Advice on changing a snakes habits?

Hi,

I bought a little black pastel male this year.

He has been a really good eater taking F/T from the floor of his tank and 5 feeding days ago I switched him up to multiple LRG half grown mice (i.e. 2 at a time ).

This worked great for 3 feedings but the last two he has sabotaged himself. :confused:

Previously he would get himself set in ambush position when he smelled the food defrosting and remain there until it was offered.

Now when he smells it he starts roaming and either poops or pees all over the tank. :slamhead:

But he won't settle as long as the poop or pee is in the tank he just roams constantly until it is cleaned up and won't eat. :tears:

He also won't eat that night if you take him out and clean the tank - but the next day he seems ravenous popping his head out of the hide at the slightest movement. :weirdface

Tonight he waited until 15 minutes before the food was ready to poop in his warm end hide then run around like an idiot - only 3 days after he pooped the last time. :rolleyes:

It has been two hours since then and he has gone into his hide but is once again refusing to eat.

I'm worried this is going to become a behaviour pattern that will turn him from a great eater into a royal pain in the butt.

I was wondering if you guys and gals had any advice for me?

I was thinking of not pre-scenting next feeding day so he doesn't get the chance to uncork it?


dr del

I wish I had an answer for you, but unfortunately I am going through the same thing with my large male. Once he wakes up from the pre-scenting he will start roaming his tank and completely ignore the rat. He will usually pee at some point. I think the peeing is just because of all the roaming working it out. As for the roaming and refusing to eat, the temps have cooled down a little here and I think he knows it's breeding season and he's just looking for a BP booty call. He doesn't know it but this weekend he is getting moved into a tub. He climbs up the side and then tries to crawl upside down along the sceen top until gravity wins and he falls over. I'm afraid he's gonna injure himself. That's about the only reason I can think of to explain the sudden restlessness. Nothing has changed as far as the husbandry goes...


Rob

Hi,

Well at least I know Rowan isn't feeling the joys of spring - he's still too young. :P

http://satanswombat.googlepages.com/rowangrowth1.JPG

It is getting colder here too but the temps in the tank have remained stable and the lights are on a timer set to 13 hours light and 11 hours darkness.

He is still in quarantine so he is at the other end of the house to all the other snakes.

Surprising him with the food is all I can think of at the moment and that obviously has refusal risks of its own. :(


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Now when he smells it he starts roaming and either poops or pees all over the tank. :slamhead:

I'm worried this is going to become a behaviour pattern that will turn him from a great eater into a royal pain in the butt.

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Couldn't help but laugh at this...

Have you tried leaving a f/t in there overnight?
Mine go through phases where they won't eat food if I offer it to them but they will chow down once I leave it in there and leave the room.

Maybe if you have extra rack space you can set up an identical tub close by and if he does go to the bathroom you can just quickly move him to the other identical tub.

My littlest one likes to tip water bowls and use the bathroom all the time so I have gotten in the habit of setting up an identical tub in case I can't clean it right away, and so he doesn't have to sit in his poo poo.

Hi,

Good ideas to try. :gj:

Sadly I only have one quarantine tank (I'm using a 24" x 12" x 15" with glass sliding doors in the top ) - I do have a second glass enclosure I'm not using but it is different enough (front opening ) that I am not sure I could get away with it. Has to be worth trying though. :)

I haven't tried leaving it overnight either - again it might be worth a stinky bedroom for a night to see if it helps. :P


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Good ideas to try. :gj:

Sadly I only have one quarantine tank (I'm using a 24" x 12" x 15" with glass sliding doors in the top ) - I do have a second glass enclosure I'm not using but it is different enough (front opening ) that I am not sure I could get away with it. Has to be worth trying though. :)

I haven't tried leaving it overnight either - again it might be worth a stinky bedroom for a night to see if it helps. :P


dr del

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Its not that stinky :P I do it at least once a month.