I'm running out of ideas...

[reptile65]

Here are some keys

1# Forget F/T try live, having your animal to eat is YOUR priority switching is completely secondary. Offer live Hopper Mouse.

2# Security and Warmth, I would suggest you to have this animal setup in a 6 quarts tub (No larger than that), have some aspen as substrate, a 6 inch plastic flower pot saucer as an hide and proper gradient temps.

3# NO HANDLING until the animal eats at least 5 times for you.

x2

As stated in my original post, I have tried offering live. Both times I tried live she showed little to no interest and just tried to hide from the mouse. Also, I already stated that I have not handled her at all.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

As stated in my original post, I have tried offering live. Both times I tried live she showed little to no interest and just tried to hide from the mouse. Also, I already stated that I have not handled her at all.

Do you have the animal in a 6 quart tub with aspen bedding too?

[AliCat37]

Just wondering, since you did get her from scales n tails, what is your husbandry looking like? Sometimes they give poor advice on caring for the animals. I know the one down here in the springs has killed their green tree monitor lizard with improper care, and they're keeping their frilled lizards on sand without climbing room. I know when I first started looking for frilled lizards I asked what they needed and scales n tails told me they had the same care requirements as beardies... >.> two TOTALLY different animals.

As far as assist feeding goes it's pretty simple, you just have to grab her behind the head and rub the mouse or rat on her nose, once she opens her mouth just place the nose of the mouse or rat in her mouth (pretty far back) and she SHOULD start to swallow. Like others have said, youtube will help a lot! Good luck!

[MMReptiles]

As much as you want to rag on me on the other forum for the blunt way I speak to people reptile65- fact is you weren't very informed and went to one of the worst sources for a baby ball python possible. I can tell you for a fact they unbox them and put them up for sale within the hour. On top of that, WC snakes are picky eaters- period, no doubt they where force fed to be kept "looking decent" for sale in the shop.

Just assist feed the animal as stated above, if it still refuses, force feed it. Don't take it back to the shop and ask for their help, because when it comes to 99% of reptiles, they have 0 idea what they are doing.

[reptile65]

Do you have the animal in a 6 quart tub with aspen bedding too?

I do have her in a 6 qt tub but I'm using paper towels right now to reduce the risk of her ingesting substrate. Also, I've found that here in CO it's very hard to keep humidity at decent levels with aspen bedding.

Just wondering, since you did get her from scales n tails, what is your husbandry looking like? Sometimes they give poor advice on caring for the animals. I know the one down here in the springs has killed their green tree monitor lizard with improper care, and they're keeping their frilled lizards on sand without climbing room. I know when I first started looking for frilled lizards I asked what they needed and scales n tails told me they had the same care requirements as beardies... >.> two TOTALLY different animals.

As far as assist feeding goes it's pretty simple, you just have to grab her behind the head and rub the mouse or rat on her nose, once she opens her mouth just place the nose of the mouse or rat in her mouth (pretty far back) and she SHOULD start to swallow. Like others have said, youtube will help a lot! Good luck!

Thanks for the advice. Don't worry, I didn't ask the people at Scales N Tails for advice. I know that they give out terrible advice. I researched ball python husbandry extensively through the internet (including this forum) before I got my first BP. Since I had owned my first BP for a while and felt comfortable with my husbandry, I decided to get a new one.

As much as you want to rag on me on the other forum for the blunt way I speak to people reptile65- fact is you weren't very informed and went to one of the worst sources for a baby ball python possible. I can tell you for a fact they unbox them and put them up for sale within the hour. On top of that, WC snakes are picky eaters- period, no doubt they where force fed to be kept "looking decent" for sale in the shop.

Just assist feed the animal as stated above, if it still refuses, force feed it. Don't take it back to the shop and ask for their help, because when it comes to 99% of reptiles, they have 0 idea what they are doing.

I appreciate the advice. I know I should have purchased from a breeder instead, and I had that thought in the back of my mind when I bought one from Scales n Tails. I guess I just thought I knew enough about BP's to be able to get her to eat on her own. I made an irresponsible decision even though I knew that wasn't the best place to buy a snake from. Oh well... Now that I have the animal I'm going to do my best to help her out, but I've definitely learned my lesson for next time.

[reptile65]

UPDATE: I tried assist feeding and it was a success! Thanks to everyone for the advice. I have some peace of mind now that I at least know she has a nice meal in her belly.

[MMReptiles]

UPDATE: I tried assist feeding and it was a success! Thanks to everyone for the advice. I have some peace of mind now that I at least know she has a nice meal in her belly.

Good to hear, if you end up needing help feel free to send me a PM, I'd be glad to come by and give you a hand. Oh- and yes, I am Dehlida as you guessed

[reptile65]

Good to hear, if you end up needing help feel free to send me a PM, I'd be glad to come by and give you a hand. Oh- and yes, I am Dehlida as you guessed

Haha thanks. And yeah, I kinda assumed. I may not always agree with the way you've presented info in the past, but thanks for the advice once again. I appreciate it.

[AliCat37]

Hooray! I am so glad the assist feeding worked! Hopefully next time she'll get it on her own!

[psychoduck]

Hooray! I am so glad the assist feeding worked! Hopefully next time she'll get it on her own!

ditto here... I tried assist feeding with my ball python once here successfully, it upsets me emotionally so much to do anything that 'forceful" with any of my animals that I only was successful once. The other times I was so shaky she dropped the rat within seconds of my pushing it into her mouth. Fortunately my successful assist feeding attempt bought me and her enough time to get her interested in eating on her own.

Now, here in west texas, I'm dealing with daily 110+ temps, our house (cooled with a swamp cooler) is at 90+ degrees. Snake is having a rough time, as are all of us. I have her in the coolest, darkest area of the house with a fan going over her tank. She hasn't eaten in about 3 weeks now. Her humidity is great, I'm keeping it around 55%-60%.... but temps in her tank are 90 degrees pretty much through out. I'm tempted to start putting a little ice in one area of her cage, but worry that it will "shock" her if she some how manages to go directly over it

we have appx two more weeks of this hellish heat before temperatures should drop.