Re: My female that laid a few wks back wants to eat BUT.

So she laid a few wks back and I have tried feeding her 2 times over the past 2 weeks and idk whats up shes really interested and strikes at the rat but doesn't coil. I tried a small rat the first time thinking I'd start a bit smaller after she laid and then after she refused, Struck many times at it without a coil. So I waited a week and switched to a weenling size thinking I would try even smaller than the last and she is doing the same thing. Strikes at it but doesn't coil. IDK whats up should I wait a few wks then try again. Just wanted to get her back on feed asap due to her laying. Any help or suggestions would be appriciated, Thanks in advance

In most cases our females are absolutely ravenous after laying! I'd give it a week or two between offerings, though. Let her get good and hungry. Another thing to consider is did you clean her tub/tank VERY, VERY WELL after she laid? If she still thinks she is pregnant or smells her eggs she might not eat. I've had this happen with a few corns before. Also if there are other gravid females around it might be putting her off. I would start simple and clean everything, get her away from any other gravid females and give her a little time to build up an appetite. This is of course provided everything else is spot on husbandry wise.

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Originally Posted by AK907

In most cases our females are absolutely ravenous after laying! I'd give it a week or two between offerings, though. Let her get good and hungry. Another thing to consider is did you clean her tub/tank VERY, VERY WELL after she laid? If she still thinks she is pregnant or smells her eggs she might not eat. I've had this happen with a few corns before. Also if there are other gravid females around it might be putting her off. I would start simple and clean everything, get her away from any other gravid females and give her a little time to build up an appetite. This is of course provided everything else is spot on husbandry wise.

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Thanks. I will clean the tub and her again, Cleaned her and the tub but maybe I will try this again. Then wait a week and try again, Can't hurt. Thanks again. So they should go on food fairly quick then?

Think about it. Its a momma who raised up eggsband then laid them andbthe big bad human snatched em up and stole em. Now anything goin into the cage will become public enemy number one for a while. Id be pissed too lol. Dont worry she will eat when shes ready.

Yeah, sounds like she's striking at it as a threat not a food source. A good scrub could do the trick, and some downtime. My female has refused meals a couple of times before eating after rebounding from her pregnancy. Every snake is a little different.

As said before try the cleaning again.

I wash the female with a spot of dish soap in the water and use a cage cleaner for the cage, cage furniture, roof of the tub and anything else in the tub.

Then try a mouse.

If she's striking she should eat. Just give her some space and time next time you throw a rat/mouse in there.