She's just irritating

Can't seem to figure out this girl. My 267g Pastel Yellow Belly has been pissy since I brought her home. She's eaten once, but refused the last two weeks. Her temps are right. Her humidity is right. She hides most of the day, cruises at night. All normal stuff there. But she strikes at everything. I can handle her for a moment if I pick her up from the back to do maintenance but that's about it, and she's ready to have a go at me the whole time. Yeah, I know some snakes are just like that and maybe she's having a hard time settling in. It did take her a full 17 days to go into her hides. I'm going to try her on a fuzzy rat tonight. She refused the 29g one today (yeah I weigh my food) so maybe a step down will get her going again. Nora does not seem to mind though. She takes the leftovers happily and has put on 500g in two weeks. Makes me wonder what her previous keeper was doing.

Not really looking for advice, but I'll take it. I'm just venting...

Dave

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Originally Posted by AKA Dave

Can't seem to figure out this girl. My 267g Pastel Yellow Belly has been pissy since I brought her home. She's eaten once, but refused the last two weeks. Her temps are right. Her humidity is right. She hides most of the day, cruises at night. All normal stuff there. But she strikes at everything. I can handle her for a moment if I pick her up from the back to do maintenance but that's about it, and she's ready to have a go at me the whole time. Yeah, I know some snakes are just like that and maybe she's having a hard time settling in. It did take her a full 17 days to go into her hides. I'm going to try her on a fuzzy rat tonight. She refused the 29g one today (yeah I weigh my food) so maybe a step down will get her going again. Nora does not seem to mind though. She takes the leftovers happily and has put on 500g in two weeks. Makes me wonder what her previous keeper was doing.

Not really looking for advice, but I'll take it. I'm just venting...

Dave

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Best bet is to do what you mentioned and try something smaller. Hope all is well.

1.0 Yellow Belly (Leather Head)
0.1 Bumble Bee (Karai)
1.0 Het Albino (Raphael)
0.1 Het Pied (Diamond)
0.1 Het Genetic Stripe (Bree)

Yeah, this one is just a puzzle. I've been thinking about it all morning and I think that I have the solution. I got Sally just as I was transitioning my smaller guys to rats. I'd be willing to be her last feed with me was a mouse. I'm going to pick one up today and give that a try this evening while she's out and cruising.

Dave

I wouldn't try to offer food again if she just refused one already today give it 5-7 and try again over offering food is going to stress a already defensive snake out more. Must be feeding some big rats for 500g in two weeks...lol....

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That's good thought. She can wait till Sunday when I feed the rest of the girls. It's not like she's wasting away. As for Nora, she wasn't thin, but a bit slender. She's been getting medium rats.

Dave

Are you giving her live or f/t? I've had a lot of snakes that are usually f/t eaters refuse f/t or defensive strike at f/t, but then eat live instead a day later.

She's on f/t right now. I'm thinking I might get a live hopper, just to jump start her again if the f/t mouse does not work Sunday.

Dave

My snickers refused to eat for about a month. Wasn't snappy at all just wouldn't take live, or fresh killed. My boa took everything she refused. I was patient waited about another 8 days after and he was good and hungry snatched a live rat right out of my hand. All conditions where perfect. I say be patient. Maybe she's not settled in just yet.

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Update:

Sally was in her warm hide this evening and her head kept poking out. Must have been the live mouse that was on top of her house for 3 hours. I pulled the plants and cold hide out so it had nowhere to hide and put it in. 30 seconds later, she struck and coiled. I guess the fast is over now that she has what she wants. Planning on getting a few feeds down her and then trying to transition to f/t again. At least I know she'll eat, and that's a relief.

Dave