Hello!

I am having trouble getting my Spider Ball Python to consistently eat for me. I have had Opal since the beginning of May, 2015 and was told she had been eating fine on frozen thawed, and live mice. She is a 2014 baby so is about a year old, weighed 194 grams and was very nervous/scared of being disturbed or taken out of cage for feeding. After leaving her alone for about a week and a half I tried offering frozen thawed and she refused to eat. I gave her another week and tried again, for her to refuse her meal again. This went on for about a month without her eating, not uncommon for balls so I wasn't to worried. I began to try different things to get her interested in eating such as scenting with rat/mouse bedding, leaving in enclosure overnight, thawing near her cage with a hair dryer, scenting with tuna/chicken juice, braining the mouse, and trying to feed at different times.

She finally ate for us in June outside her cage with a non scented frozen thawed mouse, we tried to replicate it exactly with no luck. We tried a few more times before trying a different method. Since having her she has only eaten once a months (except October she ate twice). We keep a journal and keep it very detailed as to how we try to feed her hoping to see a pattern or find something that works and stick to it. In her enclose she has a UTH regulated with a thermostat which is set at 91 F, Her cold hide hovers around 78-80 F. She has a hide on each side, a potted plant and a log she likes to hide behind. She is kept on Aspen and we have a damp towel over part of her cage to increase humidity. She has shed for us a few times and is currently in shed now. Her current weight is 226 grams she is still very small and her backbone is prominent, when checked and weighed yesterday (11/19) she seemed slightly dehydrated.

I am planning on feeding her a very small live mouse next week, with hopes that she will take to live feeding. I have not tried live feeding before now due to lack of knowledge on the subject, and wanting to see if I could get her to take to frozen thawed. I feel as though she has reached a point when live feeding needs to be tried and I have been doing extensive research ( videos, forums, asking questions) to make sure it is done as safely as possible. I recorded a video of her and am going to post it here. Any advice or thoughts on any other steps we should take or live feeding tips would be really appreciated. I am really hoping that she takes to live and starts eating regularly. If she doesn't take to live I am going to contact the breeder and see if her would like to take her and see what he can do for her. If the breeder won't take her I will be looking for a new home for Opal with someone that has more experience with problem feeders. I do have another ball python with the same set up and temps next to her cage who eats like a champ. I want to do what is best for her and if that means giving her to someone who has had these issues and had success that is what I want to do. I am very worried about her and just want to give her the best life possible.

Link to the video of her: https://youtu.be/rK6lllcd47U

Thanks so much (and sorry for the long post)!!