Weird feeding behavior

[Ivanator]

My ball python is approximately 15yo, give or take, and from January till April, it did not eat. It started feeding again in the middle if April but its really weird. He doesn't strike at the food anymore, he just searches around for the head and it takes close to 30 min just to get him to bite it. After eating, he won't be interested in eating at all for 2 weeks. How come his feeding response has changed so much? Has anyone else had this problem? He's always been my best feeder, never refusing a meal even when in shed. He used to be my garbage disposal when one of my baby retics doesn't eat. Should I be concerned? Feeding him is just really annoying now cuz eventually my hand gets tired from wiggling the rat around in front of him for so long.

[Starbuck]

if you leave the rat near him overnight will he eat it?
has anything changed in his tank or with your feeder source recently?

you could try braining the rat first and see if that increases his feeding response? Or making sure it is very warm (~90 degrees) when you offer it?
Sorry thats all i got.

[Bloutitt]

^ I was going to suggest what starbuck said! Good advice! Goodluck with you ball, keep us updated!

[Ivanator]

He has eaten it once when i keft it overnight and that was the first time he ate after his littke fast. Ever since then he hasnt. He just ckimbs over it and doesnt even pay attention to it. Nothing has changed with the enclosure but I did switch rodent suppliers. I stopped buying from this reptile shop by me cuz they screwed me over big time and order from rodentpro now. With braining, do I just stick a needle in the rats head? I've read how to do it but never actually did it before or have seen someone do it.

[SnakeyJay]

I find the best method with braining is to stab the head with a slim knife and twist slightly.. Opens it up nicely to let all those good juices out hahaha..

On a serious note tho, it sounds gross but it seemed to work well for me when I had a none feeding neonate brb... Good luck.

[Ivanator]

Ok thanks! I will try that next week when I attempt to feed him again. Since this guy is pretty old, is it common for them to become more lethargic the older they are? I just find it extremely peculiar how much his behavior has changed. He's like 15yo right now. How much time should he have left? Most of the people I know have only kept them for around 10 years before they pass.

[Mark Taylor]

I believe it is around 25 yrs for a cb.

[Centexsnakes]

25+ years, I think the record is 48 years but I'm not sure

[rocknhorse76]

15 y/o isn't old for a cb snake. You'll probably have him at least another 10 years.

[Aaron_S]

It's an adult male ball python who's just coming out of breeding season.

He's fine. I wouldn't hold a rat for 30 minutes for him. If he isn't interested, take it out and leave it. Offer once every other week. I doubt he's losing weight and that he'll be fine.

No reason to brain rodents or anything of the matter. He just isn't interested in eating. Let him be.

[rocknhorse76]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

It's an adult male ball python who's just coming out of breeding season.

He's fine. I wouldn't hold a rat for 30 minutes for him. If he isn't interested, take it out and leave it. Offer once every other week. I doubt he's losing weight and that he'll be fine.

No reason to brain rodents or anything of the matter. He just isn't interested in eating. Let him be.

Completely agree.

[NextMorph]

What Aaron said.

A male ball python of his age not eating from january-april is veerrryyyy common. I have one male that almost never eats through 7 or 8 months of the year over winter and spring. He eats over summer and when he feels like it and maintains a very steady weight... no problems!! Just how they like to do it sometimes..

[jettabar99]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

No reason to brain rodents or anything of the matter. He just isn't interested in eating. Let him be.

I can think of a few reasons to brain some of my coworkers - but i doubt that would help the snake eat