feeding problems

[cassirose]

So a few weeks ago my ball python managed to escape her enclosure. I found her about a week after she went missing and it appeared she had eaten a couple of mice and also solving our mouse problem in the process. Before, she ate only frozen mice and she would always eat fine. Now she refuses the mice I offer and she is starting to lose weight. Are there any solutions to this problem or should I just wait until she gets "hungry enough"? This doesnt really sound like a smart or good solution so I was hoping someone with more experience with bps might be able to help me. Should I just give in and start buying her live mice? I would have started her on live but due to me living in a small town with no pet shop and the closest one a few hours away my only option was to order frozen online. Thanks for any help and sorry for the long post. Any Qs feel free to ask.

[CptJack]

I would be more concerned, for the moment, with making sure she hasn't picked up parasites from eating wild mice. Losing weight after not eating for a few weeks is a sign of something more problematic than being picky/preferring live prey (assuming it's not a tiny, tiny drop in weight).

After you get a fecal done to confirm that that isn't an issue, I'd let her de-stress and not even offer for a couple of weeks (in a row). Eventually you might need to offer live, but frankly you need to confirm she doesn't have a parasite issue and let her chill out in her environment again.

But absolutely, totally, get her checked FIRST.

[lorenhavens]

I agree with CptJack

[KMG]

What made it appear she was eating wild mice? Usually the little mice I see in homes are not really a true meal for a ball and are not even a snack.

How much weight loss are you talking about?