be a bit funny with eating but as i believe most can be on and off. but he said that he would strike quite well and take fine. For his size he apparently he was eating a good sized F/T rat (possibly a bit big from alot of the videos that i have seen.) so i have tried numerous times with smaller ones, a bit bigger than my thumb. (it was one this size that he ate.) i have tried them defrosted over a couple of hours in the air and trying him striking, tried them with hot water and drying them off (tried them in hot water and quickly dabbed to try to heep them hotter and a little wet!) i have done a good amount of reading and i do think i am doing well he just will not take!

the rat that he did eat i defrosted and left it in his viv, nose pointed toward his usual hide (a rock looking hide, nice and snug) and came in to see it gone in the morning! i was extatic! so i left it a week and followed the same method, there in the morning. "maybe he isnt hungry..." left it another week, again still not taken. again and again. i try him each week and have tried leaving it two incase i was just bugging him.

we had him see a vet in april and the vet let us know he was healthy seeming, possibly a little weight lost but still quite bulky. the vet said he had 8 snakes and 2 are BP's. said feeding his snakes they are by far his most picky.

I would really appreciate any insight for helping out my wee buddy. the only thing that i have not tried is force feeding and i really am not a fan of the idea.

im comfortable holding him and having him near my face (im also pretty fine with the knowledge that if i pi**ed him off he could give me a wee bite) but i dont want to make him uncomfortable.

but if needs must then is it not worth a try?

Like i said i'd really appreciate any help on this.

Many thanks,
Liam