Ball Python handling/feeding question

[wff5007]

I recently bought an adult female "breeder" ball python at a show. I knew she was shy when I bought her, but she seemed to open up after I held her for a while at the show. She seems to be a very healthy snake (plump, clean, and large). The person said she is a proven breeder, and that her last meal was a live, medium rat, even though she does not usually feed live. I dont think the person had her for very long. I tried to let her settle in for a few days (4), but really wanted to see her feed, so I tried a live med. rat in separate container with no luck. I figured that would happen. I hate feeding live! I thumped and froze the rat and tried the thawed rat almost a week later. She struck twice, in defense, i think, so I let her be and threw the rat away. About 5 days later, I tried a live mouse (all the local shop had). I watched her with the mouse for at least an hour in almost complete darkness, but she was not interested. The dilemma seems to be that I refuse to leave her alone with live prey, and she is too shy to eat when I'm around. She is extremely shy, so I haven't been handling her. If I touch or move her, she instantly curls into the ball. I know this is common, and she is probably not eating due to shyness/stress. But my question is: should I handle her a lot and get her comfortable with me so that she is less shy around feeding time? (I bought her as a calm/docile pet, and knew she would need a little work) Or should I leave a prekilled rat overnight? Doesn't that smell terrible, never tried it???? I would love to handle her, but she is never out of her hide box (day and night) and I don't want to stress her out. Ive had her for about 4 weeks now and last feeding attempt about a week ago. Im trying to be patient with her, but would really like to hear from some BP experts about what would be best approach. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Ophiophilia]

I'd say be very patient and not handle her. Wait another week or maybe two and then offer a pre-killed rat. Leaving it over night would probably make her feel more comfortable. I'd suggest not handling her alot until she starts eating.

And on another note.
The pre-killed rat shouldn't smell terrible if left over night. Just be sure to remove it in the morning if she hasn't eaten.

Good luck!

[Breezie]

My BP Sissy is notorious for not eating. She has gone almost 4 months without eating. She is healthy and she shed a few days ago, so I try not to worry. Her 'housemate' Yoshi is an eating machine. I have a male pastel BP, Ziggy, who is extremely timid. He eats two mice a week. IMHO I don't think the two (timidity and eating)are necessarily related. I try and handle Ziggy more often. I have startled him a couple times and got bit for my efforts. I depends on the snake really. Oh, just a suggestion. Thump the rat before you put it in with the snake. I will never give my snake an unthumped rat. There are too many disasters waiting to happen.
Good luck.

[TKR Reptiles]

my female BP has went 5 weeks without eating before, and several 3 and 4 week periods. this has been my general experience with BP's. most of the time they are usually always a little shy when you first get em out. maybe not completely shy, buy have some qwarks. like my female BP is VERY head shy when you first get her out, but 5 minutes later i can do anything i want to her with no problems. the new male BP i got is a little head shy at first, but not bad. his only thing is anything that moves is food to him at first until he smells otherwise. i would just handle her a little bit everyday so she gets more comfortable with you. everytime you get her out and put her up without her getting hurt or anything that she thinks might be happening she will be better with you. i would try to dangle an appropriate sized f/t rat in front of her, and if she doesn't eat it i would cover the cage and leave it in overnight with her.

	Ball Python The Ball Python (Python regius), also known as the Royal Python, is a ground dwelling snake native to the savannahs and rain forests in western Africa, predominatly the countries of Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.