This time of year my male always stops eating. Also if you leave a rat in for more than fifteen minutes or so they can 'get use' to them. I just offer ever three weeks over the winter and if he takes it great, and if not I take the rat (well...mouse he refuses to eat rats) out. Last winter my male went five months without eating and without losing more than ten grams. Adult ball pythons are famous for 'hunger strikes' particularly as seasons change.