Young Ball Won't Eat

[vena94]

Hi everyone!

Two weeks ago, I adopted a little girl named Daisy. She is a spider ball python, approximately 6 months old. Seems like she is comfortable in her new tank but she will not eat for me. Apparently, she had recently fed when I picked her up from the breeder, but she hasn't eaten since.

Now, I have been doing a lot of reading on the subject but I can't seem to find any problems with her health or environment. Her temps are good, she's been drinking and I mist her tank 2 - 3 times per day, she is active and inquisitive and has a place to hide. I've been offering her rat pups (about a week old), and she seems excited at first, but then when she gets close to them she seems scared and then backs off or balls up. I've tried just setting them down in the tank for her to find (which worked for my previous snake), but she just wanders around her tank. I thought she just couldn't find them, but she was licking the last one I left her but didn't eat it! I realize that ball pythons can be finicky eaters and it has only been two weeks, but I was under the impression that baby ball pythons should be eating more often. This isn't my first snake, but I have never raised one this young. Maybe I'm just worrying over nothing, but if anyone has had a similar experience with a fussy baby ball, I would appreciate any tips or feedback you could give.

Thanks!

[hazzaram]

Can you tell us about the setup? What type of enclosure? Size? Decor (hides etc.)? What are your ambient air temps? Your warm and cool side? Humidity? How are you heating?

Pics would help greatly. I've been lurking on this forum a long time and it seems feeding problems are usually husbandry related. If you give us the info, I'm sure some of the experts will pop in here

[vena94]

The tank is 2.5 feet long, 1 foot wide and 1 foot deep, clear glass. She has a branch under her lamp that she likes to climb and a couple rocks next to that. She has a large water dish in the center of her tank, big enough to swim in if she wants. On the cooler side is her hide, which she seems to enjoy when she's not on her branch. I found it was a little too cold, so I slipped a small heat mat under that side of the tank. Approx. 80 degrees on cool side and 90 degrees on hot. I allow it to drop a few degrees at night as the house naturally cools.

I'll respond with some pics shortly!

[vena94]

Don't seem to be able to add attachments :/