destiny :(

[laura2008]

Well guys I'm at the end of my tether with destiny.


She has never fed unassisted and ive tried everything and now im completetly stuck for ideas.

She`s an 07 hatchling....she is just not intrested in food at all, its as if she dosnt even know its food.She`s drinking and she is lively enough,plenty of hides,small tub temps are fine and all of that....so i just dunno, could she be brain damaged??

she weighs 90G.Im open to any suggestions.

[frankykeno]

Could you share a bit more history/information on her. Is this a snake you hatched yourself or one you purchased as a hatchling? How many times has it been helped to eat? Are you assist feeding or having to go the route of force feeding? What have you tried already to encourage this snake to hunt for itself as far as feeding methods, type and size of prey, any changes in housing or husbandry routines?

[rabernet]

In the UK - you feed f/t and I know it's illegal to feed live - but what about in cases of life and death? Do they make exceptions? Is there any way to get live hoppers to try with her?

[hoo-t]

Making the assumption that you are assist feeding, what are you feeding and how often? 90 grams is pretty small. In my experience, its when you start putting some weight on them that they will finally turn on to eating on their own. I would probably try a fuzzy mouse every other day, always offering it first, and only assisting if it is refused. Every time I've tried this, the snake has started eating on its own within a week or two.

But like Joanna said, please provide more detailed information. Size and type enclosure, temps, heat source, humidity, hides, substrate, external surroundings (like is it sitting right next to your stereo speaker)....

Good luck!
Steve

[tonymul]

In the UK - you feed f/t and I know it's illegal to feed live - but what about in cases of life and death? Do they make exceptions? Is there any way to get live hoppers to try with her?

I believe it is illegal to sell live animals as food however I'm not sure that it is illegal to feed live - i guess if you had access to live you could give it a try.

Allegedly there are some pet shop/stores who will assist in this type of issue where an animals health is at risk.

Tony

[Laooda]

What about ASF? Are they available there? Rap has a colony and says even her picky eaters don't never them down...

[mxrider42]

Don't give up. I had to force feed one for 5 months before it finally ate on its own. I feed her a rat pinky once a week.
Trey

[SatanicIntention]

Live hopper mouse left in overnight might help stimulate her to eat. Only try once a week though, or you will just stress her more.

Also, most babies will not start on rats, so finding a source of live mice will be needed. It's not illegal to feed live, just frowned upon if I'm not mistaken. Go get two adult mice, 1.1, and breed them. She weighs enough that she can go quite awhile without eating. I had babies hatch out last year at 45g and didn't assist feed until after 6-7 weeks post hatch. They lost maybe 5g in that time.

[Windridge Kennels]

What if you breed your own?

[Mike Cavanaugh]

I had a similar situation... hatchling snake that just would not eat no matter what. leaving a live hopper mouse (which are harmless) in overnight did the trick.