Switching from frozen to live

Ok, my ball python hasn't been eating for about a month and a half now so i decided to try live. She was eating frozen jumbo mice(and started refusing them) and is now big enough to eat small rats. So i bough a live small rat (about the size of a jumbo mouse) for her and she wouldn't eat it, in fact she was running away from it because it was crawling on her. Is she afraid of the small rat or is she just not hungry? Is there a better way to transition from frozen to live like mabye feeding her a smaller live rodent? She has never ate rats before. I know ball pythons go off feed in the winter and i have come to terms with that but i want to make sure that is the reason she is not eating and its not because of a mistake im making. I would like to begin feeding her live, she is 4, but i don't want to scare her. Im pretty sure I have all her husbandry down so im pretty confident its not that.


If I could get some help I would really appreciate it! :D


P.S. I have an 100w infrared light that i usualy keep on only in the day, should i keep this on 24/7

First problem is your trying to switch two things at the same time...from F/T to live, and from Mice to Rats. I would suggest you pick one or the other and make that switch first. Some BP's are startled by rats, especially the first time they see them, and please don't let a rat crawl on your BP...bad bites can happen that way.

If you are determined to feed live, I would start out with a live adult mouse, since your BP is used to the mouse smell and recognizes it as food. After it's eating again, you can try switching to rats.

In addition, your BP might just be in a fast right now...Tis the season. How much weight has it lost since it went off feed?

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Originally Posted by zackw419

Ok, my ball python hasn't been eating for about a month and a half now so i decided to try live. She was eating frozen jumbo mice(and started refusing them) and is now big enough to eat small rats. So i bough a live small rat (about the size of a jumbo mouse) for her and she wouldn't eat it, in fact she was running away from it because it was crawling on her. Is she afraid of the small rat or is she just not hungry? Is there a better way to transition from frozen to live like mabye feeding her a smaller live rodent? She has never ate rats before. I know ball pythons go off feed in the winter and i have come to terms with that but i want to make sure that is the reason she is not eating and its not because of a mistake im making. I would like to begin feeding her live, she is 4, but i don't want to scare her. Im pretty sure I have all her husbandry down so im pretty confident its not that.


If I could get some help I would really appreciate it! :D


P.S. I have an 100w infrared light that i usualy keep on only in the day, should i keep this on 24/7

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ball pythons are notorious for going off feed. How old is your girl? what is her set up like? (exact temps, humidty, what are you measuring them with) etc. answer those questions and describe EVERYTHING about it and im sure someone here can help answer your question

YouTube - 8 Ball Pythons - Feeding Lessons

Hope this helps this is how I feed....

im not exactly sure on how much weight she's lost, she looks a bit thinner but she is still 'full'.

she is 4, i have her in a 40 gal tank, i only have 1 therm and 1 humidifying gauge they are directly in the middle of her cage i keep the humidity between 50 and 60 and the temp is 85 she has a heat pad and a 100 watt on the hott side so im guessing the hot side is around 90

do you all think she was traumatized by having the rat crawl on her? I feel bad. I feel like putting the rat back in would only haunt her. Should i try killing it and putting it in first, or getting a live jumbo mouse?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zackw419

im not exactly sure on how much weight she's lost, she looks a bit thinner but she is still 'full'.

i have her in a 40 gal tank, i only have 1 therm and 1 humidifying gauge they are directly in the middle of her cage i keep the humidity between 50 and 60 and the temp is 85 she has a heat pad and a 100 watt on the hott side so im guessing the hot side is around 90

do you all think she was traumatized by having the rat crawl on her? I feel bad. I feel like putting the rat back in would only haunt her. Should i try killing it and putting it in first, or getting a live jumbo mouse?

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i bet your hot side is scorching hot. your guessing, and im guessing your CHE and UTH are not regulated since your not even monitoring there temperature.

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Originally Posted by JeffJ

i bet your hot side is scorching hot. your guessing, and im guessing your CHE and UTH are not regulated since your not even monitoring there temperature.

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well then guide me from here, what do i need to help better regulate. She ate for 4 years of her life non-stop, she is a very heathy happy snake. Im always open to suggestions, but she in not neglected. One of the guys from the petstore reccomended a 100w bulb i have a 75 watt if you think that would be better.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zackw419

well then guide me from here, what do i need to help better regulate. She ate for 4 years of her life non-stop, she is a very heathy happy snake. Im always open to suggestions, but she in not neglected. One of the guys from the petstore reccomended a 100w bulb i have a 75 watt if you think that would be better.

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i dont even run a topical heat source as i do not need it in my house for ambient temperature. i have the sides and back insulated with 1/8th" packing foam and the glass is lined back and sides with black poster board. i have all of my screen top masked off with tinfoil except for 2" above the cool side. My cage has a ventilation grid along the bottom front under the slider doors too. i have a dimmer i made regulating my Hot side UTH to 94*F which gives me a gradent of 94 by the glass on the hot side, 90 in mid hot side with the hide over it. 85 mid tank down to 75 closest to the glass on the cold side. ambiant air temperature is 80*F the cool side hide is a home made one he seems to enjoy over the 77-80*F area.

i my self use a IR temperature gun to monitor surface temperature and a wireless national geographic digital thermometer to manage the ambient readings of in cage and external (room) temperature

it is important to regulate the CHE and UTH with a dimmer/Rheostat or thermostat

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zackw419

im not exactly sure on how much weight she's lost, she looks a bit thinner but she is still 'full'.

she is 4, i have her in a 40 gal tank, i only have 1 therm and 1 humidifying gauge they are directly in the middle of her cage i keep the humidity between 50 and 60 and the temp is 85 she has a heat pad and a 100 watt on the hott side so im guessing the hot side is around 90

do you all think she was traumatized by having the rat crawl on her? I feel bad. I feel like putting the rat back in would only haunt her. Should i try killing it and putting it in first, or getting a live jumbo mouse?

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I suggest you buy a proper cage and the proper supplies.

Go to reptilebasics.com

2X3 cage https://www.reptilebasics.com/2x3-Cage-12-High-p-16286.html

-OR-

https://www.reptilebasics.com/Iris-C...k-p-16183.html

You also need

https://www.reptilebasics.com/Helix-...t-p-16139.html

https://www.reptilebasics.com/My-Wei...l-p-16191.html

https://www.reptilebasics.com/RBI-201-p-16245.html

-OR-

I prefer this one.

https://www.reptilebasics.com/412L-I...r-p-16288.html

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...ct_id=10756686

It is kinda pricey and there is cheaper options.

You can get a basic plastic tub, dimmer switch and UTH. You can use little plastic colored bowls for the hides.

You can spend less then $50 or you can spend over $500.

You must have a quality scale, and a reliable way to measure heat and humidity.

You also must have a quality way to regulate your heat source.

I am sure there is tons I missed the good folks of BPnet can fill in the gaps.'

Remember you do not have to spend this much this is just what I use and it works for me so that is what I support.

Give Rich a call he is a great guy and has great customer service he will hook you up 336 880 5798

i appreiciate the time you took to put that together. I will defiently look into getting better thermostats and hydrometers but right now money is tight and i would like to begin working with what i have now and how i can get the most out of it.

my main question of course is about feeding my girl, making sure she eats. Can we start from here?