problems or normal...

[rando]

hi im semi new here but never made a post.
i got my first bp about 7 weeks ago. since then shes only eaten a few times. the temp is a constant 83-85 and humidity55-60. shes only eaten 3 rats in that time. the rats are about the size of her girth. i dont know how old she is or how much she weighs, but shes about three foot long. also yesterday completed her first shed. what i really want to know is how to get a solid food schedule going. thanks.

[Purrrfect9]

Hi and welcome!
first off, is the 83-85 temp a solid temp throughout the whole cage? BP's really benefit from having a temp gradient, with the hot side being 87-93 (anything above 95 degree's may cause thermal burns) and the cool side from upper 70's to low 80's. This may be the reason why your BP isn't eating regularly. Also, do you have two identical hides for your BP to hide in?

[rando]

83-85 is just the ambient temp. the hot side is about 93 and the coldest it gets is 79. i dont have two hides though-only one right in the middle. i didnt know that would affect the eating schedule. should i have one hide on the hot side and one on the cold side?

[Purrrfect9]

Ideally, yes. You should have one on the hot side and one on the cool, and both identical. They should also fit in them pretty snug. Here's a quick excerpt from the caresheet provided here on this website:
HIDES
Ball pythons typically fairly shy and reclusive nocturnal animals and appreciate a good dark place to curl up and feel safe. It is best to provide two adequate hides in your BPs enclosure – one on the warm end and one on the cooler end so that it does not have to make a choice between regulating its body temperature and feeling secure (to their own detriment these snakes will sacrifice warmth in favor of a hide).

Hides can be constructed or bought in a wide variety of forms shapes materials. For best sanitation you should avoid hides that are very porous, difficult to clean or which could rot mold or mildew. Whether store-bought or homemade, a ball python will prefer a hide that is small and snug-fitting, so that it feels "hugged" on all side and even from above.

[rando]

thanks alot. im gonna go get another hide tomorrow.