Ball Python is fasting for 8 months now

[A.K.]

Hi all,

Augusta, my 2 1/2 yo female ball python is fasting for 8 months now. I offer her a FT rat every 2-3 weeks, but she just turns her head away and slithers back to the hide.

Otherwise she seems to be happy and healthy. I take her out 2-3 times a week, she behaves like at any other times. She doesn't look sick, no discoloration, no mites, no nothing. She shed twice over the winter.

This is her third winter. She ate throughout the first winter like a champ while she was just a baby. The second winter she did not eat between late November to late May. This winter she had a rat early October and nothing since.

How long did your snake fast the longest? Should I be worried? Should I take her to the vet? I don't want to force feed her. Can't even imagine how can someone shove a fair size rat that she eats down her throat against her will.

I also have a BCC, almost a year old, she eats just fine.

All words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!

A.K.