red blood python

Question
Link (our red blood python) is now 3 yrs old and 4-1/2 feet long.  He is a pretty good eater.  He is now on large rats, usually one every 7-10 days.  Last winter he did not eat at all for months.  I was so worried about him, wrote to various experts, and tried feeding him multiple times.  He does have a cooler and hot side, undertank heater, spot heater in a clamp lamp, has always had paper towels for a substrate so I an clean up easily and frequently, a "hide hut" (although he has a hard time getting his whole self in there now..since he is so huge..but he still loves it), and a swimming pool (rubbermaid tote in his tank).  And I mist inside his tank.  The problem is that he has come around to not eating again.  Any suggestions you have?

Answer
Hi Kristi,

You have a mature male ready to breed. Male pythons will tend to not eat for a prolonged period during the winter months. Even if the temps and all are still exact in the tank there is going to be a spot that changes. They can sense this change.

Continue to try to feed and he will take the prey eventually. Being a larger python he can go for almost a year and maybe even more without eating and no ill affect.

You should find him a female. This will help him release and should help him get through the season faster.

Hope this helps,
Eric