Quote Originally Posted by Mish View Post
Not sure weight wise we do not have a scale. She's about 2 n a half feet long and still looks plump and healthy. We were trying with frozen pinkies but have some live fuzzys ordered and on the way so we can try with those. She's in a 90gallon tank, aspen for bedding, her hot side stays at a good 90 and the cold side between 80-85, humidity fluctuates between 40-60 depending on how much we mist, more recent now cuz of the shed. She has a tree on the hot side to bask and a hiding spot as well, big water dish and another hollowed out 'tree' on the cold side so she can also hide in that. She friendly and loves being picked up, but when we go to pinch behind her jaws to assist feed she freaks out and flails around, we don't want to stress her out so we stopped that. I'm hoping the live fuzzys will attract her to eat.
Foget everything you have learned or were told at the pet store and please refer to the care sheet on this site

1# Stop assisting feeding or force feeding this snake, assist feeding is for animals that do not know how to eat on their own at 2 and a half feet this animal obviously knows how to eat, if the animal is plump I will assume it is of good body weight and therefore is not in jeopardy health wise. Assisting is stressful and should be avoided especially if you are lacking the experience to do so.

2# With new owners the majority of feeding issues are husbandry related, the biggest problem here is your enclosure, even an adult would not require such a large enclosure and since BP are prone to stress it is likely a contributing factor to the issues you are having.

Proper temps gradients and humidity are also very important so make sure you are getting an ACCURATE reading with a digital thermometer/hygrometer (dial thermometer and humidity gauge are not accurate.

Here is what I would recommend get a 32 quarts tub at the VERY most, have two tight identical hides (all sides touching your BP's body) and aspen bedding. When your BP becomes a consistent feeder you will be able to upgrade the enclosure as the animal grow knowing that a 30 gallons tank is all you will really need when fully grown.

3# Food, at this point you need to feed APPROPRIATE size prey, anything 2 small may not be recognized as a prey, know that and hatchling get started on hopper mice or fuzzy rats, therefore pinkies and fuzzies are WAY TOO SMALL, you need to feed something that is equal your BP's girth size (widest part of your BP's body)

Given the issue feed a live prey (preferably mouse) and offer the food inside the enclosure.

In the mean time NO HANDLING, make the changes give it 7 to 10 days to settle, and offer food, once your BP start eating with consistency you will be able to handle her.

Good luck.