Hey there. So about 2 weeks ago I got my first ball python and first reptile ever. I’ve had birds before, and those come with their own sets of challenges, but I’ve never had a snake. The day I got her the breeder told me he had been feeding her live but was offering her pre killed for me and that seemed to be working- although I'm not sure what size. The last time she had eaten when I got her was 2 weeks ago (it’s now been almost 4). A few days after I got her, I figured she’d be hungry and I tried to feed her a small rat. She was interested in the small rat but didn’t attempt to strike- I assumed it was too big. I picked up a medium mouse from a local store but was hesitant since I had known she had only been eating rats. She was curious but seemed less interested, still no strike. After that I waited a week- today exactly- to try and feed her again. I read that starting off small is good and got her a small fuzzy rat. She actually struck at the rat, but missed, and since hasn’t attempted to try again. I kept dangling it and wiggling it around for 20 minutes hoping she’d take it but she started to ignore it. I notice that she seems to become more interested in the tongs that are holding the rat than the rat itself after a while. I placed the rat in her cage since I also read that sometimes they prefer to be left alone and might take the rat later. I even timed this last feed, she comes out at 11:30pm almost every night and roams for a few hours. I tried to distance myself as far away from her in case she was a shy feeder. I’m feeling rather frustrated, since I’m not sure what to do next. I don’t know if the breeder located her to a separate bin when he fed her, or if it was in her enclosure. I guess I could try a live mouse, but I’m not sure how she’d respond to it since she hasn’t been fed mice, but there are no stores around here with feeder rats. I’m also not sure how long I should wait again to feed her? Everyone says a week, but she seemed like she was interested in this food. I feel like I’m doing something wrong on my part and feel very guilty and stressed because of it but I’m not sure what.

I’ll give the tank info and picture of her too, they were taken the day we got her two weeks ago. Her ambient is currently at 78 and her cool side reaches 78-80, her warm spot is at 90-92 and outside from above hide it’s about 85 average. I’m using a UTC and CHE. She has two hides and a ton of clutter. She’s definitely gotten a lot more comfortable since I’ve gotten her, like I mentioned earlier she has her own little schedule now. I really want to do my best for her but I’m so afraid I’m being a bad owner. Here is a picture of her- she is a few months old, I think born in October or November I think.


https://imgur.com/K0emswI


https://imgur.com/XAoCOGA