My ball python has not eaten since August, Any advice?

[CALM Pythons]

hello!

Unfortunately, My ball python has not eaten since August. The last time I fed her she took a small PK rat just fine, but after that she never took again.
whenever I attempt to feed her, she seems interested for a few moments, before tucking her head back into her hide and avoiding the rat. As of late she has shown barley any interest.
I took her to the vet back in November, she had a fecal done and a general physical and she had no problems or signs of parasites.

Here's her husbandry:

Tank size: 4 ft x 2 ft x 16 Inch PVC tank

Hot side temp: 87-92 Degrees
Cold side temp: 80-75, 75-70 on colder days.

Humidity: often stays at around 65% goes up to 75% after being misted.

Substrate: eco earth mixed with rainforest bedding, Substrate is humid but not wet.

Tank decor: two hides, a cork tube, water dish big enough to soak in, fake plants, and one real Jade Plant. Also some rocks and vines.

Lighting: LED, Its on a timer and is on for 12 hours a day.

Here's what ive tried in terms of food:

Frozen rats, dry
Frozen rats, wet
Frozen rats, hot
Frozen rats, cold.
Different colored rats.

Pre-killed
Pre-killed, bled
Pre-killed lots of wiggling

Live, Showed barley any interest. Certainly more than the other times but still minimal.

I try to feed her about once every two weeks.
Im super worried about her, she's still at an ok weight but she's getting thin and I want to try all that I can before we have to have a vet force feed her. I know that that is SUPER stressful for them so I want to try everything that I can.

Hello, first let me tell you not to worry to much. This is 100% normal Ball Python behavior. A few things can contribute to this and some you cannot control.
Not sure of the age but that plays a roll. Most Balls up to a year eat on a decent schedule, after that if they have been fed normally and not maintenance fed they can be all over the map unless you space out the feed schedule longer. Most of mine have always went to once a month after a year, year & half and the adults willing to eat every 2 weeks end up going off later for 4-6 months. This is why Im ok with once a month and rather they stay on all year. I have never had a Ball or any Python starve themselves. Of course all my snakes come from healthy parents and great breeders.
Another problem can be breeding season once they’re adults. I have a female that did this for years like clockwork even though its more common for males.
When they do go off, wait a good amount of time. Remember they do this in the wild. Don’t think like a person, that makes us worry. 6 months off food at proper weight/size ratio will be just fine. I had a 2 yr old female go off for 8 months when she was 2100 grams.. 8 months later she was 1780 grams and went back on like nothing changed hahahaha...
As far as your lights and heat. I recommend never allowing your enclosure to get below 78 minimum at the coolest spot. My cool sides are 79-81 24/7. Balls will choose security over heat and that means in their peanut head they could choose a spot thats to cold if you do not regulate temps better...that can cause a respiratory issue fast or failure to digest food. Also I would not run a light all day if the room the snakes are kept in isnt pitch dark. They prefer not being light up like Broadway..if the room is dark without windows then id do a 1/2 day of light, 6-8 hrs. They will know Night from Day no matter what you do with the light cycles...
If I were you (Ive been keeping 32 years) I would wait this out. Try offering once a month Max.. refusing can become very habit forming with Balls... Get a weight now and pay attention to body composition. Nobody can tell you what your snake should weigh with age, Its about general health and their appearance. If you need piece of mind post some pics. Id be happy fo help as would others.


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