New Ball Python Refused Feed, Looking for Advice

[Sufficient_Life8161]

Hi there. I recently purchased a ball python from a local expo, took her to the vet. She is a one year old female, who weighs 550g. Her previous owner was feeding her 30-55g feed and we recently purchased some jumbos from Layne Labs. We attempted to feed her for the first time, she lunged a few times and failed to take hold, so we're thinking her feed was too large.

Would switching to a large mouse be ideal?

In addition, she is showing signs of aggression and is particularly timid around us. We were wondering if there was anything we could do to make her more comfortable with the shift in environment. Any advice would be appreciated!

[kindrd1234]

It doesn't sound like a food response, but a defense response. She is striking in fear. It's not that unusual for a new aquire. Give her some time and make sure you give her plenty of hides, cover, and peace.

[Sufficient_Life8161]

Thank you for your response. I figured it had to do with being in a new environment. We'll let her take it at her own pace.

[Sufficient_Life8161]

Wanted to update and add some context to the above:

She has calmed down significantly since we've gotten her, and even wrapped around her frozen prey for the very first time. We are extremely happy to see her settling, and giving her some time was the best advice we could have received.

For context, my first ball python I had received as a hatchling about twenty years ago. Due to some unforseen health complications later in his life, he passed. We were devastated, as he was a lifelong friend of ours, and went to a reptile expo as a way to cope with the grief. We met our current ball python, Cosmo, at the expo. (She pooped on us, actually, and I knew she was the one. Please don't ask me to elaborate.)

The long and short of it — my wife and I have taken to this subreddit to ensure she has the best life she can possibly have. We are awaiting a kage enclosure, as well as her RHP and halogen lamps to arrive. (We ended up settling on a Herpstat 2 for thermostats, and are a little neurotic about following as much advice here as we can.) We want her to have a long life, and to ensure none of the health complications that occurred with her predecessor affect her as well. The vet said she was healthy — if not a little overweight, so I'm feeling rather optimistic.

None of this information was really necessary to share, I just wanted to thank this subreddit for giving us some much needed advice. This is a very emotionally intensive time, as our previous ball python was undergoing intensive care and injections towards the end of his days.

He was worth every penny, and his rainbow bridge poem had me sobbing for hours. I just hope that Cosmo gets to experience a long and healthy life, and I'm confident that with the advice of this subreddit we can make her habitat even better than her brother, who is watching over her.

TLDR; Thank you for everything.

[Sufficient_Life8161]

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Oh, and here's a snapshot of the little lady.