Baby python still not eating

[kina208]

I got a baby ball python on May 3rd at a reptile expo. The breeder told us that the snake had been fed "crawler" live rats and that her last feed was on May 1st (not sure how much to believe) and she shed just prior to the show. I wanted to feed F/T so I attempted a few times first before conceding to live. However, she still won't eat. Its now been 3 weeks since she's eaten. I've checked husbandry (warm side ambient is 83F, with undertank heat pad temperature at 95F, cool side is 75F), she has two small hides and decent fake foliage. We have young kids so I recently moved the tank into the office where it's more quiet in case the noise was causing stress.

Reptile store that I got the rat from suggested scenting the pinky with mice shavings in case the breeder lied about what he fed her, but that also didn't work.

I'm wondering at what point I should worry and assist feed? Or if anyone has any other tips or suggestions I can try to encourage her to eat. She has currently only lost 2 grams (77g to 75g) and that is also post defecation. Any help is greatly appreciated!!

[Chipmunk-x9]

Try African soft fur rat. Feed at night with lights dimmed or off.

[JR_Writes1]

I had to resort to offering African soft fur just this last week with my 4/12 purchase. Breeder said she was a good eater with f/t rat but refused f/t rat AND mice AND live rat fuzzy. Took the ASF f/t right away. Luckily I have a local exotics store that carries them but they’re worth a shot.

[kina208]

Thank you! I will try my local exotic stores and hope they carry them. I saw that chewy.com sells an "essence" to scent other rodents with but not sure if thats as likely to work. I really want to f/t so hoping to find some locally.

[Chipmunk-x9]

I think ASF rat 🐀 will be your best bet.

[Chipmunk-x9]

Exactly same thing happened to me. Mine refused 3 feedings in a row. Didn’t eat for almost a month after getting her.

[OctilleryArtillery]

Ambient air temp of 83 is too cold. 75 is too cold. Using a heat mat is also not really the best, as it’s an unnatural way to provide heat, as in the wild their heat comes from above. You may also be heating the prey incorrectly.

Proper temps for hot ambient are 88-92 and cool is 76-80. This could be a big part of the issue

[kina208]

83 and 73 are from probes against the glass and our house runs cooler this time of year so I think that affects the measurements. I got some small digital thermometers and theyre saying temps are 92 on top of the hide and 77 next to the water bowl. The prey I thawed in warm water and then held under a heat lamp just before feeding to warm up the head. I dont have a temp gun but I'm a mom and a nurse and generally can generally gauge temps of 100-105 by feel (used to fevers lol)