Snake suddenly being stubborn eater

[AndrewM1217]

My 2-ish year old spotted python has never once turned down a meal. He last ate two weeks ago on wednesday, a normal adult mouse. Last friday I tried to give him an XL mouse I had since it had been 10 days at the time since his last feeding, and he turned it down. Today (2 weeks from his last meal) he refused another XL mouse. He has eaten XL mice from this same batch before, but suddenly doesnt seem to want them. He comes up to smell them and expresses interest but then just slinks back.

I cleaned his cage between his last meal and now, but the husbandry has remained the same. Tomorrow I am going to get a normal adult mouse, and probably try to feed him that on friday. If that fails I will try a brained adult mouse. Last resort is I will try to feed him live I suppose. Any input is welcome and appreciated!

Also, he seems to have picked up this weird habit of laying behind his hide on the warm side rather than laying inside the hide. This seems to have started after cleaning his cage.

[Ian of Oldham]

Leave him for a week and put the rat/ mouse in and leave it in over night at the cool end, this may sort it as hi may take it in the night.

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[Andy_G]

Leaving overnight may work. It is NOWHERE near the point of you having to panick or try too many new things. These guys can go a few months without food no problem and will sometimes fast for no obvious reason. If husbandry is in check then he will begin eating on his own when he wants.

Furthermore...they'lll usually only use the warm side if they are digesting or if the entire cage is too cool...but there are oddballs out there. You are 100% certain temps are totally correct? How are you checking them and have you done so after the cleaning? If a change in behaviour such as what you have listed occurs you should always first check your temps with a temp gun. Sometimes temp spikes or drops can occur, thermostats can fail, and bulbs can even go a bit wonky.

[macandchz]

i wouldn't get too worried yet. pythons are known to go on hunger strikes that can last for awhile, even months. they can be very picky about their food. just the other day, i tried to give mac what i thought was a nice looking mouse but it smelled a little more gamey than usual-even to me. mac took one sniff and re-coiled. something about it must not have been quite right. as for where they prefer in the enclosure, i think they pick a comfortable spot. feel good that he feels safe enough to stay out of his hide. that's a good sign he's not stressed.

[Albert Clark]

The more you frequently attempt to feed him the more that can cause refusals. Along with triple checking temperatures and humidity you should really extend the time frame in which you offer food. 5 refusals over a 3 month period is better than 5 over a 5 week period. So you may just be better off waiting him out by offering less frequently and offer a smaller prey item also.

[AndrewM1217]

Just thought I would drop back in this thread and say that I got him to eat today. He started going back into his hide rather than behind it about 6 days ago, so maybe the added warmth from the enclosed space motivated him enough to eat. I also gave him a regular adult mouse rather than an XL. Anyway he's fat and happy now! Thanks for the advice