Hello everyone,

I have been reading this forum for a while and wanted to start off by thanking everyone for the excellent advice/experience that is offered here everyday.

So I have had my normal female for about 5 weeks now and I absolutely love her. This is the first snake I have ever owned and I'm wondering why I waited so long! She has an excellent demeanor and after giving her a week to settle and eat her first meal has been handled just about everyday ( other than giving her 48 hrs after eating to digest he meal). She is about 18" now and has been feeding on f/t hoppers. She has eaten three meals since I have had her and has had a successful shed ( one full piece). But I picked up some small adult mice since the hoppers seemed a bit small for her ( her girth at the widest point ) and was just wondering from other people experience if she might get freaked out or refuse a meal for the first time because the prey is a bit bigger? Also I have read mixed things about what to do with a refused f/t mouse. Some people say it's ok to refreeze them one time, others say you should never do that, I personally don't think I should and it's not a money issue ( it's only $6.50 for 3 f/t mice ) and I'm at the pet store every couple of weeks anyways because my g/f and I have 4 hungry cats and a 155g aquarium. Also if she refuses the small adult should I have hoppers on standby? Also she has not hat a bowel movement since I have had her and I am a bit concerned. She doesn't appear to have the "sausage butt" but she didn't defecate after her shed ( but she has still been eating like a champ )

As for my setup, I have her in a 10g aquarium, aspen bedding and two identical hides that seem a bit small ( which she loves b/c she feels secure in them). The hot hide is heated by an UTH with a probe under the substrate to check the temp ( which is a constant 93 degrees f ). The cool side is kept at 85 degrees f. The humidity stays between 50-60% and I have a heat lamp that I only use when the humidity gets too high ( the lamp dries it out, just like a McDonald's heat lamp lol ). I also have the UTH and heat lamp hooked up to rheostats to adjust the heat if necessary. And of coarse I have a water bowl which I change daily. The top is a screen ( with clips ) and I cover half of it with tinfoil and a towel to keep the humidity in.

I'm sorry I don't have pics but I'm posing from work... I will try to upload some pics when I get home. But if anyone can see anything that I'm doing wrong or has any suggestions please let me know as my main concern is her happiness and well being.

Thanks,

Jeff