new snake owner feeding problem

[Ciaran_songs]

So about 3 weeks ago I got a 2-3 month old ( Not exactly sure ) ball python the first time I fed her it went great and I was super happy but now there's a problem that problem being she wont eat I know that its fine and not to worry and all but here's the thing when I get ready to feed her I will shake the mouse in front of her and she takes it so I go sit down on my couch and read or watch TV but I will occasionally glance over at her to see how she is doing but she has not eaten it so basically I feed her she takes it I go sit down come back and she is just hovering over it staring at nothing I have tried moving her location to a less active room but she still wont eat it she will take it and chew on it for a bit but wont eat it does she know its food is this something I should be concerned about or should I just give her time she is used to eating frozen thawed so I have no idea what might be the problem I leave the mouse in there for an hour or so just in case she decides she wants it again also one more thing it has been about three weeks since I got her when I got her she had not shed in a week and a half so its been about a month and she has yet to shed is that normal all the tempuratures are right and humidity i have two hides one cool one hot a climbing tree a heat gun and everything she needs I am just worried she may have gone to the wrong home and hate it here I really don't want her to be miserable I am just so worried and I feel so bad for her she is really aggresive towards me and I just dont know what to do

ps. English is not my native language I am from France so sorry if some of it is misspelled or something

[Bogertophis]

If you warmed up the mouse when you first offer it, sometimes snakes have trouble finding the head & then it cools off so they lose interest.

Are you heating up the mouse's nose with a hair-dryer? Many here have success with that method, especially for snakes like BPs that have & use heat sensing pits.

Feeding at night (or evening) usually helps too, that's natural for them. Also, BPs are "ambush-predators"...many don't like to accept food unless they are peeking
out of their hide, waiting for a hapless rodent to pass by. If the snake is cruising their cage, they may feel too "exposed" to eat...remember that in the wild, snakes
have to eat fast, or risk becoming prey themselves. Swallowing prey puts them at risk, so they prefer to be stealthy.

She might also be going into shed soon: snakes can "feel" it coming long before we can see any signs of it, & many refuse food until after they've shed. Not to worry.

Few snakes are ever "aggressive" to us: they are defensive. We are big scary predators to them until they learn...be patient, try to imagine yourself in her place.
Snakes mostly bite out of fear & self-defense, or out of confusion with food (if we get in their way when feeding them, or have rodent scent on our hands, they rely
on scent more than vision and we just aren't appealing to them as food, remember that). Snakes do learn...up to us to be patient. That you obviously care so much,
I'd say she has the right home. We were all "new" at this once...you'll get there. Snakes are very different pets from most others...lots for us to learn & just being
observant helps a lot.

And Questions are why we're here, & we're glad to have you join in. Your English is just fine, and FAR better than our French, lol.

[Ciaran_songs]

Thanks! I will have to go out and buy a hairdryer this weekend I knew that it was all for defence she is just a little noodle after all and she couldn't hurt me really badly anyway Hopefully this will work after she eats a couple more times then I think I will start working with her hopefully I can get her to come around I do feed her at around 8 PM but she isnt in her hide around that time so I will have to try feeding her at a time where she is in the hide once again thanks so much for you r help it is greatly appreciated

[Bogertophis]

"Baby" snakes that aren't defensive (in the "real world") don't usually grow up to breed...it's rough out there, so forgive her, she just wants to survive.

New snakes (& especially young ball pythons) that don't feed so easily can really make us feel "inadequate"... don't give up. Everyone here knows
the frustration you're feeling, believe me.

[Jellybeans]

Mine always takes his meal from peeking out of his hide and it never fails

If you warmed up the mouse when you first offer it, sometimes snakes have trouble finding the head & then it cools off so they lose interest.

Are you heating up the mouse's nose with a hair-dryer? Many here have success with that method, especially for snakes like BPs that have & use heat sensing pits.

Feeding at night (or evening) usually helps too, that's natural for them. Also, BPs are "ambush-predators"...many don't like to accept food unless they are peeking
out of their hide, waiting for a hapless rodent to pass by. If the snake is cruising their cage, they may feel too "exposed" to eat...remember that in the wild, snakes
have to eat fast, or risk becoming prey themselves. Swallowing prey puts them at risk, so they prefer to be stealthy.

She might also be going into shed soon: snakes can "feel" it coming long before we can see any signs of it, & many refuse food until after they've shed. Not to worry.

Few snakes are ever "aggressive" to us: they are defensive. We are big scary predators to them until they learn...be patient, try to imagine yourself in her place.
Snakes mostly bite out of fear & self-defense, or out of confusion with food (if we get in their way when feeding them, or have rodent scent on our hands, they rely
on scent more than vision and we just aren't appealing to them as food, remember that). Snakes do learn...up to us to be patient. That you obviously care so much,
I'd say she has the right home. We were all "new" at this once...you'll get there. Snakes are very different pets from most others...lots for us to learn & just being
observant helps a lot.

And Questions are why we're here, & we're glad to have you join in. Your English is just fine, and FAR better than our French, lol.

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[Zincubus]

Mine always takes his meal from peeking out of his hide and it never fails

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Same with all mine .. they feed voraciously from within their hides yet if I offer when one is out and about they just make a run for it


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[Ciaran_songs]

Hey I just wanted to thank you I fed her today using all of the tricks that you listed and it worked so well she is now just being a lazy little girl hiding in her log I am so glad that this worked and again I cant thank you enough!

[Bogertophis]

Hey I just wanted to thank you I fed her today using all of the tricks that you listed and it worked so well she is now just being a lazy little girl hiding in her log I am so glad that this worked and again I cant thank you enough!

HAPPY DANCE!

[Zincubus]

Hey I just wanted to thank you I fed her today using all of the tricks that you listed and it worked so well she is now just being a lazy little girl hiding in her log I am so glad that this worked and again I cant thank you enough!

Excellent !!

She may stay out of the way for a day or so to digest ..normally in the warm hide ..


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