Hey all,

My ball python (I think two months old when I got him in August, measuring 135g when measured in September) was eating live baby rats for the first several
weeks until I had a failed feeding where the baby rat was too old and I think bit the python. The rat got away (and is now my pet) and I didn’t see any marks or injury after but shortly after the python had a stuck shed that may have been from the bite.

I transitioned to frozen/thawed (this would be about October now) and was not succeeding. Someone DM’ed me the hair dryer method (let it thaw at room temperature for a couple hours, use a hair dryer to heat it up, offer it to the snake, blast it with the hair dryer every few minutes). I got a success the first time and then since then I think I’ve only had success about two more times.

She entered into another shed a couple months ago so I left her alone for a little while. And a month ago I offered the rat with the above method and left it in the tank and accidentally left it overnight and she ended up eating it over night. I tried that again last night (after many attempts to feed in real time) and didn’t take the rat this time.

im thinking that she’s been spooked from the bite and is now very timid. She will tongue the air and peak out from her hide and get within an inch or so of the rat, seems interested, but doesn’t take. A few times will even leave her hide out the back and go to the other side.

Habitat wise I think the only think that is lacking if I’ve been slacking on keeping the humidity right but I’m recommitting to spraying everyday.

the size rats I am using are ‘small’ and definitely within her size limits. Should I try live again? Perhaps pinkies and if she takes to that then do multiple ones? What about trying mice? I know they aren’t the preferred nutrition but early on I fed her mice and she’d take down two (one presented at a time).

I know ball pythons are notorious for not eating for a while but she’s young and it seems like this is a result of a learned fear and I fear that fear might be stronger than the urge to eat.