Ball python will not eat

[Gc99]

I have a female bp, hatched back in october, she is around 25 inches, and today is the second time on a row she refuses food. She is on f/t
Hot temp 92.5 f
Cool temp 77.7 f
Humidity 60%
I do feed inside the enclosure and it is nighttime
She has a very secure hide and i know she is hungry bc she wont stop pacing in her enclosure even since before she refused the first rat last wednesday, but right now, she seemed interested in the rat, she got closer, and closer, and then just turned around. When should i start to worry? What am i doing wrong? I just gave the rat to my other bp and he took it in a second, and he has the same exact enclosure

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[zina10]

What size rat are you offering?

Have you tried just laying down the rat with the head in the opening of the hide and leaving it overnight? Making sure to leave the snake completely un-disturbed?

[norcal707]

check for mites... one of mine was pacing a lot more than usual and I found a few mites on him...

[Gc99]

check for mites... one of mine was pacing a lot more than usual and I found a few mites on him...

Luckily the mites (on the other snake) died long time ago

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[Gc99]

What size rat are you offering?

Have you tried just laying down the rat with the head in the opening of the hide and leaving it overnight? Making sure to leave the snake completely un-disturbed?

I have not, should i do that today or not?


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[zina10]

Can't hurt to try !!

Some are just so shy and insecure. They are hungry, but their nerves get the best of them.

When snakes constrict/eat they are at their most vulnerable. And they know it.
Some Ball Pythons are just to shy.

Make sure that once you leave the rat, there will be no more "activity" in front of the cage/tub. If need be, hang a towel over it. Just leave her completely undisturbed.
Some will eat the rat within an hour or so, but some will wait until the middle of the night.

I know the rat will cool completely during that time, but it seems some prefer that over eating while they feel unsafe..

Try it and let us know how it went We'll go from there..

[Gc99]

Can't hurt to try !!

Some are just so shy and insecure. They are hungry, but their nerves get the best of them.

When snakes constrict/eat they are at their most vulnerable. And they know it.
Some Ball Pythons are just to shy.

Make sure that once you leave the rat, there will be no more "activity" in front of the cage/tub. If need be, hang a towel over it. Just leave her completely undisturbed.
Some will eat the rat within an hour or so, but some will wait until the middle of the night.

I know the rat will cool completely during that time, but it seems some prefer that over eating while they feel unsafe..

Try it and let us know how it went We'll go from there..

Alright, cant hurt to try, im out right now, so as soon as i get home i'll thaw another one

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[CALM Pythons]

Everything Zina said is 100% on and if no go wait a week.. One of mine are at 3 weeks tomorrow. Nothing to worry about with Ball Pythons. Healthy snakes go months sometimes without feeding.
I try once a week too...


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[Gc99]

Everything Zina said is 100% on and if no go wait a week.. One of mine are at 3 weeks tomorrow. Nothing to worry about with Ball Pythons. Healthy snakes go months sometimes without feeding.
I try once a week too...


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Its been two weeks, so im kinda worried, but ok, im doing that later today and i'll let you people know what happened

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[The_Godfather]

If all else fails try a gerbil. In my experience it never fails. It's been awhile but it's been speculated that they are naturally inclined to them. In the wild balls eat something called jerboas, which is not a gerbil but it's been suggested this might be why. I've had to do it a few winter times with a couple balls and it worked every time until they were willing to take rats again. I'm a big proponent of this method.

Seems also a lot of people have success with braining rats or mice. Puncture the brain before presenting it.