hatchling picky eater

I have a 2010 hatchling (female spider) which i produced and has been feeding well since she hatched. she was my first one out of the egg and first to eat. However, last two meals she has taken, killed, and then left...hasn't eaten them. Up until now she's pounded everything i've given her. she did it with both a rat pup and a mouse hopper.

All husbandry is good, nothing has changed.

any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks

Sounds like she's just starting a winter fast...how big is she?

I have heard dropping down a prey size helps when they constrict and then dont eat. You could try that. How often are you feeding her? maybe she is saying she isnt as hungry now?

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Originally Posted by MommaK

I have heard dropping down a prey size helps when they constrict and then dont eat. You could try that. How often are you feeding her? maybe she is saying she isnt as hungry now?

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Not much room to drop in size when he's feeding rat pups and mouse hoppers...it's a winter fast...she'll pick back up in March/April...

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Originally Posted by sho220

Not much room to drop in size when he's feeding rat pups and mouse hoppers...it's a winter fast...she'll pick back up in March/April...

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however they can still drop down a size.. I had to do it with my normal girl (down to fuzzys from hoppers) Also I wasnt aware that hatchlings did winter fasts which is why I suggested the size drop.

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Originally Posted by MommaK

however they can still drop down a size.. I had to do it with my normal girl (down to fuzzys from hoppers) Also I wasnt aware that hatchlings did winter fasts which is why I suggested the size drop.

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Some do, some don't...I just checked my feed records for my five adults and four out of the five went on a fast their first winter...usually starting in early-mid January and picking back up between March/May...

Thanks for the suggestions. I may try a rat pink this next feed cycle and see how she does. if she leaves it i'll just keep a close on on her and her weight.

thanks again

I wasn't aware that hatchlings would go on fasts, do Juvies do this as well? I ask because Hera just refused a meal for the first time, but I was also offering her a P/K weaned rat so she may not like rats.

I've never had a young snake hatchling up to a yr refuse a meal unless they were stressed out. I've had yearlings more around yr and a half stop feeding and fast. This is more likely with females as I've noticed they start practicing they're "schedules" for reproduction. I have had a younger snake my female cinny that did this type of behavior when I moved her into an adult tub from a yearling tub. For 3 months in a row she'd snatch up the prey but not eat it. She was also very defensive of me when I'd clean change water etc. Shed strike whenever anything would come near. I chalked this up to the tub change as she had more room and possibly felt more exposed. Even though there was two good hides in the adult tub. I moved her back into the yearling tub and she went right back to normal. Less stressed behavior no striking and eating after constricting. Maybe this little girl is a bit stressed out. Sometimes it's a defense mechanism if they feel backed into a corner. Hope this helps. Good luck
Morgan