Same ol problems but need advice.

[Shawnfireball]

I know it is common for a ball python to be picky eaters but its been about 3 weeks and my girl hasnt eaten yet. She is about 360 grams and her tub is 90 on hot side and 80 on cool side. I have offered her mice 3 times already and she refused all of them. She doesnt even look interested in it. Any thing i can do? or just wait patiently Oh and i forgot to mention, she was a reptile expo pick up too.

[wolfy-hound]

Can you post a pic of the set up? Does she have hides on both ends? Is the cage in a high traffic area? (is it a tub that's clear or opaque?)

Has she ever eaten for you? Were you told she was feeding on mice when you bought her? Live mice or FT mice? Is it humid enough for her? What are you measuring temp and humidity with? How much are you handling her?

There's a lot of tips and trick to try to get BPs to eat, they can be picky little fellows. With some more info I'm sure we can suggest a few tricks to try.

Some of the most common are leaving her alone(except to change water/clean up poo) and making certain that she feels secure by covering three of the four sides(if it's a clear sided cage like a tank or clear tub), putting in hide spots(if she doesn't have some already), trying smaller prey, heating FT prey to a hotter temp with a hair dryer...

3 weeks should not be a cause for alarm yet. I'm certain with some patience and some tweaks to her set up, you'll have her feeding in no time.

[Shawnfireball]

Can you post a pic of the set up? Does she have hides on both ends? Is the cage in a high traffic area? (is it a tub that's clear or opaque?)

Has she ever eaten for you? Were you told she was feeding on mice when you bought her? Live mice or FT mice? Is it humid enough for her? What are you measuring temp and humidity with? How much are you handling her?

There's a lot of tips and trick to try to get BPs to eat, they can be picky little fellows. With some more info I'm sure we can suggest a few tricks to try.

Some of the most common are leaving her alone(except to change water/clean up poo) and making certain that she feels secure by covering three of the four sides(if it's a clear sided cage like a tank or clear tub), putting in hide spots(if she doesn't have some already), trying smaller prey, heating FT prey to a hotter temp with a hair dryer...

3 weeks should not be a cause for alarm yet. I'm certain with some patience and some tweaks to her set up, you'll have her feeding in no time.

She never uses her hide but she has 1 on the hot side. There is no high traffic area and her tub is not completely clear. Im measuring temp with a temp gun and humidity with a hygrometer. I handle her about once a day but i dont touch her if i want to feed her. When i bought her, i was told she was on live mice. And thats what i have been offering her. Maybe i will try moving her to a more spacious enclosure with more hides because the one she is in might be a little small for her.

[bivman]

Try leaving her alone for a week, then offer food again. How long are you waiting after offering? Every day will stress them, I'd wait 5 days after she turns it down to offer at again.

[wolfy-hound]

I agree, over handling is probably contributing. Especially if you move her to a new enclosure, you should leav her alone completely for at least a week, then offer a mouse. Another hide on the cool side might help too. They don't always use hides in a tub.

She needs time to settle in and relax and get used to her new home. If they don't feel secure, they usually don't want to eat.

[Shawnfireball]

alright thanks guys i offered her a mouse about every 5 days though. but I'll see how it goes next week. I just got a male and i tried feeding him and he ate without hesitation. and i just got him about 3 or 4 days ago so thats good (: