Problem Feeder

Like everyone has said... From your enclosure, the tank looks WAY too large for her with way too much open space. These picky ball pythons often need to feel very secure in order to have an appetite.

I wouldn't call that a lot of clutter- that is a lot of open space. She has hides, but proportionate to the amount of space, it is still too little clutter/hides.

Some ball pythons may be fine with this setup, but since you are having a picky eater and having trouble, then you can start with fixing these possibilities first. Especially since she is recently just refusing the food in front of them and wanting to find a way out- seems to be usually an indication that they don't feel secure, so want to find somewhere safer.

How much does she weigh right now?

Just guessing her current size, I think temporarily moving her to a new home (a 15qt sterilite plastic tub, with two hides and a UTH) to get her to start eating would be ideal. Some snakes will eat food left in there overnight, but I think more likely than not for your snake, the reason is the setup...

You can check out this: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...e-Basics-*DUW*

It looks like more space because i had to move everything to one side temporarily because she was using it to climb on things she shouldnt have been.

Today I redistributed the clutter, and I altered her hides to have less space on the insides. Her light is dim red and the tank is covered with a sheet. She spent a fair bit of time on the hot side today, which she usually doesnt do. Some sign of progress maybe.

Its been a few more weeks and still no luck. Yesterday i finally gave in and readied a tub for her. its about 18x11x8.

http://i.imgur.com/SHmFKgP.jpg?1

Problem is, she seems to strongly dislike being in such a small space. The few times she isn't in her hide, shes trying to get out of it. Im getting a little worried because she seems far more stressed than she was the other day. Also, the lid of this tub is riddled with holes and im having trouble getting the humidity to stay below 80.

Could someone please help :/ ive done everything suggested and nothing is working. I dont want this snake to die on me.

as soon as i open up the small tub, she just wants to get out. temps and humidity are perfect but she isnt interested in the rats at all.

What are the temps in the new setup?
Have you handled her?
How long has she been in the new setup before offering food?
How did you offer food?
Have you tried live mice?
What is her weight?

Is the snake still in a brightly lit place?

When i first brought her, i handled her a couple of times, but when i saw that feeding was going to be a problem, I havent handled her at all in about 6 weeks.

Her cool side is 80, her warm side is 92, she is in a tiny tub blacked out on 3 sides. Humidity is 60. The tub is actually inside of the tank because the temp/humidity is already controlled there. The tank is covered with a blanket constantly and her lights are off.

I offer food every sunday at about 10-11pm, ive thawed them several different ways, lukewarm water as well as completely out in the open in the snake room to get the scent going, then i heat it up some with a blow dryer. I grab it at its lower back and move it around like it is alive, and she just slithers past it to the opening of the tub and tries to get out. Ive tried braining, live rodent bedding as well as chicken broth (no idea why it would work but ive read about it)

I havent offered live yet because im not sure if it is a prey issue or a husbandry issue. Id rather not end up with a pet rat if she doesnt eat it. Last I weighed her was about 2 weeks ago, she was at around 110g, a little bit less than she was when I got her some time ago. I noticed she doesnt use her hot hide, im wondering if she doesnt like it, but I made the opening alot smaller, maybe i'll just get 2 cheap bowls and make her new hides.

That's probably gonna be it then, she a live feeder. everything else seems ok, her setup,temps, her being alone.

If it were a prey issue, wouldnt she just ignore the rat? What bothers me is that the second I open the tub, she immediately goes to get out of it. It doesnt seem like she is comfortable at all.

edit: also, she has struck and attempted to eat a thawed one before.

the only time my snakes is ever active like how you mention is when hes hungry but once he eats he never moves, try the live rat. i think she just a live eater. shes never eaten f/t right?