Sorry if the title is a bit melodramatic, lol. Just a bit defeated after a second consecutive failed feeding attempt.

Quick backstory: Got Syd at the end of July. According to the breeder she was a fabulous eater, and her body composition showed that (compared to other snakes he had hatched out at the same time that were more picky and much smaller and less robust).

I took her home and gave her a week to settle in. When the week was up, she took a F/T rat pup for me (prepared by thawing in warm water for around an hour, then boosting temp with hair dryer, and dangling in front of her). I offered at night in a dark room.

Every week thereafter she took like clockwork using the same method. In September, I bumped her up to weaned rats, which she has been taking fine.

Then she went into shed at the end of September, and during her shed, she refused. I left it in her cage overnight just in case but she never ate it. However, I knew she was in the middle of shedding, so I didn’t think anything of it.

After her shed on the 29th, she ate like normal on the 30th.

Then last week, she refused. As far as I know I did the exact same thing I’ve always done but she just wouldn’t go for it. I thought she was interested but after dangling and blow drying and dangling and blow drying over and over for god knows how long I finally gave up. I figured maybe she just needed a little Break and she would be extra hungry and ready to eat next week. I decided not to handle her at all until her next feeding day to try to reduce stress.

Fast forward to tonight.... and no luck. Same thing that happened last week.

For reference, she is ~350g and I am offering weaned rats (weighing 35-45g on average). Her ambient is 79-81*F and her warm hide is 88-89*F. During shed I bumped her humidity to 60-70%, but 45-55% is it’s typical range and what it’s sitting at now. Her shed was perfect. She last had a bowel movement on September 30 after her shed before she ate, although she has passed urates since then.

She is in a 10 gallon, reptile prime for substrate, she has 2 of the same hide, water bowl, foliage for cover, and the sides are covered. Top has aluminum foil over it to keep heat and humidity in. She has a heating pad regulated with a thermostat on the warm side and a low wattage CHE on a dimmer to bump ambients up a few degrees.

So I just don’t know what to do. Logically I know that sometimes they just go off feed of their own accord, but as a human that likes to eat frequently and is responsible for her care, it’s hard to not feel like I’m doing something wrong and failing her in some way. The problem is, I can’t pinpoint anything that would have changed since the last time she ate.

I’m a fixer, so my inclination is to start messing with stuff to get her eating again, even though I know that is probably counterintuitive as it would just stress her out. I could always move her over to a tub (have nothing against them - the boyfriend just likes tanks so we compromised), or put her in a different room or something...... but again, I feel it is probably smarter to keep things consistent? Right?

What would you do if you were me? Does anything stand out that I should be doing different? Just wanted to get some advice. This is my 4th ball python and the only one that has ever refused a meal for me








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