In November I purchased a hatchling ball python (b.d. August of 2017) from a breeder. She weighed 196 gms. and was in excellent condition. I was told she would eat either live or f/t and all went well for the first month. She took f/t with no hesitation and gained 30 grms. After 4 wks. she refused her meal, but struck, coiled and then left it. I wasn't concerned because a few days later she had a healthy shed. That was the last time she ate f/t. She seems interested, is active in her bin, strikes quickly, will stay coiled for a few moments, then crawls away.
After about 3 wks. of waiting her out, I reluctantly offered a live rat pup, she had it before it even hit the floor of her bin and consumed it with no problem. I REALLY don't want to get into the whole live prey thing, but nor do I want her to starve to death. Since mid November, I've tried to wait her out, but caved every time and eventually given her live prey, which she takes IMMEDIATELY. We are now in the midst of the longest wait yet and I don't know how to proceed. She now weighs 250 gms., down 12 grms. from what her best weight has been. Her last meal was a live pup offered Feb. 15. Do I continue with the "tough love" thing or resign myself to giving live prey..........which is a 45 minute drive (one way) in addition to just NOT being what I want to do.
Nothing in my husbandry has changed, why would she eat f/t with gusto for the first month, and then suddenly refuse?
My male is doing the same thing. He ate voraciously every week after I bought him in October (he was thin though) and has refused every offer of food since Feb. 4. I'm not as worried with him, he's still 250 grms. more than he was when I bought him and I do understand that some males will go off their food at this time of year. I thaw rats in hot water and offer while still very warm (exactly as I did from the beginning) I'm beginning to feel like a failed ball python parent. Do I just need to take some deep breaths and wait this out, or do I resign myself to feeding live.