Ball python hasnt eaten in year 1/2

[Jonas]

If you are relying on the ReptiTemp as your only way of measuring temps, you need to buy a decent digital thermometer. No matter what thermostat you have, you still need a thermometer to verify the temps, and the ReptiTemp isn't known for its accuracy so there is no way I would trust that as the only temp measurement. In order for us to help you, we need an accurate measurement of the hot and cool side temps. If you have a snake that is giving you this much trouble with feeding, it really makes me suspect that there is something about the husbandry that needs to change.

Ok. I came on here for suggestions. If you feel im doing something wrong...tell me. I can take constructive criticism. What do you recommend i buy for her?

[Jonas]

Hot spot sounds good, but yes, I would drop ambient about 4 degrees. Give her a week in her new environment, and try a live rat pup overnight. Good luck!

ok sounds good. How should i go on with dropping the ambient temp?

[Rae]

What I did when my ball python refused food, was I started assist feeding her small pieces of raw chicken. This seemed to pick up her appetite, so after a few months of feeding her just chicken, I switched to scenting pinkie mice. She ate it right away! And the second pinkie I offered her wasn't even scented.
This is what worked for me, but every snake is different...
Good luck!

[spasticbeast]

My almost ten year old male normal just came off a 9 month feeding strike. He always looked and acted fine, barely lost any weight, and my husbandry was spot on. After trying nearly all prey items in nearly every way you can offer them, he shed a few weeks ago, and just decided to start eating. Taking one medium rat a week again like he always has.

[Annarose15]

ok sounds good. How should i go on with dropping the ambient temp?

That depends, how are you heating the air? Lamp/CHE, or is that the room temp? If it's the room temp without any supplemental heat (space heater, etc.), I might try just taking away her hot spot and giving her 84-86deg ambient. I do this with my snake room in the summer because it naturally gets that warm in there. If you have a lamp/CHE, you can get a rheostat (dimmer) and dial it down, or a lower wattage bulb.

[Jonas]

That depends, how are you heating the air? Lamp/CHE, or is that the room temp? If it's the room temp without any supplemental heat (space heater, etc.), I might try just taking away her hot spot and giving her 84-86deg ambient. I do this with my snake room in the summer because it naturally gets that warm in there. If you have a lamp/CHE, you can get a rheostat (dimmer) and dial it down, or a lower wattage bulb.

My room is just normally extremely hot. lol. Ill take away the hot spot and see how she does. Thanks for having such a fast response time

[Annarose15]

My room is just normally extremely hot. lol. Ill take away the hot spot and see how she does. Thanks for having such a fast response time

That's what happens when I'm avoiding house and office work. Good luck with her and keep us posted. I'd also only try offering once a week for the next few weeks before attempting any more switches.

[dprballs]

Ok. I came on here for suggestions. If you feel im doing something wrong...tell me. I can take constructive criticism. What do you recommend i buy for her?

Firestorm clearly states you need to buy a decent digital thermometer to verify your temperatures. Thermostats are notoriously inaccurate. So much so that a lot of them even state as much in the instructions! Im very surprised your vet hasnt been through this with you!? Do you have a thermometer? I keep all my snakes with belly heat around 90- 91F and ambients of 78 - 82f. Works great for me, ive taken on a few non feeders, and some of them are now my best feeders! All mine eat frozen/thawed. I warm the rats in hot water for about 30 min - hour. I then dip the head in just boiled water for 10 seconds. If the snake is showing interest but not striking after 40 seconds or so ill reheat the rats head in boiling water again. most of the time this works. If not i usually have a day old chick on hand to scent the rat with. This rarely fails!

[Annarose15]

Firestorm clearly states you need to buy a decent digital thermometer to verify your temperatures. Thermostats are notoriously inaccurate. So much so that a lot of them even state as much in the instructions! Im very surprised your vet hasnt been through this with you!? Do you have a thermometer? I keep all my snakes with belly heat around 90- 91F and ambients of 78 - 82f. Works great for me, ive taken on a few non feeders, and some of them are now my best feeders! All mine eat frozen/thawed. I warm the rats in hot water for about 30 min - hour. I then dip the head in just boiled water for 10 seconds. If the snake is showing interest but not striking after 40 seconds or so ill reheat the rats head in boiling water again. most of the time this works. If not i usually have a day old chick on hand to scent the rat with. This rarely fails!

Chill a bit. Jonas took it as constructive, and asked what he should buy. It's easy to say "Get something better", but what is better? The snarky comment about the vet wasn't really necessary, either. He has stated clearly how he is measuring temps, and what they are. He also noted that she is striking defensively, which doesn't point to prey being under-heated.

[dprballs]

Chill a bit. Jonas took it as constructive, and asked what he should buy. It's easy to say "Get something better", but what is better? The snarky comment about the vet wasn't really necessary, either. He has stated clearly how he is measuring temps, and what they are. He also noted that she is striking defensively, which doesn't point to prey being under-heated.

sorry i didnt mean to offend.....i dont know if im missing something here.....Jonas is using a thermostat to set his temperature with out verifying it with a thermometer. Fire storm suggested getting a decent digital thermometer. Jonas didnt seem to understand so i reiterated it. Its not a snarky comment about the vet. Im surprised the vet didnt check that Jonas was measuring his temperatures reliably. Whats the problem with that?? I mean the snake hasnt eaten for 18 months and well no one really knows what temperature its being kept at !! I should think until this is sorted its pointless doing anything else yet people are still talking about changing temps. Jonas needs to know where he(or she?) is at right now with regards to temperature!!

E2a Defensive strike could well mean the prey is under heated. I could dangle an ice cube in front of some my snakes and theyd strike defensively. They certainly dont think its food