Last year I took in a rescue from some people that has no idea how to care for her. She was a fairly large female and they were feeding her small mice every couple of weeks. I switched her over to f/t rats and she had about 15 of them between the beginning of March 2010, but she hasn't eaten since last June.

I like to think that my husbandry is spot on as I avidly clean their tubs, use two thermostats (A Johnson Controls and a Helix) for UTH heating, provide hides, water daily, have them in a low traffic area, and generally don't disturb them necessarily. I use Sterilite tubs in a poor man's rack. I can put up pics if you'd like, but I really don't think this is where the problem is.

She is absolutely terrified of live prey, although that's what the previous owner gave her. I've never even seen her strike at live prey. She runs and balls up. She's a bit of a basket case like that.

Every three months or so I like to drop you guys a post for advice. So far the general consensus has been "Don't worry." So I haven't. She doesn't seem to be horribly emaciated and seems to be in good health when I have her out for cage cleanings and so on. But we are coming up on the One Year mark and I am getting concerned. Tonight I am trying a late feed with balled up newspaper in her tub.

Am I correct in thinking that she will eat when she is ready or will a BP simply lay around and starve itself to death? I am not a fan or force feeding or even the notion of the practice. Thanks for any advice you wish to offer.