I can't get my BP to eat

[rglick1]

we got our BP from a friend that had had him for 3 years. when we got him he was starting to shed so we left him alone and he shedded completly. We then tried to feed him a week after he shedded, wouldn't eat, its now been 3 months and he still won't eat after several attempts. We have done live, freshly killed, but not frozen. He just seems like he could care less, his past owner said he eat every 2 weeks a small live rat. Should we try something else or not worry about him. He doesn't seem like he has lost weight, but will start monitoring that today.
Any help would be great.
peace
Ryan

[JLC]

Fortunately for us....these are extremely hardy snakes that can fast for extremely long periods with no ill effects! So no worries yet! But it is a good idea to start monitoring weight, just in case.

When you got the snake...did you also get the original enclosure that it was being kept in? Or is it in an entirely new set-up? Can you describe it? (Type of enclosure, size, substrate, heating elements, temps, etc)

Also...the location of the enclosure might be playing a role. Is it in a high traffic area where the snake gets a lot of feedback from its environment? (Tv or stereo speakers....kids running around....dogs or cats sniffing around...etc)

[Bart]

Are you following the same routine as the original owner? (if he fed in a seperate container, do the same thing)

[starmom]

I agree with Judy in that a lot of times it is something in the husbandry that is causing the snake to go off feed....

I also think it's a great idea to start monitoring the weight of the snake to be sure that weight loss isn't happening without you being aware of it.

Other than that, I think I would offer a live prey item to the snake every 7 days. Mice take a while to get up to the size of a small rat and so you could hold them over from week to week without running the risk of it getting big enough to star in a science fiction movie!

[OfficialSavage]

Try an ASF rat. They work great at getting fasting ball pythons to eat again.

[blackcrystal22]

How old is this snake.

Double check your husbandry details and match them up with this caresheet.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=59