Ball python hasnt eaten in year 1/2

[Jonas]

Well normal female hasn't eaten in a year and a half. I Have been force feeding her for a while now. I try not to stress her out too much though. I am ready to give up. I have tried changing cages,fluctuating temps and humidity, braining rats, braining mice. Temps/Humidity are currently stable for about 3 months now with no success ......She has a scale issue that shes had for a looooonnnngggg time. I went to the vet and they gave me baytril. she is still on it and her scale issue is all cleared up she is gonna stop injections this week. I need suggestions? Im in california so AFS are illegal. But seriously i will try ANYTHING!!!! Thanks in advance

[youbeyouibei]

Did the vet do a stool sample? No internal or external parasites? If you're sure of her health & provenance & your husbandry is absolutely on the mark, I'd either offer live (mice, rats,...?) or sell/re-home her to someone that could offer her soft furs if they're okay taking on the challenge she seems to be. Was she a wild caught import animal or where did you get her? And how old is she?

[BlueMoonExotics]

When you say force feeding what exactly do you mean? What is the technique that you're using to "force feed" and was this recommended by the vet? How long have you been force feeding her? What are you using for heat and how are you measuring your temps and humidity? What are the "steady" temps and humidity at right now? Has the vet told you what the scale issue is? Pictures of the scales would also probably help or explain what you're seeing. Sorry for all the questions but right now trying to pinpoint the problem is like taking a shot in the dark.

[Jonas]

Did the vet do a stool sample? No internal or external parasites? If you're sure of her health & provenance & your husbandry is absolutely on the mark, I'd either offer live (mice, rats,...?) or sell/re-home her to someone that could offer her soft furs if they're okay taking on the challenge she seems to be. Was she a wild caught import animal or where did you get her? And how old is she?

No the vet didnt think it was necessary to do so. No neither. Ive offered live too. I have spent so much money on vet appointments i would rather take on the challenge. She was sold to me as a captive bred. She is 2009 female. Thanks

[Jonas]

When you say force feeding what exactly do you mean? What is the technique that you're using to "force feed" and was this recommended by the vet? How long have you been force feeding her? What are you using for heat and how are you measuring your temps and humidity? What are the "steady" temps and humidity at right now? Has the vet told you what the scale issue is? Pictures of the scales would also probably help or explain what you're seeing. Sorry for all the questions but right now trying to pinpoint the problem is like taking a shot in the dark.

I mean i put the baby (f/t) rat (easier with smaller prey) in her mouth if she accepts it i will give her another. She usually never accepts it. If she spits it out i push it farther down until she accepts it. The vet force fed once and showed me how its done. She said that i should use this technique if i feel its mandatory. I have been force feeding once she hit a year without eating. I offer regular food every week. I force feed once every 2 months. I use a heat mat that is monitored with a repti-temp 5000R. Right now humidity is 57% and temp is 84. Yes she has but it is some weird word. (i dont remember lol) currently i dont have a way too take a picture but once i get my new phone (later today) i will.... Thanks

[liv]

I mean i put the baby (f/t) rat (easier with smaller prey) in her mouth if she accepts it i will give her another. She usually never accepts it. If she spits it out i push it farther down until she accepts it. The vet force fed once and showed me how its done. She said that i should use this technique if i feel its mandatory. I have been force feeding once she hit a year without eating. I offer regular food every week. I force feed once every 2 months. I use a heat mat that is monitored with a repti-temp 5000R. Right now humidity is 57% and temp is 84. Yes she has but it is some weird word. (i dont remember lol) currently i dont have a way too take a picture but once i get my new phone (later today) i will.... Thanks

A lot of us provide a heat gradient-- a 90-92F hot spot and an 80-82F cool end. It might be worth trying out a gradient to see if she likes it better than one constant temperature.

[rocknhorse76]

A lot of us provide a heat gradient-- a 90-92F hot spot and an 80-82F cool end. It might be worth trying out a gradient to see if she likes it better than one constant temperature.

Yeah, if that's her hot spot temp, you need to bump it up to 90-92 and make sure she still has a cool end as well with hides on both ends. Snakes sometimes will refuse to eat if the temps are too low.

[Jonas]

Yeah, if that's her hot spot temp, you need to bump it up to 90-92 and make sure she still has a cool end as well with hides on both ends. Snakes sometimes will refuse to eat if the temps are too low.

the temp that i said is the overall temp/ air temp in cage

[BlueMoonExotics]

I mean i put the baby (f/t) rat (easier with smaller prey) in her mouth if she accepts it i will give her another.

Ah ok, from what I've seen on these forums, that would be considered assist feeding. Does the snake have both a cool side and hot spot with identical hides on both sides? Hot spot should be about 90. You said in your last post that the temp you gave was the overall air temp of the cage but ball pythons need belly heat to digest their food. I'm not sure I've heard of a repti-temp 5000R but I'm guessing it's some kind of thermostat? If it is then where is the probe located that measures the temps?

[FireStorm]

What type of enclosure is she in? What are you using to measure temps?