Quote Originally Posted by Agent73 View Post
First off: Welcome to BP.net

An open air enclosure with hardware cloth sides sounds like it would be a nightmare to keep proper humidity levels in (at least 50% at all times)
As others have said Ball Pythons like smaller, secure feeling enclosure. Something where at least 3 sides of the enclosure are covered and there are hides on both the cool and warm sides of the enclosure. Preferably you want both hides to be identical in order for you BP to never choose security over thermoregulation.

If your BP is not eating I can think of 4 possible things it may be:
1. Husbandry is not right. Is her warm side over the UTH about 90 degrees?
2. Your BP does not feel secure and is stressed.
3. The former owner was mistaken and the BP is eating mice. You might want to try a live mouse and see if you get some interest.
4. Your BP is simply not hungry. Older BP's can go a long time without eating. During the breeding season my males typically don't eat for about 6 months with no ill effects.

Also to increase the chance of you BP eating try offering the meal during either dawn or dusk. In the wild this is usually when BP's come out look for food.

You also may want to check out the BP.net caresheet, it has a ton of useful information:http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet

Thank you! I've been trying to feed her around 7:00 pm, which was dark here before we lost an hour LOL. The guy said they were small rats so maybe it COULDA been large mice??? Didn't think of that.

Will a mouse fill a 4ft snake up?

The seller was helpful every time I asked him questions about her so I don't think he'd have lied to me intentionally.

So....should I offer a mouse today or give her another day or two?

I've got one of those digital probe thermometers I took away from my gu because he tried to eat it (got a thermal gun from online coming) and it says the UT is at about 87.5 not quite 90 F though.