Ball pythons really are an ideal beginner reptile. They are very calm, commonly available, and don't get particularly large.
A healthy adult snake of most species can go amazing amounts of time without eating. Males of allot of species will completely go off food in the winter &/or spring even if there is not a female anywhere near them. I have never had a snake go 8 months without eating, I generally start to get concerned after a few months, and figure out why they aren't eating. I wouldn't be concerned that a healthy adult snake hasn't eaten in 8 months, they could still be perfectly fine. But personally, I would be concerned that the snake hasn't been interested in eating in 8 months. That could be a sign of something wrong, in the environment, or in anything. Has she lost any weight over the 8 months? That is the only way you can really know for sure. If there is a steady dropping of weight and no feeding response then there something should be done, IMHO.
