Hi there! I recently purchased my first snake on May 18, a female ball python who is a little less than a year old. I left her alone for a few days and then attempted to feed her a frozen thawed mouse on May 23, which was a little less than a week after purchasing her, but the breeder recommended feeding her that day. She refused to take it. Since then I’ve left her completely alone since she seemed very stressed. I’ll try to feed her on Sunday. Is leaving her alone the right thing to do?
Hello hello - first, congrats on the new snake!
You're absolutely doing the right thing by leaving her alone right now. I always recommend waiting at least a week before first offering food to a new snake, and then waiting at least 5 days between feeding attempts if refused.
Ball pythons are very sensitive, so especially with beginners, the first thing you should consider is your husbandry, making sure she feels safe and comfortable in her new enclosure. Here are a few things to look for:
What are your temperatures and humidity like? Ball pythons need a temperature gradient in their enclosures of about 90-78 Fahrenheit, with humidity of at least 60%.
Does she have enough hiding places? Every snake needs at least two identical hides. They should have only one entrance and be snug enough that the snake's body can touch three sides.
Is her enclosure in a busy part of the house? This can be very stressful. I always like to keep new snakes especially in quiet, low-stress rooms. Covering the enclosure partially with a blanket can help keep it quiet and calm.
And a few food-related considerations:
How are you warming up her food? Because of their heat pits, ball pythons need their food to be nice and warm. I like to warm up my rodents in warm water, but you can also use a hair dryer (just don't put it in the microwave!). You don't want to cook it, but you do want it to be warm to the touch.
Most ball pythons prefer to take their food once it's dark out. Many won't eat during the day or evening, and you'll almost always get a better feeding response at night.
How are you offering? Many ball pythons prefer to be tong-fed (gently take the mouse and wiggle it for them until they strike), but a few prefer drop-feeding (leave the mouse in their enclosure for them to find). Don't be afraid to experiment with the two styles until you find what works.
Is the mouse the right size? Ball pythons can be very easily scared by rodents that are too big. You'll want a rodent that's about 10-15% of her body weight.
Good luck! Double-check your husbandry, and as long as everything checks out, all that's left to do is give her time to settle in and be patient. I hope she eats for you soon!
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