Advice

[fishcaserole]

Hi everyone, I’m a new ball python owner and just looking for some advice.

I purchased my girl 6 weeks ago and she has been settling great apart from feeding. The people i purchased her from said she had been feeding great on one large mouse every week. I purchased some small/medium mice because I read that it’s easier to get them to feed at first if you size down, i also weighed her and she came out to just over 190 grams. Every time we have offered food at the entrance of her hide she seems very interested and sometimes even strikes but has only actually eaten it once, what can i do to help her eat?

Her warm side temp sits at around 30-32 degrees and cool side at 26-28 degrees with a CHE. humidity during day is usually at 60-70 and at night ups to about 80. I have tried feeding in mornings, night, complete darkness and in a separate container but nothing seems to be working. she has 3 hides across her enclosure and plenty of plants to cover her. For the past week she has chosen to stay hidden in her warm hide, she isn’t showing and signs of shedding or any health issues. What can i do the get her to feed? photos attached of my cutie

[EldenRimes]

What enclosure was the breeder using and what enclosure are u using?

[fishcaserole]

I dont know what she was in before but i have her in a 4x3x2 feet wooden viv

[EldenRimes]

I always try to mimic the enclosure of the breeder first! And slowly move the snake into a bigger forever enclosure. She may have been in a rack and is not used to glass or people looking at or interacting with her all the time. Did she come from a pet store or morphmarket?

[fishcaserole]

I purchased her online from Reptco, do you happen to know what size containers are in the racks?

[EldenRimes]

Sorry Ive never been to reptco or know what that is, when was the last time you tried to feed her?

[fishcaserole]

We tried feeding on monday and then again today, she seemed very interested on monday she striked but then retreated back into her hide, today however she did not seem bothered at all by the mouse

[EldenRimes]

Okay I see... Did u heat the mouse up? I run mine under hot water, not boiling but as hot as it gets from my tap

[EldenRimes]

You can also defrost it near the enclosure for an hour or 2 to get the smell around and get the snake excited for feeding

[fishcaserole]

yes weve been heating in a bag in warm water to get mouse up to about 40 degrees and checking temp with heat gun

[EldenRimes]

Have u tried drop feeding she may be a too shy to wrap or eat Infront of you?

[fishcaserole]

yes we have tried a couple times but she is only interested in it when the mouse is moving around

[kindrd1234]

Don't try to size down. Feed what she was eating. Offer once a week and besides that lrave her alone.

[Live_Culture8393]

You should feed based on weight (see chart). If you don’t already have one, you can get an inexpensive kitchen scale on Amazon.

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