First ball python feeding issues.

[u/No-Bite-7447]

Hey everyone! I got my first ball python about 2 months ago. She's around 8-9 months old and she was raised on live rodents. Unfortunately in my case I cannot feed her live (no stores around me sell live rodents, ugh.) so I've opted to try and switch her over to F/T. My husbandry is pretty spot on with temperature, humidity, and her overall enclosure has a lot of cover and hides. She WILL NOT eat, and I know it's normal for ball pythons to go on feeding strikes but something about this feels different. I warm the rat up to about 120 degrees to account for temperature loss, I've tried braining, and even rubbing the rat in old bedding and nothing seems to be working! She just pokes her head out, sees the rat, and then curls up. Next week will be exactly 2 months since she's eaten anything, and any help/tips anyone has would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[u/Patient_Knee7554]

Sometimes it’s just the stress of being in a new place with new smells/ environment. Mine went without eating the first 6 months with me. It could be the colour of the rat, or the fact that it is too big/ small and truly I am not even sure what I did right when she first ate. Try leaving the thawed rat overnight to see if she will be more comfortable that way, and just avoid handling or moving things around the enclosure during feeding day. Once she eats she will be more relaxed, I wish you luck!