Ball python in new environment

[reno-cg]

On June 4th a purchased a 1000g female ball python. To this day she has not eaten for me. I have even tried feeding live (which is what she was used to eating) to no avail. I know my husbandry is spot on, and I know the breeder that had her before me took very good care of her (which was evident in her girth/size). Now I can start to see she has lost weight. The only reason I could possibly think of as to why she has not eaten for me is the idea that she became stressed when she was introduced into a new enclosure. So I have a question for people that may have been through similar circumstances: How long does it typically take, in their new environment, for these more timid ball pythons to become acclimated and start eating again? I ask because come september I will have to move again and I'm sure that will stress her out further.

[stratus_020202]

I would give her at least a week, with no handling. Maybe two since she is older. Do you have her in a tub or aquarium? What was she in before?

[reno-cg]

She's in a sweater box size tub, same as what she was in before. I think the only differences I can think of is that she is now in the same room as a leachie. But I don't think this would be a big deal because she was in the same room with other reptiles before. Also, she had a different heating set up. Personally, I think my heating set up is better (93 UTH and 80 ambient), but she was thriving in his care (86 ambient only, no UTH) so I shouldn't say too much lol. She also didn't have any hides before, she now has 2 - one on the warm end, one on the cold. I hear this is recommended with picky eaters. I am at a complete loss here. I have looked up and down the caresheet on this forum and have not found anything wrong with my husbandry. I think that care sheet is actually missing a reason to why ball pythons don't eat: "#10 on the list: because they feel like jerking around their keeper"

[maverickgtr]

I just went through a 1000 mile move, after we moved, it took both our bp's about a week and a half to two weeks before they both just started eating again. Have you handled her at all? We left both of ours alone for a good two weeks after the move.

[reno-cg]

I did handle her like 2 days after getting her into her new home. I now have not handled her for about a week, maybe more. I handled her for about 2 minutes so I could change the news paper. I don't plan on handling her until she eats. Next feeding schedule will be on monday (1 week after previous food offering).