Young Burm just won't eat

[CheshireCat]

Hi, I think this is the 2nd time Ive asked about this but Im desperate.
We've had Jelly Bean since beginning of march 2004. I think she was a "return" to the pet shop so we don't know how old she was at that time but she's just over hatchling sized even now.
Since then she has attempted to eat nothing whatsoever. When we got her she'd lost part of her tail through neglect over bad sheds plus her vent was full of old layers of skin.
I took her for a check up to the reptile vet a couple of months ago and he gave her a very good check over but concluded there was nothing apparently wrong with her. He said to watch her weight and return if it dropped quickly. Her weight is diminishing, but very very slowly thank god.
Her temps are correct, she is bright, tongue flicking is fast and she spends the evenings trying to get out of her viv. She's very very well behaved when handled and has never tried to strike.
At first she spent all her time hidden in her hide but she now spends all her time sleeping on top of it so I don't believe she's stressed.
Her temps are spot on.
She just doesn't appear to have an agressive bone in her body and doesn't seem to recognise food items as edible.
We've tried wiggling it, leaving food with her all night, brain opening, very warm prey. Live feeding is out as it's illegal here.
I know I'll attract criticism when I admit that (truly in desperation and worry) on 2 occasions we have "force" fed with small wet pinky rats. We were very gentle and massaged her throat as the food went down. She didn't seem distressed after we put her back into her viv. Since then she actually managed a very poor shed where we needed to soak her and help to remove it.
Please please can someone make some suggestions to us. She is such a beautiful girl and I'd be heartbroken if we lost her. I think even if she started to eat now we'd probably end up with the 1st 4ft female burm
thanks in advance

[python04slayer]

Im not sure waht to say except take her to the vet, and Im sure someone will come along and help you,
Good Luck

[toker]

Just a few questions... You say the temps are "spot on"... can you give us exact numbers? Also, what type of device are you reading the temps/humidity with?

I am not saying you dont know what your doing, just covering all the little things.

[borneoblood2002]

hi i had a ball python that stopped eating for about 10months and I was very scared, however, I was new then and I listened to lots of advice. I have had snakes for bout 7yrs. I still don't concider myself an expert but I was always told to raise the temp I don't know what u got him at now but it should be I guess about 78f on cool 85 to 90 on hot side. if so I would raise it 5 or 10 degree's and feed live u might get better feeding responce

hope that helps

[borneoblood2002]

my ball started eating..

[eddie]

We've had Jelly Bean since beginning of march 2004. I think she was a "return" to the pet shop
When we got her she'd lost part of her tail through neglect over bad sheds plus her vent was full of old layers of skin.

I took her for a check up to the reptile vet a couple of months ago and he gave her a very good check over but concluded there was nothing apparently wrong with her. He said to watch her weight and return if it dropped quickly. Her weight is diminishing, but very very slowly thank god.

Did the vet do a fecal on her to verify the abscence of internal parasites?
What about any signs of infections from the old injuries?
Any blood work done to eliminate that possibility?
Were any meds prescribed, such as B12, an appetite stimulant?

Her temps are correct,

At first she spent all her time hidden in her hide but she now spends all her time sleeping on top of it so I don't believe she's stressed.
Her temps are spot on.

Only one hide? And it is on the warm side of the cage?
It may very well be too hot inside the hide for her which can cause stress, which reptiles really don't show too many outward signs of.
I suggest at least one more hide, on the cooler side.
The bad shed can be a sign of dehydration or stress also.
What are her exact temps and humidity level?

She just doesn't appear to have an agressive bone in her body and doesn't seem to recognise food items as edible.
We've tried wiggling it, leaving food with her all night, brain opening, very warm prey. Live feeding is out as it's illegal here.

She probably is stressed enough to not want to eat, or take the chance of being vulnerable during eating as well as the force feedings causing her to associate food with fear...
The most I prefer to go with a force, is a slurry mix administered with a catheter tube and large syringe.
Less stress as it is quicker and less handling than a full sized feeder going down.

I know I'll attract criticism when I admit that (truly in desperation and worry) on 2 occasions we have "force" fed with small wet pinky rats. We were very gentle and massaged her throat as the food went down. She didn't seem distressed after we put her back into her viv.

I covered some of this one above..
But are pinkies all that you have tried?
No fuzzies or hopper mice?
Sometimes snakes will refuse a food item of a type and will go for one that is different, such as with hair, different colored hair, a step larger, a step smaller..
Try variations of the food as well as varying methods of delivery, such as in a small plastic container with the food, over night (small enough to keep the food very close to the snake so it is made to notice it more), total darkness with no outside distractions etc.
Or any combination of methods.

Since then she actually managed a very poor shed where we needed to soak her and help to remove it.

Covered some of this above, but just as a reminder.. what are the exact temps and humidity levels?
You can put it in celcius if you need as I can convert it to farenhieght.