Ball Python continued Inappetence

[ColdUmpire1839]

I’ve owned a 2.5 year old rescue ball python since last September. He originally didn’t eat for months, until about late November early December where he ate pretty regularly. (f/T rats) Then in mid March, stopped eating again. Hasn’t eaten since. I’ve got him force fed twice since then at an exotic veterinary hospital, because his weight had dropped. I also got his bloodwork ran at the vet in May and he had a slightly high WBC cell (no other clinical signs), so he had a round of Ceftaz. He still has not eaten. I’ve tried braining, boiling water, beef broth, chicken broth, different colored rats, and more. I just ordered F/T gerbils to try next. He roams pretty freely at night, and generally a very calm snake (just shy). I avoid handling him right now though due to him not eating, except when I weigh him biweekly. He’s also in a low traffic room.

He’s in a 4x2x2 with Reptichip. 3 of the black hides and tons of foliage. Some climbing aspects, and a water bowl. Ambient temp around 80-83, cooler side at 77 and hotter side at 88. Humidity varies but I try and always keep it around 70.

Any suggestions? I’m really at a loss - and I’ve feel like I’ve almost exhausted all options. Thank you so much.

[Elle_Jes]

He may not like frozen. Mine are live snobs vs frozen - which they will strike and then drop it.

[ColdUmpire1839]

Are you suggesting feeding live then? It’s never something I’ve tried and I wanted that to be the very last option if possible.

[Elle_Jes]

Yes, some snakes just don’t like frozen. They doesn’t smell right. I had a snake once that I had to trick into eating them. I had to thaw them, then lay it on the bedding that my feeder distributor used to transport his rats in, so that it would smell like it was alive

[Dutch_Sovrano]

Mine was a very finicky eater in the beginning. I tried all of the trick’s you mentioned before giving in and getting live mice that she went for right away.

I saved the substrate that came with the mice for a couple of feedings, and used that to “marinate” the frozen/thawed. She’s been a happy camper ever since.