Breaking an 8 month fast with a 10 year old BP

[spaceturtle]

My sister in law received a BP for her 18th birthday. She's now 28 so this gal is HUGE about 5 feet long and extremely fat . She's as docile as can be and is generally a great feeder. They feed her by putting a live adult rat in her cage and then dropping her into it. This is the one and only feeding method ever used. The problem is that she's now fasted the last 8 months and still won't eat. Never before has this snake fasted this long and they're worried about what to do.

Since this was a gift, everything was originally purchased by my brother with help from "the guy" at the pet store. They sent him home with a heat rock, a tall 3 foot long aquarium, and a big branch that literally takes up half the space in there. This snake has never even had a hide and his water bowl is absolutely tiny. It looks like something for a baby corn snake, seriously it's that small of a water bowl.

Anyways, I'd like to help them upgrade their husbandry but so far they don't take the knowledge I have very seriously. They think the tank size is fine, they don't want a bigger water bowl because she knocks it over too much, they don't think she needs a spot to hide, and they don't seem interested in checking temps / humidity as "the guy" told them not to worry about it.

And if you think about it, they sort of have a right to feel this way, since the snake has flourished under this care for over 10 years now.

How do I get this snake to feed? I've offered to help them but they seem sceptical about my knowledge gathered from these forums versus "the guy" in the pet store. They also don't have the internet or a lot of money to spend.

[Bruce Whitehead]

How do I get this snake to feed? I've offered to help them but they seem sceptical about my knowledge gathered from these forums versus "the guy" in the pet store. They also don't have the internet or a lot of money to spend.

OOPS!!!

I think the biggest thing is that she is not flourishing any longer...

They can delude themselves into thinking she is... but she is fasting and not eating consistently. But from what you have said they are doing it all wrong.

An adult rat is too big for ANY BP. And the fact that she is fat... says she is being overfed. She may just be fasting to catch up, snakes are great at self-regulating.

Or it could be from improper feeding techniques and improper husbandry.

But until they take her husbandry seriously, then ultimately she is in their care. I hate to say that...

We have discussed "the guy" before, I am glad you still agree that he is a ning-kum-poop.

If they have not upgraded their husbandry in 10 years, then I think you have reasons to be concerned about how they are keeping her.

We learn new stuff all the time. Books published 3 years ago are out of date as far as BP husbandry.

Have you considered printing off the thread you started when you were setting up your BP? That may help... if they do not have the 'net you can bring the info to them.

I wish you luck and commend you on your concern.

Bruce

[Bruce Whitehead]

Addendum: Sorry... I always add an addendum.

Ten years of flourishing... subtract 9 months... that makes it more like 9 years.

Stress for bps is cumulative. I would suspect there have been over signs over the years in which she has not been consistent in her behaviours, actions, etc.

Bruce

[edie]

Hmm, I don't know what to say!

I think that if they have kept the snake alive for 10 years they may be a little skeptical about changing anything they have been doing (I can think of plenty of people who have had kept snakes/lizards in improper conditions and when you try to tell them correct information they just kind of brush it off like they are experts on the situation). I would just suggest printing out some updated care sheets and letting them know that the changes they would have to make are really not that big of a deal! Maybe even suggest a quick visit to a vet if the fast continues (they vet might be able to change their mind about husbandry issues too, if they go to an experienced exotics vet). Even sending them a link to this site may change their mind, once they hear all the information experienced keepers/breeders can give them.

As for the water dish, the reason its getting knocked over so much is because the snake is big enough to push it around, let them know that if they get a larger (ceramic) dish they probably won't have to worry about cleaning up water that gets spilled.

Good luck!

[Argentra]

Yep, just keep trying. 'Expert' opinions, such as that of a vet, might be taken more seriously if they're so attached to what 'the guy' said. I've met plenty of people like that: they get lucky in that their reptile actually survives and then they think all that crud advice was right and refuse to listen to anyone else.

The 'guy upstairs' was my recent battle, and the fact that I now have that snake is a great ending. The way I did it: I let him come over to see all my snakes and how they were being (properly) kept. Once he saw how a healthy content snake (x9) looked and acted it dawned on him that maybe his methods weren't quite right.

Maybe try something like that yourself? Take them to see some snakes, especially BPs, in proper conditions to see with their own eyes. Get them around a herp vet so they can hear a professional. Sometimes it's the only way to get through.

Good luck!