Young Ball Python Hasn't Eaten For 3 Weeks

[HarlemBlitz]

I bought my first ball python around the 31st and I was told she's around 4 months old. Since I've gotten her, I haven't been able to get her to eat. I tried the 7th and she took the rat but seemed to have gotten spooked by some movement and let it go. I tried again the 8th but she kept striking defensively and won't take it. I waited another week and she struck defensively again. The breeder told me she was eaten f/t rat pups which I have been warming up to around 97 degrees. She seems fine otherwise. She stays in her hot hide during the day and climbs around her enclosure at night. Her enclosure is a 35 gallon tank that is surrounded in wood except for the front which I have blocked off to make her more secure. Just incase the enclosure is too big, I've put a ton of fake leaves, 3 hides, and branches in there. She's also in the quietest room in the house. I have kept myself from handling her so she can settle in and her temps and humidity are fine (83 on cool and 93 on hot. 60-70% humidity). Do you have any advice when it comes to feeding her? She's my first ball python and I'm worried I'm doing something wrong. If recommended to downgrade her tank, I'm worried that will only stress her out more.

[vivi]

Any idea what weight she is?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

A 35 gallons tank is an enclosure that should be used for an adult and I would not recommend to put a BP in a 35 gallons unless it is at less 500/600 grams as a minimum.

Yes you can fill up the enclosure but in reality for some (the MAJORITY) animals it just does not work and the first sign is food refusal.

In a young animal food refusal needs to be addressed very quickly as it will become a vicious circle and you do not want to reach the point of no return.

Get a 10 gallons tank or a 6 to 12 quarts tub and lower your temps on the hot side to 86/88 and 76/78 on the cool side, wait a week and offer food, depending on what the animal was feeding on previously this is what you will need to offer, if it was mice feed mice if it was live feed live until the animal is consistent and eats for you.

[vivi]

A 35 gallons tank is an enclosure that should be used for an adult and I would not recommend to put a BP in a 35 gallons unless it is at less 500/600 grams as a minimum.

Ditto.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-hatchling-101 < A useful post, by Deborah.

https://mypetpython.com/the-ultimate...hooting-guide/ < Troubleshooting.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ing-Guidelines < Keep in mind these are guidelines, not explicit rules.

https://www.reddit.com/r/snakes/comm..._from_live_to/ < F/T feeding methods.

[HarlemBlitz]

She was around 170g when I purchased her.

[HarlemBlitz]

I took away a bit over a 3rd of her enclosure using a divider and have lowered her temps a bit. I assume I should try feeding in a week?

[HarlemBlitz]

A 35 gallons tank is an enclosure that should be used for an adult and I would not recommend to put a BP in a 35 gallons unless it is at less 500/600 grams as a minimum.

Yes you can fill up the enclosure but in reality for some (the MAJORITY) animals it just does not work and the first sign is food refusal.

In a young animal food refusal needs to be addressed very quickly as it will become a vicious circle and you do not want to reach the point of no return.

Get a 10 gallons tank or a 6 to 12 quarts tub and lower your temps on the hot side to 86/88 and 76/78 on the cool side, wait a week and offer food, depending on what the animal was feeding on previously this is what you will need to offer, if it was mice feed mice if it was live feed live until the animal is consistent and eats for you.

I took away a bit over a 3rd of her enclosure using a divider and have lowered her temps a bit. I assume I should try feeding in a week?

[vivi]

I assume I should try feeding in a week?

Yes.

[Zincubus]

I’ve sent you details of the ‘hairdryer’ trick. ..


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[HarlemBlitz]

EDIT:

She finally ate the 22nd! I thawed out the rat in a plastic bag to preserve its scent and then for the last water change I put the rat in without the bag to bring temp up. I then dried it off and used a hairdryer. When I first put it in front of the hide opening, she did what she's been doing (striking defensively by doing a quick bite and returning to s shape). I think the reason she might have been doing this is because she's a bit more skittish than most and wasn't registering if it was a rat and just treating it as an enemy. After her striking twice I became even more worried and decided to try anything so I took the top of her hide off and put the rat near her. When it got close to her head she finally had a feeding response and coiled. Once she took it, I put the hide over her to make it more secure. I've seen videos of breeders with snakes in snake racks and they often take the hides off of the snake as well so I figured I'd try it.