when an established snake goes off feed

[Mike Cavanaugh]

When an established snake goes off feed for a while, in your opinion, is it ok to still handle them 2 or 3 times a week? Or is it best to just leave them alone when they go off feed for a couple months?

No weight loss, perfect setup, just off feed for a few months.

[fishmommy]

That's a good question.
I have that same situation and have avoided handling him except once so far for weighing and a quick health check.
I miss him!

[Mike Cavanaugh]

I am guessing, that if he is established... and just taking a winter break from feeding, that it would be ok to handle them nomaly? Of course if the wait drops, or they are stressed over something... that is a different story.

BUT i am just guessing here...

[fishmommy]

I don't know ....
hopefully someone will chime in eventually
everyone's probably out having fantastic fun on a Saturday
except us

[soy.lor.n]

I don't know ....
hopefully someone will chime in eventually
everyone's probably out having fantastic fun on a Saturday
except us

if it makes you feel better, I'm doing work on my computer and am coming HERE for fun

[fishmommy]

I am just finishing an 80 hour workweek!
One more drawing and I'm officially on vacation for a week to make up for all the overtime

it's been a loooong time since I had a vacation

[Mike Cavanaugh]

I am just finishing an 80 hour workweek!
One more drawing and I'm officially on vacation for a week to make up for all the overtime

it's been a loooong time since I had a vacation

ah, just in time for the african balls arivals!!!! get ready to spend some money!

[mmchoppers]

Well, if you don't handle for a couple weeks, does it eat?

Both my 05's have not eaten since january, but my 06's are steady. I don't really handle them, and I quadruple checked my husbandry.

My guess is the sexual maturity thing.

[rabernet]

I don't handle animals that go off feed, and here's my reasons why. In the Barker's book, they talk about WC females as an example.

A WC female that is rarely handled and left alone, can go a LONG time without feeding and still maintain her weight, losing very little weight.

A WC female that's in a pet store being pulled out, handled daily, people picking her up, etc - that started at the same weight as the WC female in the first example, starts to lose weight quickly and gets into very poor condition.

While I don't have any WC animals in my collection, my thoughts are that by eliminating all but maintenance handling, I am keeping the stress levels of a fasting animal minimal and allowing them to stay as healthy as possible.

Whether there's any merit to how I do things, I don't know. But it makes sense to me, and none have ever lost significant weight, even when fasting for extended periods. I think we all have one or two in our collection that are meant to keep us humble and not feel like keeping these animals is a breeze.

Just my

[fishmommy]

that sounds like good enough reason for me to not handle