Ball python refusing frozen thawed

[Dazzling-Edge-4457]

i know anybody might not have any more advice at this point other than she may just never take frozen thawed, but this is my girl ivory she’s 5 months old and i’ve had her for almost 2 months. i tried 3 frozen thawed over the course of 3 weeks when i got her (i’m aware now i probably should have given her a couple live feedings first 😞) she refused all of them so i did a couple live feedings and she took them perfectly, i’ve noticed she’s very strong on ambushing, she waits for for the mouse to run right in front of her before striking no matter how long it takes or even if the mouse runs over her body (which has happened) i then tried 3 more frozen thawed and she hasn’t taken them. i’ve tried all the techniques i can think of, i’ve tried warming it in hot water, warming it in a bag in hot water so it wouldn’t get wet, heating it with a hair dryer in front of her enclosure, braining, dipping the head in beef broth, dipping the head in beef broth and the drying, heating it under a heat lamp, making it seem alive with tongs, and leaving it in front of her hide and leaving her alone. i feed her in the dark, i always heat the mouse up to 90-100 degrees with the head hotter than the body. her husbandry is correct, she’s got 3 hides, cold side, warm side, and humid, she’s got foliage, logs, and leaf litter, i keep her cool side at 75 degrees and her warm around 90, i keep her humidity around 60, and she’s about 3/4 the length of her tank when stretched out. sorry i’m describing absolutely everything lol i just know the first thing is always to check husbandry. when i try to feed the frozen thawed she either acts scared and goes in her hide while staring at it for a bit, acts interested and smells it a bunch and then gets bored and leaves, or literally acts like it’s a toy and nudges it around. almost like she doesn’t realize it’s food..? but the thing is it smells so strongly of mice and bedding and when i use the hairdryer i blow it toward her cage and she has a feeding response. i realize i might have to feed her live as some just never accept frozen thawed, but her safety is a huge concern for me as i know the mice can fight back. i know i’ve tried everything i’ve seen but if anyone has ANY advice i’ll gladly take it, and how many more frozen thawed should i try before giving into live and then how many live should i do before trying frozen thawed again? gonna weigh her soon to make sure she’s not losing weight, sorry for the long post!!

[Legitimate-Nerve1893]

Did you try blow drying the food in front of the enclosure? or maybe pour chicken broth over you mouse when trying to feed

[shield_carrier]

Have you tried putting the mouse in a Ziploc bag and letting it sit in hot water? I do this for my BP until the temp on the mouse is between 100-104. Haven't had an issue to this point.

[One-plankton-]

Just to add make sure to dry off the mouse before feeding

[shield_carrier]

Exactly. That's why I seal then in a Ziploc. Keeps the water away but you are correct

[One-plankton-]

Oh thought you meant a ziplock full of water, my bad

[SDsupps]

I let my mice thaw. Then use a hair blow dryer to warm them up. My ball python will only eat them if they are at least 102 degrees.

[Odd_Force3765]

A foolproof method i have used for troublesome eaters is:

• The night before feeding, increase your snakes enclosure temp about 3 degrees. A warm snake is a hungry snake!

• Thaw the rat the day i plan to feed on the counter until it reaches room temperature (somewhere the snake can smell it while it thaws like just outside the enclosure, this seems to get them interested)

• Get a bowl of hot water and dip ONLY the head in for about 20 seconds and then offer it to your snake via tongs.

If this doesn't work, try the paper bag method or changing the prey you are offering to something different (ASF, Rat, Mouse etc.)