Advice for difficult eater

[veery]

Hello!

I am having trouble getting my Spider Ball Python to consistently eat for me. I have had Opal since the beginning of May, 2015 and was told she had been eating fine on frozen thawed, and live mice. She is a 2014 baby so is about a year old, weighed 194 grams and was very nervous/scared of being disturbed or taken out of cage for feeding. After leaving her alone for about a week and a half I tried offering frozen thawed and she refused to eat. I gave her another week and tried again, for her to refuse her meal again. This went on for about a month without her eating, not uncommon for balls so I wasn't to worried. I began to try different things to get her interested in eating such as scenting with rat/mouse bedding, leaving in enclosure overnight, thawing near her cage with a hair dryer, scenting with tuna/chicken juice, braining the mouse, and trying to feed at different times.

She finally ate for us in June outside her cage with a non scented frozen thawed mouse, we tried to replicate it exactly with no luck. We tried a few more times before trying a different method. Since having her she has only eaten once a months (except October she ate twice). We keep a journal and keep it very detailed as to how we try to feed her hoping to see a pattern or find something that works and stick to it. In her enclose she has a UTH regulated with a thermostat which is set at 91 F, Her cold hide hovers around 78-80 F. She has a hide on each side, a potted plant and a log she likes to hide behind. She is kept on Aspen and we have a damp towel over part of her cage to increase humidity. She has shed for us a few times and is currently in shed now. Her current weight is 226 grams she is still very small and her backbone is prominent, when checked and weighed yesterday (11/19) she seemed slightly dehydrated.

I am planning on feeding her a very small live mouse next week, with hopes that she will take to live feeding. I have not tried live feeding before now due to lack of knowledge on the subject, and wanting to see if I could get her to take to frozen thawed. I feel as though she has reached a point when live feeding needs to be tried and I have been doing extensive research ( videos, forums, asking questions) to make sure it is done as safely as possible. I recorded a video of her and am going to post it here. Any advice or thoughts on any other steps we should take or live feeding tips would be really appreciated. I am really hoping that she takes to live and starts eating regularly. If she doesn't take to live I am going to contact the breeder and see if her would like to take her and see what he can do for her. If the breeder won't take her I will be looking for a new home for Opal with someone that has more experience with problem feeders. I do have another ball python with the same set up and temps next to her cage who eats like a champ. I want to do what is best for her and if that means giving her to someone who has had these issues and had success that is what I want to do. I am very worried about her and just want to give her the best life possible.

Link to the video of her: https://youtu.be/rK6lllcd47U

Thanks so much (and sorry for the long post)!!

[Stewart_Reptiles]

How big how the prey you have been offering?
How big is the enclosure?
Are the hides tight/snug (all sides touching you it's body)?

[enginee837]

We have a male that randomly becomes a shy eater. He will only eat fresh killed food left in front of him in his cage in a dark room. Other times he eats whenever we dangle it in front of him. Try leaving the dead food in his enclosure but leave it touching him. Sometimes this helps.

[veery]

We are trying to feed her small mice 20 grams and under, because she was so intimidated but the rat pups the breeder had her on. She is in a 20 gallon tank and has a log that runs the length of the tank and the two hides, which aren't really snug on her but they aren't to much bigger than her, but that is definitely something we can change. We have tried leaving food close to her but she just ignores it and we take it out late the next day. We have never done freshly killed but we will give it a shot if she doesn't go for live. What are the best/ most humane ways to kill a mouse? Thanks so much!!

[Solarsoldier001]

Detaching the the back of the mice neck I believe is the fastest method. I could never do that myself. The reptile store own or my boyfriend would have to do it. And my boyfriend didn't really like having to do it.


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[veery]

Tried feeding live tonight, didn't take. We started by putting some of the mouse bedding (paper towels) in the feeding tub and then putting her in it, and that seemed to get her into feeding mode--she was stretching out (she unballed much quicker than usual) and flicking her tongue. We gave her some time to get acclimated. When we put the mouse in with her, she at first seemed very interested, and followed its movements, but she never struck, and gradually as the mouse moved around she because nervous, then downright scared as the mouse got close to her. She started climbing the sides of the tub trying to get out, and so we moved to prekilled. No interest. So back in her tank she went, and the mouse went to another snake.

We're going to try some more things--we're going to the White Plains expo this Sunday, and we'll be keeping an eye out for smaller live feeders than the one we tried, and potentially African Soft Furs. In fact, we may message the mouse/rat breeder we use this week so that we can try another option on Saturday, to at least eliminate some choices. If this goes on for too much longer though, I think we're going to end up either returning her to the breeder (if they want her) or finding her a home with someone who has more bp experience. :/

[mindiferlee33]

Have you tried feeding in her tank..the move from enclosure to feeding tub could cause more stress than good..try feeding in her tank and see what happens.

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