Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got my ball python this past saturday. I tryed feeding her this evening for the first time. I personaly dont like the idea of live so I purchased a prekilled frozen small mouse.
any way we thawed it and then put the snake in a box alone with it for nearly 30 min. she didnt take it, so my wife tryed holding the mouse with a pair of hemostats in front of the snakes face (she never touched the snake with it thoe) the most the snake did was go up to it a couple of times, but it never did strike. we gave up and are going to wait a few more days befor we try to feed again. what would you all sugest I try to get her to feed next time?
btw I think she may have been live feed befor I purchased her.

the problem with pre-killed frozen prey is: 1. They arent producing their own heat, and 2. They dont smell like a live rodent.

I would first try making the the thawed prey smell like a rodent by letting it sit in partially dirtied rodent bedding. Remember, BP's, like most snakes, hunt with smell and heat.
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Long Beach, CA
0.0.1 Ball Python

i had the same problem! then one day i decided to blow dry the mouse (make sure its warm!), then i wiggled it with a pair of tongs and he struck at it instantly. been doing that ever since.
good luck!