Eat!

[LeviBP]

I picked up a 2000g female in January. I've been offering her 200g f/t rats every Sunday. I've been yet to be successful; I've even tried using tuna to scent the rat; and she still pays no attention. I have also tried offering her 40g weaned rats with the same result - and the same with large mice.

My ambient temp is around 75; my hot spot is 95; my cool side is around 75; my humidity is around 65%

I'm going to pick up a live rat for next weeks offering, and was just wondering if anyone knew any other tricks?

[Vypyrz]

The only suggestions I can think of for now are:

-Offer rats in the 70-90 gram range. Sometimes they will refuse prey that is too large. I used to have a 4.5ft, 2400g male that wouldn't touch any rat over about 110 grams. Also, make sure you are thoroughly thawing and heating up the rats. If the snake isn't interested in thawed, try heating it up to 98F-100F. This is the rats natural body temp.

-Try raising the ambient temp up to about 80F.

-Put her on aspen bedding. I know it sounds crazy, and I don't know why, but sometimes switching a snakes bedding to aspen helps. A layer of 1/2 inch to 1 inch thick is best.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Keep in mind that a 2000 grams females could go off feed for months so yo might try everything without success for a while.

Adults seems to be more prone to go of feed when changing environment which could explain the fact that she does not want to eat.

Keep in mind that during breeding season some females will go off feed even if not being paired.

Do you know what she was eating previously if you do I would stick to that until she resumes feeding on her own, sooner or later she will resume feeding just wait it out.

[mpkeelee]

As long as she isn't losing a lot of weight I wouldn't worry too much. If she's healthy then keep offering and she will eat when she's hungry