Behaviors and feeding,please help

[Leww]

My wife and I have recently adopted an approximately 18 y/o female ball. We were told she eats every 2 weeks, but we have had her for a month now and she hasn't ate. Resently I have noticed that when she gets around and about in her tank, the past couple of days she has been raised and out stretched to the lid of the tank with the "S" bend strike position. Earlier I tried to hand feed her with a live unstained rat, she took interest but would not commit to a strike.
Am I on to something thinking that maybe she was hand fed or is she just trying to better warm her self?

[Leww]

[img]img_20170128_011511[/img]

[PitOnTheProwl]

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-Post-Pictures

What was she eating before you got her?

[Leww]

Large live rats supposedly

[Stewart_Reptiles]

There is no need for large rat even for a female medium is really all that is required, as for not eating well it is very common for them (mature animal in particular) no to eat in a new environment it can last a few weeks or a few months.

Assuming she has a good body shape it could last a year.

What helps is feeding smaller prey (over feeding is a big problem with captive animals) , make sure the husbandry is optimal, limit stress, and be PATIENT.

[Leww]

Thanks! She does seem to be healthy, she is almost 5 feet long, and has a diameter of 3 to 3 1/2 inches.

[Trisnake]

Make sure your husbandry is on point. She may be hungry and showing interest but not committing to eating because of tempurature and security issues.