Not sure if it belongs here, but I need some help. My Ball Python won't eat.

[Tes95]

But it's not because she's unwilling. Cleo, my new baby Ball Python, has HORRIBLE aim when striking. She ends up hitting air or me! I soak my frozen mice in hot chicken broth, and she goes after them, but she's been unsuccessful in actually eating except once (and I unfortunately fouled that up for her). She's never eaten for me, I've had her for 4 days (and I know it's early, I just want to make sure she's healthy), she has the appetite! Just... not the aim. What can I do?...

[3skulls]

Striking to eat or striking in a defensive way?
If she is striking to eat, just leave it in there for a bit and check back later.

[swansonbb]

Relax. Breathe. It's just 4 days. Don't try to feed her again for a week - you're probably stressing her out. Why don't you start by describing your husbandry?

[Tes95]

Striking to eat or striking in a defensive way?
If she is striking to eat, just leave it in there for a bit and check back later.

Striking to eat. She has missed every time except once. I mean two out of three ain't bad, but 1 out of 20?

[WarriorPrincess90]

Congrats on your new BP! Take a breath and relax. You've only had the snake for 4 days. Leave her alone for a week and then try again with the small mouse. Forget the chicken broth though, that's unnecessary and may be throwing her off. Warm the mouse up in a ziplock in warm water until completely thawed and then blast it with the hair dryer for a few minutes. But for now, don't hold her or do anything with her for at least a week! It may be that she's striking defensively because she's scared and stressed out. And in fact, that's exactly what it seems like she's doing. If she wanted to eat, she'd eat. Granted, their aim can be spotty when young, but not that bad. If she's striking at you and the air, she's scared. Leave her be.

Can you tell us about your set up to rule out any husbandry issues? Temps, humidity, hides? How are you heating the enclosure and how are you controlling that heat? Do you have thermometers? And if so, are they digital or analogue? What kind of enclosure do you have her in?

[Tes95]

Well, I don't breed Balls but I plan to when I can afford a second. If you're referring to the acquisition of the animal, it was from a Petsmart. Yes I know it was not the best choice, but I don't have as much money as I should. :/ I asked if she was captive bred, they said yes. Apparently from a local breeder, she's been treated with medications for parasites just in case, the store does it for all of theirs. I just feel bad for her.

[Tes95]

This was my big holiday present from my whole family, I can't afford much. Um, I have a 40 gallon breeder with Aspen bedding. A driftwood log, an Extra large soaking bowl, a plastic plant that she likes, I cut her petsmart box into a nice roomy hide she loves, she has a 40 gallon Repti-therm UTH, a 60 watt daytime bulb, and a 24-hour infrared nightlight bulb (100 watt). Oh, and she likes to bask on the cave above her UTH, and has a Zilla Thermo-Hygro digital thermometer and humidity gauge.

[Tes95]

Oh, and her temps are always 78-92F on the hot side (high 70's at night), and 75-83F on the cool side, but sometimes like 72F at night.

[swansonbb]

Where to start..

1st. Read this - tonight. http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet

2. Your tank set up is almost certainly stressing her. The tank's too big. It might help to throw a bunch of newspaper balls in there, along with blacking out 3 sides of the tank.

3. Do you have a thermostat or at least a table top lamp dimmer ($10 at Home Depot) on that UTH? If not, get one asap! Those things get really hot & she will get burned!

4. How are you measuring your temps? Is it one of those analog gauges from Petco? They don't work -they're very unreliable and inaccurate. Look at Walmart for a $12 digital thermometer to measure temps & humidity. I think Accurite is brand.

[Tes95]

Where to start..

1st. Read this - tonight. http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet

2. Your tank set up is almost certainly stressing her. The tank's too big. It might help to throw a bunch of newspaper balls in there, along with blacking out 3 sides of the tank.

3. Do you have a thermostat or at least a table top lamp dimmer ($10 at Home Depot) on that UTH? If not, get one asap! Those things get really hot & she will get burned!

4. How are you measuring your temps? Is it one of those analog gauges from Petco? They don't work -they're very unreliable and inaccurate. Look at Walmart for a $12 digital thermometer to measure temps & humidity. I think Accurite is brand.

Hold up, hold up for a minute, I know the first thing would be to jump on the 40 gallon. However. She is very happy in it by all outward appearances, she is always exploring and playing, and she when she gets too hot, she goes to the cool side, same with the reverse. She doesn't seem to mind the large space, she's very outgoing, not timid. I do not have a thermostat, I cannot afford one until December 1st. I know very well that analog is inaccurate, I use a digital one.