10 years old? He shouldn't be eating weekly & he (or rather his body) is trying to say it's too much. I'd only feed him every other week (q. 10-14 days).
A broom handle is pretty thick...how long is he? These are supposed to be slender snakes, not like BPs.I wouldn't feed him large mice either, mediums
at the very most and preferably small mice.
You said "he was kept very small" so it sounds like he got off to a rocky start in life....it's possible he is showing signs of age* faster than others might have.
*like needing less food. But I still think he wants "out" to find a place to snooze for a month or so. If his body weight is good, why not let him? If he hasn't
eaten lately, gradually (over about 10 days) lower his cage heat until it's off. Put a towel over his cage to darken it. In another week put his cage in a cooler
location (floor of closet maybe?). Only check now & then to refill his water bowl...let him sleep (brumate) for a month or two, then gradually do all in reverse.
When he gets up against the top of his cage & keeps falling, it's not good for him and he's telling you he needs out, that his cage is too warm for what he wants
& needs right now. I know it's unsettling to consider brumating a snake, but as long as he's not showing any signs of illness it's just nature's way. I suspect
that since he "was kept very small" that maybe it has taken him this long to fully mature. Adult snakes instinctively go off feed in winter not only to survive
the cold, but because they NEED the cool down for reproductive success (fertility). Listen to what he's saying.
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