ReptileGirl":1sokjhl4 said:
Thanks everyone....I have since found out that it is completely normal for ball pythons to lose their teeth 3-4 times a year when shedding....hope they grow back quick....she is one hungry snake
Hmmm... I've been keeping snakes for a while now, and consider myself pretty knowledgeable about them, and I have
never heard of this before. Are you sure the source you heard this from is reliable? Because that sounds like total bullhonky.
For ball pythons, I highly recommend
http://ball-pythons.net. You can find great information and advice from very knowledgeable ball python keepers there. I'd run this piece of information by them--if anyone is going to know whether it's accurate, it's going to be the keepers at that forum.
Anyway, I agree with Aleu--I would bet she's just not hungry, and rather is defensive striking. Ball pythons are infamous for going off feed regularly, and every snake has a different way of approaching a feeder they don't want. Some coil into a ball, some back off, some will throw a (literal) "hissy fit," and others will strike defensively until it goes away. Like Aleu said... Not trying to grab and eat the prey, just trying to scare it away.
If her refusal to feed continues, double check your snake's environment (heat, humidity, security [as in hiding places], etc), check for any visible illnesses (i.e. lumps, bumps, nasal discharge, bubbles in the mouth.. basically anything out of the ordinary), and stop handling her. Only offer food once every two weeks or so until she starts feeding again. She could just be refusing for some nominal reason like the season change, but it's best to cover all your bases in case there
is more to the refusal.