Why won't my baby eat?

Okay, now I'm starting to get worried. My 08 female, about 7 months old now, hasn't eaten in 4 weeks. I've had her for 3 weeks, and there were NO feeding problems prior to recieving her. I haven't handled or touched her the past week and a half to get used to my recent tank updates so she's used to her home. The temperatures are completely correct, not any fluxuation. 80-84 on the cold side, 90-95 on the hot side, perfect humidity, NO signs of shedding, and she won't eat. I've tried feeding her at night and during the day, nothing, pre-scent for an hour or more before I try, and she just doesn't even aknowledge that the food is there. I shake it with the tongs by the scruff of its neck about 4-6 inches in front of her face, and she just turns around and goes to the corner of the tank. I'm feeding her exactly what they were feeding her before, frozen fuzzies, same brand, and still nothing. Should I try a live mouse?

I know you're not supposed to let it get to you but, 4 weeks seems too long for a baby not to eat.

4 weeks is a little long for a juvie. I would try a live mouse.
Are you sure you are feeding appropriately sized meals?

Since you have already double and triple checked the temps and such, I won't bother to ask you about that. Are you offering multiple hides? (ones that are small and tight?) You may want to consider adding some crumpled up newspaper to the enclosure to help with security. It's definitely not normal for a young snake to fast for that long.

What are you currently offering, and how do you prepare it before feeding?

Are you heating up the prey in the same way? Using water washes off all the good smell. You can also try dousing it in dirty rat/mouse bedding. I have had good luck with that.

JonV

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

4 weeks is a little long for a juvie. I would try a live mouse.
Are you sure you are feeding appropriately sized meals?

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Yes, I was told no bigger than the width of the snake, and it's just about right, and it's the same size it was being fed before.

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Originally Posted by tigerlily

Since you have already double and triple checked the temps and such, I won't bother to ask you about that. Are you offering multiple hides? (ones that are small and tight?) You may want to consider adding some crumpled up newspaper to the enclosure to help with security. It's definitely not normal for a young snake to fast for that long.

What are you currently offering, and how do you prepare it before feeding?

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Yes, I have two of the same hide, one on the hot side and one on the cold side, to prevent favoring. Where should I put the newspaper? And I'm using thawed fuzzies, thawed to room temperature using no water.

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Originally Posted by nevohraalnavnoj

Are you heating up the prey in the same way? Using water washes off all the good smell. You can also try dousing it in dirty rat/mouse bedding. I have had good luck with that.

JonV

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I used warm water the first time, then the rest I just let it thaw out normally using room temperature.


I just don't understand why it completely avoids it. And I haven't and WON'T force feed or make it angry to eat unless it goes for a long, long time.

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Originally Posted by xKxLxHx

Yes, I was told no bigger than the width of the snake, and it's just about right, and it's the same size it was being fed before.


Yes, I have two of the same hide, one on the hot side and one on the cold side, to prevent favoring. Where should I put the newspaper? And I'm using thawed fuzzies, thawed to room temperature using no water.



I used warm water the first time, then the rest I just let it thaw out normally using room temperature.


I just don't understand why it completely avoids it. And I haven't and WON'T force feed or make it angry to eat unless it goes for a long, long time.

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I would fill up the entire bottom of the enclosure with loosely crumpled up newspaper. It's just to help the snake feel more secure.

Just curious, are you offering rats or mice? It sounds a bit small to me,in either case, but I would offer what it was previously eating.

My best suggestion would be to add the crumpled up newspaper first. Wait for about 3 days, then offer prey. Since it is frozen/thawed, I would allow it to thaw out next to the enclosure in a plastic bag. Once it is thawed, I would get a tub of warm water and raise the temperature of the prey by soaking it the bag in the water. Then offer the prey, but make sure not to disturb the snake (no removing hides or anything like that). If the snake does not take it then I would put the prey in the cage overnight. (you can put it on a paper plate if you use wood bedding) If the fuzzy is not consumed overnight, toss it. Hopefully, by morning you won't even have to worry about it.

I hope this helps.

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Originally Posted by tigerlily

I would fill up the entire bottom of the enclosure with loosely crumpled up newspaper. It's just to help the snake feel more secure.

Just curious, are you offering rats or mice? It sounds a bit small to me,in either case, but I would offer what it was previously eating.

My best suggestion would be to add the crumpled up newspaper first. Wait for about 3 days, then offer prey. Since it is frozen/thawed, I would allow it to thaw out next to the enclosure in a plastic bag. Once it is thawed, I would get a tub of warm water and raise the temperature of the prey by soaking it the bag in the water. Then offer the prey, but make sure not to disturb the snake (no removing hides or anything like that). If the snake does not take it then I would put the prey in the cage overnight. (you can put it on a paper plate if you use wood bedding) If the fuzzy is not consumed overnight, toss it. Hopefully, by morning you won't even have to worry about it.

I hope this helps.

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Should I take out the reptibark I already have in there, and replace it completely, or just stick the paper underneath?

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Originally Posted by xKxLxHx

Should I take out the reptibark I already have in there, and replace it completely, or just stick the paper underneath?

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Nope, leave everything that is in the tank there. Don't touch a thing. Just toss the crumpled up newspaper on top. It looks silly, but it really does seem to work with some problem feeders.

Hi,

Probably a silly question - but have you tried heating the head of the prey up - either by using a hairdryer or holding it near a heat bulb?

It's also worth double checking with the place you got it from exactly how they were offering it - just in case they offered it differently that you are doing.


dr del

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Probably a silly question - but have you tried heating the head of the prey up - either by using a hairdryer or holding it near a heat bulb?

It's also worth double checking with the place you got it from exactly how they were offering it - just in case they offered it differently that you are doing.


dr del

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Not exactly. After I let it thaw to room temperature, last night I put it underneath my ceramic heat bulb overnight.

And no, she still didn't eat, the mouse was still in the cage when I woke up this morning. :(