Just a bit frustrated... [Feeding issue]

[Inarikins]

So in a series of badly timed events (mostly concerning feeder size) Aradia's been not eating much. It's not a husbandry issue, I just think she's at the weight (~500 grams) where she's stopping eating.

She stopped eating regularly at the end of September. She took an 80 gram f/t rat on Sept 27th. Then she refused on the 7th, 17th, and the 29th of October, then ate again on the 31st - 70gram live (I was sick of offering f/t so I got her a live rat in the hope she would take it and she did.). She ate again on the 7th and then started refusing again until the new year, after she had shed. (It was f/t as well!) She ate on Jan. 2nd, refused the 7th, and the 12th.

I'm going to try to offer live tomorrow.

Am I right and it's just a 'hump' in eating, or should I be changing something up? (I do have more in-depth records and would be more than willing to write them up if anybody thinks it'll help)

[Aztec4mia]

Likely just a hump like you said, what are your "vitals"(temp,humidity etc..)I'm not doubting your husbandry by any means but it one of the two(husbandry or it just doesn't feel like it) any recent changes outside his housing like moving it to a new part of the house or heavier then usual trafffic in the area?

[Inarikins]

Hot: 90
Cool: usually at least 72 this time of the year, but this has been going on since her ambients were regularly 75+
Humidity: 55-65%

Also, she hasn't been moved since June and that of course resulted in a refusal I was honestly epecting but she ate well up until September.

[PiercingPrincess]

Its just a hump. My pastel hasnt eaten at all since september. Just has no interest or looks like he wants it and then changes his mind. When she gets hungry enough she'll eat. just keep offering. good luck!

[elduki]

My male pastel ate 5 small rats the entire year of 2012 in the month of june and he still weighs in at 830grams

[Aztec4mia]

Do you keep her in a tub, tank or cage (Ap, melamine etc...) what side does she hang out in this time of the year if you don't mind me asking, I personally think it's just her not wanting to eat and she's fine.

I'm just curious about your set up because you have a large range for your temps and it's usually people keep them on the hot end(HI-90-92, Low-low to mid 80's) or cool(Hi-88-89, Low-mid 70 to low 80's) but you kind of got the both going on and it seems to be working pretty good. It's nice to pick up little bits of info from different people in the hobby.

I have a 06' female that up until this year was eating between 6-10 times per year and I finally get to breed her this year, she was a WC import and was about the size of a Juvie; I picked her up in 06' so age is a guess.

My apologies for rambling

[Inarikins]

Tub and it's both sides, though she does tend towards the warm side more often. I would prefer higher ambients, honestly, but my door is open 75% of the day just because my dad doesn't want my dog locked in my room when nobody's home. So heating the room's not really an option and my parents are definitely not going to heat the whole house to mid-70s because of my snake. I also don't have room for a tank.

[Fidget]

My mojave female did the same thing at roughly the 500g mark with no changes to husbandry/location/activity etc. After October rolled around, she decided she wasn't so much into the feeding thing. She went from weekly F/T rats in the 50-60g range to the occasional (every 3-5 weeks) live rat pup or small juvie rat. She's maintaining her weight, so I'm not too concerned. From what I understand, it's not unusual in the winter for them to go off feed. Keep offering now and then, and she'll let you know when she's ready to go back to more regular feeds.

[kitedemon]

They can sometimes stop at the 500-600 mark although around the 1000 gm mark is far more common.

Clearly your cool and ambient temps are low. Many suggest ambient temps should never get below 75ºF. The lower core temp can cause depression in digestion there is a chance it is related to the ambient temps. I would suggest a local ambient air temp solution. I don't know what kind of set up for have but have you tried insulation, altering the ventilation paths, fluorescent lighting, or CHEs? It would be preferable to lift the ambient 5-8º if you can.

[Aztec4mia]

Tub and it's both sides, though she does tend towards the warm side more often. I would prefer higher ambients, honestly, but my door is open 75% of the day just because my dad doesn't want my dog locked in my room when nobody's home. So heating the room's not really an option and my parents are definitely not going to heat the whole house to mid-70s because of my snake. I also don't have room for a tank.

Thanks for the info.

Clearly your cool and ambient temps are low. Many suggest ambient temps should never get below 75ºF. The lower core temp can cause depression in digestion there is a chance it is related to the ambient temps. I would suggest a local ambient air temp solution.

I dout it's the ambient temp issue because she her hot end is relatively warm, I could see it her hot spot was in the low 80's then there might be an issue but the snake has a pretty wide range of temps to choose from.