Re: At what point do I give her live?
I wouldn't be worried at all, if her weight was good when she went into this.
I did some weight tracking last year, and discovered that 2 ounces per month is the average weight loss for a healthy ball python that isn't feeding.
Your snake is right on track with that--so, she's fasting 'normally'. Ball pythons can fast in this fashion for half a year. It is winter, and not all snakes want to eat over the breeding season. Some females go off feed as well.
You said she was 1000 grams. That's right in the range that many females will go off feed over the winter. It's extremely common for 'teenagers' like that to do this. Some of my 1-year-olds have done it as well. Yours is a bit different for being so old for her size, but the weight range is still the same.
The new enclosure doubtless had a role to play, but fixing that may not get her back on feed. You may have to simply wait until the season changes. Have a parasite check done, too, if you haven't yet. It's always a good idea, and with a rescue that came in small for its age, it's a REALLY good idea.
Re: At what point do I give her live?
Unless you know the 1000 weight was an "empty" weight, the 100g of weight loss may just be due to waste elimination. So I definitely would not be worried yet.
Like the others have said, make sure her enclosure is good, and you can reduce how often you offer the food until she starts eating again.
Re: At what point do I give her live?
Thank you all for the reassurance! I appreciate each and every response! I guess this girl is just going to have to stay hungry for a little while longer....:rolleyes::snake:
Re: At what point do I give her live?
my girl has been off since Dec - and yes, it is driving me nuts but I have been given all the same advice that you have gotten - you just have to wait it out.
My girl has only lost 30 grams during her entire fast which is next to nothing so that eased my mind a bit. She is about 1,660 grams right now.
Good luck with your girl.
Re: At what point do I give her live?
Nothing to worry about. It's just another story of a BP being a picky eater. It's all part of the breed.