Need help to get BP back on track

We acquired our first snake on June 12 (2 weeks ago). I did plenty of research on corn snakes, went to a reptile show and came home with a ball python. She's about 1.5 years old. I haven't weighed her yet, but she's about 3 ft. long and has some decent girth (close to 3" diameter at her largest point). I was told she ate the day before the reptile show; she was on a diet of live rats. Although I read some about the species, there was obviously a lot of information I did not know. I've made several errors over the past 2 weeks and am looking for advice on getting our snake back on track.

Error #1 - the first week we had her we held her every day, probably about 15 min per day.
Error #2 - we attempted to feed her after we had her for a week. We attempted a F/T small rat. We moved her to a separate tub and held the rat in with tongs. She approached the rat, but was not interested. I continued to try and entice her, but hit her in the head with the rat (that was the error). Now she seems much more head shy and scared in general.

We put her back in her cage and let her be for several days. We held her a few times this past week hoping to calm her so she knows we're not trying to hurt her (perhaps that's Error #3). Tried to feed her a live rat today (Error #4?). The rat was supposed to be 'small' but looked more like a medium size. Again, we had her in her separate container and introduced the rat. She seemed a little curious, but when the rat approached she recoiled in fear. She wanted nothing to do with the rat. After about 5 minutes, I removed the rat. Tried later with a F/T rat, but didn't take that either (I didn't hit her that time :) ).

So... I am looking for advice on what you think I need to do to get her back on track. We would like to reduce her fear (since it seems my actions have made her more fearful than she was when she got here) and figure out what to do to get her to eat. Thanks for your help.

Time, patience, proper temps and humidity, and letting her be for a couple weeks are a good place to start.

Give her two weeks with no handling except for husbandry. Then put a small live rat IN her enclosure. Do not put her in a separate container for feedings.

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Originally Posted by Slim

Give her two weeks with no handling except for husbandry. Then put a small live rat IN her enclosure. Do not put her in a separate container for feedings.

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Are you saying to feed her in her enclosure only this one time, or always feed her in her enclosure? I also worry about putting it in her enclosure because she doesn't wake up until it's dark. Do you think it matters much what time I drop it in (I would watch to make sure the rat doesn't hurt her)?

Do you think I should try a mouse or stick with rats?

Always feed her in the place she feels the safest, her enclosure.

Don't worry about it being dark. She can see/sense/smell/locate a rat in the dark 100 times better than we can.

If she'll eat rats, there's not much sense in giving her mice.

I feed my bp about 9:30pm. When I first started feeding him, I turned off most of the lights in the room, and left a light on outside the room that allowed just enough light for me to see what was going on. Once he was back into the routine of eating, though, he no longer cared if the lights were on.

I'm still kinda new to owning a ball python. But when I feed, I go and buy the live rat around 4 or 5 in the afternoon. Put it in a plastic container and then around 830 I hold my BP for a bit, and take some of the bigger stuff out of his cage due to the first feeding for him going a bit wonky. I put him at one end and a few minutes later I put the rat at the other end. He's a strong eater so he notices it pretty quick.
If your snake was used to eating live rats, feed it live rats. Normally they don't like switching between mice, rats and F/T. If the snake doesn't take the rat after maybe 10 minutes, Take the rat out. I'm not sure about trying again later in the same day, but everything I've seen says to try again the next week, (5-7 days later).
Goodluck with your new snakey. Just relax and have patience. It's hard, but definitely worth it.

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Well I appreciate everyone's response. It sounds like the consensus is to wait 2 weeks, do not handle her during that time, and then drop a small rat into her enclosure during the evening (I'm assuming the rat will 'wake her' when I put it in if she's in her hide). I will also take the advice of removing her water dish and other obstacles to give her some room. I'll reply in 2 weeks to let you know how it went. Thanks!

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Originally Posted by BPGator

Well I appreciate everyone's response. It sounds like the consensus is to wait 2 weeks, do not handle her during that time, and then drop a small rat into her enclosure during the evening (I'm assuming the rat will 'wake her' when I put it in if she's in her hide). I will also take the advice of removing her water dish and other obstacles to give her some room. I'll reply in 2 weeks to let you know how it went. Thanks!

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Also make sure her temps and humidity are correct. If she is too cold she won't eat.

Yes, good point. I have a probe thermometer in her hide that reads between 87-92°F. I'm ordering a digital thermometer/hygrometer to measure the remainder of the enclosure. I currently have one of those cheap ones that came with the terrarium. It fluctuates between 75-80°F and 50-60%.

Just to throw another wrench in --- she's currently in a glass terrarium. It's a little small for her (30x12x12) plus I don't feel like I'm able to control the temperature adequately. I'm considering switching to a clear tub setup. Do you think I should wait it out until she eats in her current setup or move her over as soon as possible? I imagine it would be at least another week before I can get it ready (need to order another heat pad and get the tub). Her temps aren't horrible now.

So I should be able to get the plastic tub ready tomorrow or latest Sunday. You guys think I should move her and wait a week to feed her or just leave her in the glass tank until then?

So I've waited patiently, took in all the advice. Haven't picked her up for 2 weeks. At 7:30, I dropped a small rat in. And nothing. :( Waited 40 minutes. She seemed interested, but as she approached the rat it would scare her and she would coil back. I finally threw in the towel and took the rat out. Very frustrating.

My my plan is to move her to a Sterilite tub on Saturday and then wait a week to feed again. We've had her now 4 weeks and she hasn't eaten. I'll post a pic on Saturday and have you tell me whether she still looks healthy.

Got a male normal last meal February 26th 2016. Weight after that 1304 current weight 1301. If they don't drop weight and aren't eating and they don't look triangular just wait it out and keep offering!


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I know they can choose to go for a while without eating. It's just frustrating because we just got her and she's never eaten for us. I can't tell whether she's just not hungry or some other factor. I do need to get her weight and start keeping track. Thanks for the reminder!

You tried to feed it the day after you got the bp. So 2 days after she already ate... she is probably just stressed. Make sure you wet that substraight. Humidity!! My baby ball didn't eat for 2 weeks when I first got her, I was making mistakes too tho. Super low humidity, too hot in her enclosure. After I fixed it she ate eventually. And the people I got my bp from said she only ate live but she seemed terrified of live so I did thawed and i could present it better to her.

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Originally Posted by MrKai

You tried to feed it the day after you got the bp. So 2 days after she already ate... she is probably just stressed. Make sure you wet that substraight. Humidity!! My baby ball didn't eat for 2 weeks when I first got her, I was making mistakes too tho. Super low humidity, too hot in her enclosure. After I fixed it she ate eventually. And the people I got my bp from said she only ate live but she seemed terrified of live so I did thawed and i could present it better to her.

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We've had her 4 weeks and I've tried F/T and live.

Resolution! I finally weighed her - she's 1200g. We've had her now 6weeks with no luck eating. I put a weaned rat into her tub (~35g). She took about 10 min but she finally ate! She still looked hungry so I tried another one and she ate it too! I know she should probably eat a little more than this, but right now I'm just happy she ate. Thanks all for your help!


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Great news!


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