At what point do I give her live?

I have a rescue 5-yr-old female ball python who I've easily (or so I thought) converted to frozen food in the summer. She used to eat for me weekly (for a few months), but hasn't for the past two months! I still offer her frozen every 7-10 days, but at this point I've wasted a lot of feeders on this girl....she's never even been breed or close to a male. I don't mind the wasted as much as the fact that she's already lost weight! I've tried all the tricks on this site, but I feel like I'm about to cave....I just don't want to get stuck in a rut of live-only. :(

I say dont offer for a month or so, just what I do

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Originally Posted by Calift

I have a rescue 5-yr-old female ball python who I've easily (or so I thought) converted to frozen food in the summer. She used to eat for me weekly (for a few months), but hasn't for the past two months! I still offer her frozen every 7-10 days, but at this point I've wasted a lot of feeders on this girl....she's never even been breed or close to a male. I don't mind the wasted as much as the fact that she's already lost weight! I've tried all the tricks on this site, but I feel like I'm about to cave....I just don't want to get stuck in a rut of live-only. :(

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I wouldnt bother her for awhile.Are your temps correct? Did you do anything differant to her enclosures?

2 months is not really that long. How much weight has she lost? Have you changed anything in her enclosure? What are your temps like? How are you measuring them? What kind of enclosure is she in?

Yup, temps haven't changed and I've done all the recommended basics short of switching her to a tub (her tank is a bigger size & I mist for humidity).

Her past owner (for 5 yrs) did only ever feed her live...but probably just because she didn't know any different.

I'll take a picture of her tomorrow and let you guys judge her weight. Skinny does not look good on a ball python....:snake::oops:

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Originally Posted by Calift

Yup, temps haven't changed and I've done all the recommended basics short of switching her to a tub (her tank is a bigger size & I mist for humidity).

Her past owner (for 5 yrs) did only ever feed her live...but probably just because she didn't know any different.

I'll take a picture of her tomorrow and let you guys judge her weight. Skinny does not look good on a ball python....:snake::oops:

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So her enclosure is bigger now? That could be the problem ;)

If you haven't tried moving her to a smaller enclosure I would give it a try. Or you could try filling the tank with crumpled news paper to give her more cover.

Most often ball pythons will go off feed if they don't feel secure. Even if they were fine for months they can suddenly change their minds :giggle: silly snakes.. :snake:

Her tank is actually smaller than it was before. Her old one was at least 4 feet long, but she always ate in it!

I don't think she's lost 100 grams yet, but I did notice she was now in her 900's whereas before she was over 1000. :(

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Originally Posted by Calift

Her tank is actually smaller than it was before. Her old one was at least 4 feet long, but she always ate in it!

I don't think she's lost 100 grams yet, but I did notice she was now in her 900's whereas before she was over 1000. :(

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I betting the enclosure size change is her issue then.Welcome to ball pythons can be honory 101 :P

I agree with joepythons, don't offer her anything for a good while. Just set up everything so she feels like she is always super hidden and secure, no matter what. Don't handle her, just let her be. Then try again in a few weeks to a month.