Adult Pastel With Feeding Issues... UGH!!!

I have this early 08 female pastel. She is the worst eater ever! as long as I've owned her she has never had a rat. I was told that she was a bad eater when I got her, but she was at good deal and I liked the way she looked. When I got her she went 2 months without a feeding. I offered a small rat every week. I changed size of prey. F/T to live. Lights off and on. Different time of day and night... nothing. I then tried a live jumbo mouse. Finally she started to eat regularly. Not much though. She would refuse mice and would eat on average 1-2 times a month. Either way I was happy she was getting food down. Now she is on the same kick. Won't eat and hasn't touched a mouse in about 2 months. I know that they can go a while without feed, but she looking a little thin and I really want her to get up to weight. She's at 1300 grams and should be 1600+ based on her size. I was going to try ASFs but they are illegal in Cali. Her temps are right and sheds well.

I'm just looking for any ideas from people that maybe had a similar issue or just can give me good advice.
I have had the same jumbo mouse in a little aquarium as a pet for a while because she won't eat it!... it is kinda cute :P Great, now Trisket has grown on me and yes I had to name it :rolleyes:

Thanks
Vitto

At that age, she's in her third winter, so she's probably breedable (as long as she hasn't been losing weight from not eating). I had a 1200g girl leap to almost 1700g in the last 6 months, after she laid her first clutch ('06). You might try throwing a male in with her and see what happens - if not this year, then next.

I guess I'm not sure what you mean by "should be 1600+ based on her size", though. Has she lost weight? Some of my girls just look leaner than others (esp. if they're virgins), but they're still healthy.

Is she in a tub or aquarium? And what are the temps/ humidity on both sides?

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

At that age, she's in her third winter, so she's probably breedable (as long as she hasn't been losing weight from not eating). I had a 1200g girl leap to almost 1700g in the last 6 months, after she laid her first clutch ('06). You might try throwing a male in with her and see what happens - if not this year, then next.

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This is true, i have heard a couple people say that their snakes become good eaters after laying their first clutch.

Gerbils?

I have one of those females, lol, may 09 yellowbelly that just hit 1300 grams.
I also have an Aug. 09 yellowbelly female that is 2200+ grams :P

They certainly don't all grow at the same rate.

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I have a 09 mojave female who is just thicker more well developed at 1700 grams. I look at my pastel female and she just looks skinnier. She's maybe like a Victoria Secret Model skinny. Where I like my women... I mean snakes as a J-lo skinny. Sexy,curvey, well developed, not like a 12 year old boy or the Olson Twins... Are we still talking snakes? Anyway, you get what I'm saying, I hope.

I have her in a 64qt 4 high rack where I keep all my large females. Her temps her 92 warm and 84 cool with a hide. The humidity is good since I live right on the Cali Bay and have a large ceramic dog bowl.

I think gerbils are illegal in Cali as well.

As for breeding. I may just try to put my male fire with her and hope for the best. I didn't breed this year only because I was transfering in June. This will be my first time breeding.

Will I have hatchlings by June or will they still be in the egg? (if they lock up and everything goes according ot plan)

So I may try to breed her if it may help her put on weight. And fireflys are a good looking morph

I wouldnt try a gerbil because theres a chance the snake could decide it only like eating gerbils from now on and then youll be stuck buying gerbils for the rest of her life lol

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

I wouldnt try a gerbil because theres a chance the snake could decide it only like eating gerbils from now on and then youll be stuck buying gerbils for the rest of her life lol

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Either way, I couldn't find them regardless. Not to say it would happen, but I don't want to go to jail for a gerbil :P