Well I guess I have joined the feeding problem crew!

[whispersinmyhead]

I just got my BP a little over a week ago and I know that the breeder was feeding on Mondays. So she hasn't eaten in a week and a half. She is 7 months old.

The breeder was feeding live. She has eaten very well for him. Now long story short I am feeding F/T and this keeps my wife happy and I am more comfortable with the idea of my snake being as safe as possible.

Well I thawed my rat of what I can guess is appropriately sized from what I can tell this is all new to me. The rat is as big as the thickest part of her. The body of the rat isn't as bug as it's head though. It seems close. I thawed it in the fridge overnight and took it out tonight and used a blowdryer on hot and high to heat it up. No takers... she just stayed in her hide. So I thought I would try her in a feeding tub just in case. I noticed her eyes are bluish-grey but I thought i would try again and after repeatedly heating the rat (paying special attention to the head) I kept grabbing it with the tongs by the back of the neck and danced it around a little at different speeds. All my girl did was lick it a couple times and nuzzled it like it was a teddy bear and kept exploring! She had no interest in it. I gave up after 15-20 minutes and now this whole nerv-racking ordeal has drawn to a close with the rat on top of her hide in her cage and me posting on here as yet another victim of a non feeding ball python. Grrrr.

So I am partly venting my frustration and trying to ease my patience. My Temps are band on 90-92 on the hot side and 80-82 on cool. The humidity is 58-60%. I guess I need to bump it up to 70% because she is starting to shed.

What do I do now? She is starting to shed so maybe she just can't see it? Did I do something wrong when offering. I didn't think it was going to be this difficult. Logic says it is a warm rat that is moving (although unnaturally) around = food.

Well any help is appreciated. Tonight was a big let down and I was really hoping that her first meal would go well.

[The Serpent Merchant]

You did everything right, some won't eat around shed, espicially if they are already stressed out (from being in a new place)

Just keep trying once every 5 or 7 days. And make sure that the rodent is heated up to 100 degrees.

It is fairly common for a BP to refuse their first meal, and remember they can go months without eating so there is nothing to fear at this point.

[luvmyballs]

since she's going into shed just leave her be. definitely get that humidity up .that's a lot of stress for a new snake. new home and going into a shed and eating new prey items (ft vs live). Another thing you may never get her switched. I have one male who will only eat live and in tank. No matter how hard I tried. You might try pre killed just kill it and through it in. I prefer live and fk just because it is way more convenient than ft. But that's just me. Good luck.

[DooLittle]

No problems really, some won't eat in shed. Take the rat out and let her shed. Get humidity up to 70. She will go blue, ( yes they can have a hard time seeing while blue), then clear up, then a few days later shed. It will not hurt her to wait until after shed. Then maybe try a p/k rat and take baby steps to f/t. She may need a few live feedings until she is all adjusted to her new home.

[whispersinmyhead]

Thanks for all the support! Sorry for huge post. I didn't realize is was that long until I ce back to answer you guys. Well I have one more frozen rat so I will offer again in 5-7 I guess.

When feeding how long do I offer for? I don't want to try too long and have her stressed or scared of the prey items.

[The Serpent Merchant]

I usually stop after 10 minutes.feels like an eternity... but shouldn't have any lasting negative effects on your BP. You will have to learn how to read your snake, this will come with time and once you can read your BP you can judge how long is too long on a case by case basis.

You have to find what works for you and your BP.

[DooLittle]

Yes, you will soon enough be able to read your snake and tell if he is going to eat or not.

[whispersinmyhead]

This was my one and only fear getting our first snake. I fell in love with ball pythons though to me they are the perfect pet. The only negative thing is the feeding and I that is why I avoided pet stores for fear of a wild one or shipped from Africa specimen.

I have the luck of the Irish but the wrong end. I guess I don't have to worry for a bit now but wow I have no patience. It will be a hard wait. It has been almost impossible to leave her be as it is. The good news is that she was nice and calm even though her eyes were blue. I wasn't going to try and move her to the separate tub and then I figured "she bites me she bites me" no big deal I have been bit by much worse. She didn't even get into a defensive posture. She was actually nice and active in the tub but just no urge to eat. I thought after tasting the crap out of the rat she would be oh well.

You guys have put my mind at ease though, thanks.

I will try again on Tuesday night (unless I have to wait until she is completely done shedding). I will try with one or two more F/T and if that doesn't work I will try P/K or live. If she only takes the live or P/K then I will try a slow transition to F/T.

[Slim]

You're doing everything right, the key is to stick with it and be patient. She will come around.

I actually just got my newest little guy to eat to night for the first time, but I understand what you're saying about the reverse Luck O' The Irish! I have it in spades...Erin go Bragh!

[The Serpent Merchant]

I would just wait until the day after she sheds, leaving them alone is the worst, but is it very important