Feeding Problem

I have two ball pythons, one male and one female. The male eats regularly with no problems, but the female absolutely refuses to eat. I have literally tried everything. She hasn't eaten since at least november, and I'm running out of options. I've tried frozen and live mice of all sizes, although she was raised on live by her previous owner. She is very aggressive so its difficult to feed her to begin with. Can anyone help? At this point I'm ready to look for another home for her, maybe with someone who has more experience and patience. These are my first snakes, and I don't really know what I'm doing. Thank you!

Can you describe their environment? Such as temps on both sides, what they live in, are they separate, humidity, hides, what you use for heat, how you measure heat/humidity?

how old are these snakes? If you don't know age, maybe approx. length or weight?
What does she do when presented with a prey item? Ignore it, shy away from it? Ball up?
Always, the more details, the more someone on here will be able to help you

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Originally Posted by LGray23

Can you describe their environment? Such as temps on both sides, what they live in, are they separate, humidity, hides, what you use for heat, how you measure heat/humidity?

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Their temperature is consistently around 80, and I'm not sure of the usual humidity but again the other snake never has a problem. They live in a large tank together, with two separate hides. They have a lamp for heat with an additional heating pad underneath the tank just in case. I'm not sure how old she is, but she's about 3 and a half feet in length. She's very skinny though.

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Originally Posted by nachash

how old are these snakes? If you don't know age, maybe approx. length or weight?
What does she do when presented with a prey item? Ignore it, shy away from it? Ball up?
Always, the more details, the more someone on here will be able to help you

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She's about three and a half feet long, but very skinny and lightweight. She balls up until she sees the prey. Once she calms down and sees the prey and she strikes at it, but always misses. Or if she connects with it, she doesn't bite down hard enough or try to constrict. I'm not really sure what's wrong with her.

she balls up? do you feed her in a separate tank?
I do, but my ball python has only ever balled up on me once in the 3 years I've had her.
If you're feeding her in a separate container maybe you should try leaving the prey in her tank, covering the sides, turning off the light, and waiting around a day. It has worked for others trying to coax a shy eater into a successful eating

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Originally Posted by nachash

she balls up? do you feed her in a separate tank?
I do, but my ball python has only ever balled up on me once in the 3 years I've had her.
If you're feeding her in a separate container maybe you should try leaving the prey in her tank, covering the sides, turning off the light, and waiting around a day. It has worked for others trying to coax a shy eater into a successful eating

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Is the hot end of the tank 80? if so, that's much lower than needed. You wan't 85-90, maybe +90 for a poor eater

Okay, there are quite a few issues, I'll try my best to help.

Snakes should not be housed together, that could easily be the feeding problem. She's uncomfortable and being forced to live with another snake.

80 is not hot enough, there should be two sides with a gradient temp between 88-92 (on the "hot" side) and 78-84ish on the "cool" side). The temp problems alone could be causing this. These snakes are from Africa where the temps are consistenly over 80 degrees.

The humidity is probably zero due to the heat lamp. They are unnecessary and kill humidity, especially in a glass tank.

I am assuming (correct me if I am wrong) but you are not regulating the heating pad (UTH) with a thermostat/rheostat or dimmer? They get VERY hot, mine read over 130 degrees without a thermostat easily.

If you are using analog dial thermometers and hygrometers, they don't work and are not accurate.

Here are my suggestions:
-Get separate enclosures. They will appreciate their own space I promise.
-Both enclosures should have some sort of UTH on one side, that takes up about 1/3 of the bottom.
-Both UTHs need to be regulated by a thermostat or rheostat. This is crucial
-Put two hides in each enclosure, one on hot side and one on cool side. Reptiles are cold blooded and need to be able to thermoregulate their own body temps. They cannot do this if it's always hot or always cool.
-Invest in a digital thermometer/hygrometer. They sell them at Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, all over. It should be an indoor/outdoor one such as this:
http://www.amazon.com/Chaney-Instrum...6451073&sr=8-5
Place the unit on the cool side, and place the probe on the hot side. This way it monitors both sides and gives you a digital read of the humidity at the same time.

Once you have corrected your husbandry, leave them both alone for a week, then try feeding her a small prey item. If she doesn't eat then, then come back to the site and ask then because there could be another issue, on top of all the others.
I wish you luck, I truely hope you take the advice you are given by me and others.

Oh, and read over this caresheet :)
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

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Originally Posted by nachash

she balls up? do you feed her in a separate tank?
I do, but my ball python has only ever balled up on me once in the 3 years I've had her.
If you're feeding her in a separate container maybe you should try leaving the prey in her tank, covering the sides, turning off the light, and waiting around a day. It has worked for others trying to coax a shy eater into a successful eating

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She only balls up because I move her to a separate place to feed her. Once she's in the container, she relaxes and starts following the prey around. I do make sure its very dark, but I keep a close eye on it because I'm worried the live prey might hurt her.

Does she has a hot spot?

Most people here keep their bp in 80 temp plus a hot spot 88 to 91.

I know there are some people do not use hot spot and keep their in 84 to 85 temp all the time.

Maybe you can try to get the temp up to 84 to 85. And see if she will eat.

Always keep the shy one in a smaller tube with no light and a hide. And always offer smaller prey. Have you try to get a rat pup leave it over night? maybe that will help.

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Originally Posted by KaylaLusnia

She only balls up because I move her to a separate place to feed her. Once she's in the container, she relaxes and starts following the prey around. I do make sure its very dark, but I keep a close eye on it because I'm worried the live prey might hurt her.

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Also, when they are moved to their new enclosures, do not move them to feed. Feed them directly in their enclosure. It is more stress to move them to feed than if you just left them in there.

Success! I finally got her to eat! Thanks for all of your help, and I'll make sure to use the knowledge you've given me. I raised the temperature and gave her a couple hides in her feeding spot, and she finally ate after about an hour and a half with the mouse. Again, thank you so much for all of your suggestions.