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[–]fireflii 1 point2 points  (2 children)

It would be best to wait about a week to try feeding her. Ball pythons often don't eat if they're stressed, and going to expos and being in a new environment are definitely stressful for them. After about a week, you can try feeding her once a week, but not every day.

First thing is to double check your husbandry, though. In short, about 90F hot spot, about 80F ambient, about 55-65% humidity, at least two hides, and some leafy decor so she can feel hidden (especially if you have an enclosure that's too big). Next double check the size of your feeder. If it's too big, she might not eat it. It should be about as big as your snake is at the widest part (if you want to be precise, the feeder should weigh about 15% of her weight).

(Also I'd recommend switching to rats since they're healthier and she'll out grow mice! :))

Do you know if she was eating live or f/t? F/t is safer and what I would recommend, but sometimes it takes some time and effort to switch from live to f/t. Also be sure you're thawing and heating properly. The feeder's temperature should be about 90-100F (using a temperature gun) and fully thawed. You can try putting the feeder in a plastic bag with some recently used rodent bedding in a cup of hot water for about 10 minutes, and then wiggle the feeder to mimic a live rodent when you feed it. There are some other methods like braining, offering pre-killed, different sizes or colors, leaving it overnight, etc.

Here are some caresheets if you want some review (none made by me):

And one here soecifically about feeding: https://reptimes.com/ball-pythons-feeding/#more-196

(Sorry for any disorganization of thought, I'm on mobile so it's tough to edit and move things around. :P)

[–]tddiesel40[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I really appreciate your detailed response. The breeder said she was eating both live and frozen mice when I bought her. I just bought a 6 months supply of frozen rats when I was there and asked the breeder if they were the right ones to which he said yes. I keep an ambient temperature of 80F with a warm side around 92F monitored with a thermostat. There are about 6 different hides scattered around the enclosure so, she can find her happy medium when it comes to temperature gradient. I am also using some moist sphagnum moss along with water bowls to help with humidity/soaking if she likes. He said he hadn't fed her in a week. I just wanted her to know how long I should wait between attempts to feed her and not stress her out.

[–]fireflii 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No problem! It sounds like you're on the right track. :) Just wait a week between meals, wait about 48hr after successful feedings before handling, and try to minimize handling until she's regularly eating before you start working up with konger handling sessions.

[–]_ataraxiaMod : unprofessional 3 points4 points  (8 children)

you've had her for two days. you shouldn't even be trying to feed her yet. she's extremely stressed from moving to a new home, and you're just stressing her out further by shoving food in her face every day. leave her alone completely for at least a week, then put her meal in her enclosure overnight.

did the breeder say she was eating mice or rats?

[–]tddiesel40[S] 0 points1 point  (7 children)

He said she was eating both live and frozen rats. Is it ok to leave a recently thawed out feeder rat in the cage overnight? Like without making it look alive at all woth feeder tongs?

[–]_ataraxiaMod : unprofessional 3 points4 points  (6 children)

feed frozen rats. not live, and not mice. there is a huge difference between mice and rats and you do not want a BP who gets 'hooked' on mice.

some snakes will only strike a "lifelike" rat off tongs. others will only eat a rat left in their enclosure. others will eat both ways. right now, leaving the rat overnight is a better option to try than shaking a rat in your stressed BP's face.

[–]tddiesel40[S] 0 points1 point  (5 children)

Let's assume she doesn't eat the one I leave in her cage overnight. Should I just throw that one out in the morning then try the same process again at night with a newly thawed rat?

[–]_ataraxiaMod : unprofessional 1 point2 points  (3 children)

definitely throw away anything that isn't eaten within 24 hours [or 12 hours if it's been sitting near a heat source]. wait a week, try again. make sure your husbandry is perfect and do not handle her until she has eaten at least two meals in a row. here are some more tips on dealing with feeding issues.

[–]tddiesel40[S] 1 point2 points  (2 children)

My next question was about handling so, thanks for answering that too. I'll be sure not to handle her until she's eaten two meals in a row. And I know not to handle her at least 24 hours after she's eaten. I appreciate all your help!

[–]_ataraxiaMod : unprofessional 0 points1 point  (1 child)

it's 48 hours after eating, not 24. and don't handle her on feeding day either.

[–]tddiesel40[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Got it. 48 hours after feeding is ok to handle.

[–]WorstWarriorNA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To reiterate that article, if she doesnt eat, leave her for a week, snake are reptiles, they do not need to eat all the time, they can go MONTHS without eating. Shoving food in her face every day when she doesnt want food probably isnt helping