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The past Saturday (Oct 1) I went down to the Shelbyville Show (Kentucky) and purchased an adult (f?no spurs?) ball python, supposedly 50% het for pied. Thats what the guy said, she was only $50.00 so I purchased her, and he mentioned the bloodline afterward. However, I beleive that he was bullsh*tting me and that she is indeed WC. A few other clues point to that as well, but I do not feel like getting into all of that, lol. I just wanted a large ball python for a good amount of money. That was last Saturday, and she(?) has not eaten, which I am sure is perfectly normal because of stress etc. I tried baby (weanling) rats that were about 3-4 inches long, one FK and one live. I covered her feeding container with a towel and turned out the lights in her room for total darkness. I left her down there for a few hours, but no go. (didnt want to leave her for more for fear of the "attack of the rat!" lol) Today I tried feeding 2 live mice, same idea. No go for that either. Any suggestions? I am not too sure how long it may take or how long she can go for. Any suggestions appreciated!

David
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David and Kevin

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I'd try a large dark colored rat or a dark colored mouse. I've had ch babies that would only eat colored prey. I guess that'd be a hopeful fix but it's worth a shot.

Cole Maas

Dave, according to what you've written, you have tried to feed her 4 or 5 times since Saturday. Might that be stressin' her ? Give her some alone time, a week maybe, then try it again.

Quig

Couple of things - first let the snake settle in before trying to feed, make sure you've got a proper set up and temperatures, give it a week or two to just figure things out - then offer a food item. You can try rats, mice, gerbils, hampsters different colors and different sizes also try prekilled sometimes snakes raised on f/t or prekilled shy away from live. If she is good sized then she may not be recognizing wean rats as a good meal - try something that is a little bigger. Remember this is the time of year when a lot of balls start to go off feed, it may just be a natural cycle - however if you do find that she is not eating and is WC you may want to try this:

Feeding WC

Also - Balls can go a year or two without eating so don't stress if she doesn't eat right away. And have her properly sexed - all balls male and female have spurs - somewhere along the line yours lost them or (god forbid) someone cut them off to convice someone that doesn't know any better that it's a female.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

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1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
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