worried about ball python

i got my ball python on march 18 and she has not ate nothing since but a few mouse pinkys i assist fed her.i put a live rodent in her cage and has no interest in it what so ever.i am starting to get worried about her because i can start seeing her back bone and was wondering if zoo med appitite simulate will get her to start eating or if there is any other trick i could use.please help me.any answers will be appreciated

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Elite Morphs

i got my ball python on march 18 and she has not ate nothing since but a few mouse pinkys i assist fed her.i put a live rodent in her cage and has no interest in it what so ever.i am starting to get worried about her because i can start seeing her back bone and was wondering if zoo med appitite simulate will get her to start eating or if there is any other trick i could use.please help me.any answers will be appreciated

---

you can always try rubbing the sent of the rodent in her cage about 1 hour before feeding then getting a hairdryer and hairdrying the rodent> blowing the cent towards the cage.. hopefully it will put him into hunt mode, or i think another way is to cut the skull open of the rodent not to sure about that though. or just put the rodent inside the cave and leave him in there for about an hour.. hope this helped :)

i was using live.i had a rat pup in there for a full day and nothing.all she does is gets defensive at the rodent and strikes it as a defense

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Elite Morphs

i was using live

---

oh i didnt know you could "assist feed" with live.

have you tried f/t?

Can you describe your husbandry for me, cage size, temps, humidity, hides etc?

Do you handle this BP? If so how often?

have you tried mice? most balls prefer this and if the ball is scared by the size of the prey?

im not sure weight for the bp pros to weigh in lol

i assist fed her frozen thawes pinky mice.i tried frozen thawed and live mice and rats and nothing.the only time i mess with her is when i clean her cage.she is in a 25 qt tub 2 snug hides and a water bowl.she is on paper towels and has a 90F hot spot

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Elite Morphs

i assist fed her frozen thawes pinky mice.i tried frozen thawed and live mice and rats and nothing.the only time i mess with her is when i clean her cage.she is in a 25 qt tub 2 snug hides and a water bowl.she is on paper towels and has a 90F hot spot

---

do you have pictures of the snake and the set up?

no but i can get them on monday.i am not home right now

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Elite Morphs

i assist fed her frozen thawes pinky mice.i tried frozen thawed and live mice and rats and nothing.the only time i mess with her is when i clean her cage.she is in a 25 qt tub 2 snug hides and a water bowl.she is on paper towels and has a 90F hot spot

---

How big is that snake (approximate weight?)

not really sure i dont have a scale and i need to get one soon.but she is about 1 year old and i think she looks really small for a 1 year old but i dont know because this is my first and only ball python

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Elite Morphs

not really sure i dont have a scale and i need to get one soon.but she is about 1 year old and i think she looks really small for a 1 year old but i dont know because this is my first and only ball python

---

whats your setup?
you need to get scales tho :)
pics would help to but ill leave it to Deb now :)

There are a few option here without a weight I really can't tell you much

If it is a healthy 1 year old snake it obviously knows how to eat therefore you should not assist a snake that knows how to eat.

Now because I have no idea on what the snake looks like or the weight I have no idea if there is a real danger here.

A healthy 1 year old snake could go months without food with no ill effect, and could fast for various reason from sexual maturity to husbandry issues to hitting a plateau.

Another thing Pinkies are way too small for a 1 yo animal which mean they might not be recognized as preys.

Here is what I will recommend considering I know very little about the animal and cannot evaluate the situation until you have picture and can provide a weight.

1 get a scale, and post some pictures of the overall look.

The main issues with BP is security, breeder usually keep their animals in VERY small tubs, I keep all my hatchling until they are about 250 grams in a 6 quarts tub so do most breeders and slowly upgrade, since your snake is a 1 I will assume he is well over 250 grams but very small so I will suggest a 15 quarts tubs since you apparently having issues getting your snake to eat for you.

Some of the keys are optimum security, a 15 quarts tub plus some aspen bedding in which your snake can bury will do the job.

Place 1 or two hides depending on how much room you have, even if it look cramped it's ok.

As far as temps go I try to keep them at about 78 on the cool side and 88 on the warm side.

Warmth and security usually translate in hungry snakes.

Limit your interaction with your animal at least until it has ate 5 times, the less interaction the less stress. (NO Handling not staring just leave the animal alone)

If you switch your BP to something smaller give it a week before offering food and instead of offering a rat offer a live mouse, something about the smell makes them more enticing, also make sure that you are feeding your snake in it’s enclosure.

Do not offer more than once a week.

thanks i will get pics up as soon as i get home