I have a female ball who hasn't eaten since dec, she has gotten noticeably thin, when I started breeding her she was close to 1700 grams, I dont know her weight right now as I cant find the plug to my scale, lol I put it somewhere but forget where that somewhere is, but she is much smaller than she should be. I brought her to the vets but because she hasnt eaten in so long, the vet said there would be no sense in doing a cloacal swab or flush (forget how she worded it) because there would prolly be no poop in there anyway and it would stress her out more.

she suggested force feeding a small mouse, (even though shes a rat eater) as to get something in her so she can eventually poop it out. I said I never did that before, so she was willing to do it for me, free of charge if I brought her in the next day with a f/k mouse. She said I would leave her there for a little while so she could keep an eye on her for regurg. She needs her to poop so she can test for parasites.

she felt what she thinks is follicles, I told her i felt them too but they did feel larger at one point but she never laid. She thinks she might be re-absorbing them. she said just from a visual exam, she looks fine, except on the thin side but if she doesnt eat soon, she wants to do x-rays. she said it could also be something called dystocia (i think thats what she called it).

the last 2 times I offered her food, she perked up and her tongue started going, got into strike mode (i was thinking ooo shes gonna eat!!!) and then she lost it as soon as something spooked her. (first spook was the live weaned rat moved too quick and touched her, second spook was i offered her f/t and i happened to move then it was done, she coiled up into a ball)

I have tried live and f/t. and even tried mice. and as far as i know of, shes never been bitten by a rat. I always stand over my snakes when I feed with the tongs as precaution.

Her temps and humidity are perfect, the hot end is controlled by a herpstat set to 91 and the cool side is a steady 84. Humidity is always around 55/58. she has 2 identical hides and is in a 41qt tub.

I don't want to force feed, because everything I read says that should be done as a last resort. The vet did say because shes been in with a male, i could bring some of his poop in next time he goes, so if she sees anything in there, she would give meds for the 3 adults. (2 new yearlings are still in a diff rack and diff room but i might pre-treat them too not sure yet)

And when she did poop last time, it was much runnier than normal, I thought it was due to stress as I had changed her from one rack to another. but she hasnt pooped or eaten since.

what do you all think? should I let the vet try and force feed her a tiny mouse or wait until my male poops? the vet said sometimes a small rodent triggers them into eating again. should I try rubbing some gerbil begging on a baby rat and see if that triggers her into eating? because like I said, she seems like she wanted to eat but is now getting so easily spooked.

any advice would be great