New baby ball python won't eat frozen/thawed pinky

[Willowy]

So I'm going to get a live mouse, when should I get it and feed her, and should I feed it live or kill it then feed it?

Let her kill it. But you have to supervise. Never leave a live rodent (with eyes open; pinkies and fuzzies are OK) with your snake unsupervised.

But, again, I wouldn't resort to live yet. It hasn't been that long, you haven't been offering the right size, and she looked interested in the f/t rat. So I think she'll take f/t if you keep trying. Your choice.

Oops, just saw you tried a fuzzy mouse, not a rat. Still too small. They don't recognize it as food if it's too small. If you can't get a hopper mouse, try a small adult mouse---they're easier to find. She should be able to take that, as long as it's about as big as her widest girth.

[SnekIsNoodle]

If she was on f/t before (and I think Petsmart snakes are), I wouldn't resort to live yet. Mice are usually more easily accepted, and Petsmart was probably using mice anyway (or, at least, they don't sell frozen rat pups, and I'm assuming they use regular stock to feed the animals). Depending on her size, a mouse hopper or small adult mouse would work (my little guy was eating adult mice when I got him but he was already 120g, she might be smaller).

Some snakes like to eat in private. Try just leaving the (f/t) rodent in the tank overnight, so she can look it over in her own time. One of mine prefers to eat that way. You can even cover the tank if she seems shy.

But definitely double-check the enclosure conditions---BPs won't eat unless everything is perfect. Make sure the tank is cluttered up and has a lot of tight dark spaces, that makes a hatchling feel more secure.

I have aspen bedding tho and I heard that u shouldn't feed them in the same cage if u have aspen bc it can get stuck in their mouth

[SnekIsNoodle]

Let her kill it. But you have to supervise. Never leave a live rodent (with eyes open; pinkies and fuzzies are OK) with your snake unsupervised.

But, again, I wouldn't resort to live yet. It hasn't been that long, you haven't been offering the right size, and she looked interested in the f/t rat. So I think she'll take f/t if you keep trying. Your choice.

Oops, just saw you tried a fuzzy mouse, not a rat. Still too small. They don't recognize it as food if it's too small. If you can't get a hopper mouse, try a small adult mouse---they're easier to find. She should be able to take that, as long as it's about as big as her widest girth.

The fuzzy looked like it was the right size, it was as thick as the thickest part of her body

[Willowy]

It would be best if you could get a scale, take the guesswork out of it. If she really is as big around as a fuzzy mouse, she's very skinny . BPs start on hopper mice or rat fuzzies and should be eating adult mice or rat pups by the time they go to new homes. So a mouse fuzzy is normally too small even for a new hatchling.

You can get a digital postal or kitchen scale for around $20. Weigh her, than find a feeder that's about 10%-15% of her weight.

You should feed her in her enclosure. BPs get stressed from being moved to eat. Plus, they can digest bones, so a little aspen isn't gonna hurt . Sand and rocks are what cause impaction/blockage, not a little bit of wood shavings. But if you're really worried, you can put a paper towel down, or completely ditch the aspen and just use paper towels.

Yeah, if you've been moving her to feed her, that could be one reason why she hasn't eaten. It rarely works with BPs.