Only a matter of time before I bought a sick one...

bcr229: The previous owner didn't keep any records what so ever nor did he offer consistent feeding. I was told he ate FSR but would need live some times and it's been 6 weeks since he last ate. I am planning on offering every 3 days and last night he appeared to show a tiny bit of interest in a FSR that was zapped with a hair dryer. I've only had this snake since last Wednesday and got him home that night. That is very interesting about those morphs having that issue and it does only happen when he gets really excited and tries to go every direction at once. Once he eats a couple times for me and I know he is healthy I will go ahead and take him out for a long handling session but for now I only have done about 10 minutes tops mostly while I inspect him. I didn't notice any bubbles either. I was thinking of opening his mouth and looking inside tomorrow. Thanks for the information. I need to weigh him still and I will do that tonight and post but he's about 1700 grams if I had to guess right now based off of my females in that range.

Ok, so you brought this snake home five days ago and have tried to feed it twice already despite being told he's a picky eater. No surprise he's not eating for you, leave him strictly alone for a week except to check him daily for fresh water, cleaning his enclosure if needed, and additional signs of an RI. If he has stuck shed on his face and neck then keep his humidity a bit higher than normal as well, chances are he'll remove it himself or it will come off just fine with his next shed.

At 1700 grams he could go six months without taking a meal, if he chooses. Heck I have a male half that size that went from 12/3/13 to 7/6/14 without eating, though he was offered a meal every week. All you can do is grit your teeth and wait him out.

Offer your guy a small rat every 14 days until he decides it's time to start eating again, and handle him as little as possible in the meantime.

To reiterate what BCR has said:

Calm down - there is no rush to get him eating at that weight. Do not offer more often than once every 7 days or you're going to compound the problem. Leave the snake alone for a week before offering. Move backwards from Frozen to Pre-Killed to Live, giving at least 2 attempts and 1 week between each attempt at each type of food.

Squeaking can be associated with the shed as mentioned. Cinnamon and Black Pewter are both known to have some associated nasal quirks that result in squeaks. My pewter female has squeaked since the day I got her.


So don't make assumptions about the breeder or whether or not the animal is sick. A pretty standard routine on a new arrival that is helpful in getting it eating and preventing it from getting sick due to stress would be to put it in a perfectly regulated tub for at least a week before even touching the snake, let alone offering to feed. At 1700 grams and containing the black pastel gene, I do not see anything wrong with any of the behaviors you've described. Take it slow and follow this advice and I'm sure you'll be happy with the outcome.

One very simple basic rule when you first get a snake is let them settle in for a week. It's ok if you want to try feeding them at some point (but also isn't nessisary). You have tried multiple feedings and also said you took him out and let him crawl around and you haven't even had it a week yet.

Don't go spouting assumptions about the breeders proper care and knowledge of reptiles if you don't even know a beginner rule still after owning nine snakes yourself.

Ok he is in a perfectly regulated tub with 60 percent humidity. I was just concerned about not eating right off, a rookie mistake but now I know and have been through it. I will of coarse follow this advice. If I didn't let the worried mindset sink in as much I would've known better than to try offering food as much as I have especially considering what I do know about snakes that size from my reading. The handling that I've done isn't anything besides petting him and monitoring him moving in his home. I'll give extra privacy though. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by alan12013

Ok he is in a perfectly regulated tub with 60 percent humidity. I was just concerned about not eating right off, a rookie mistake but now I know and have been through it. I will of coarse follow this advice. If I didn't let the worried mindset sink in as much I would've known better than to try offering food as much as I have especially considering what I do know about snakes that size from my reading. The handling that I've done isn't anything besides petting him and monitoring him moving in his home. I'll give extra privacy though. Thanks.

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Iuno if it's just me or not, but it doesn't sound like you did a quarantine, placed in a tub sounds like hes in rack with other snakes?

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Originally Posted by alan12013

The handling that I've done isn't anything besides petting him and monitoring him moving in his home. .

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This is already more then you should have done during its first week. Now that you go to him place you should start letting him settle in for a week now and leave him be during that time.

Also like the above poster mentioned your snake should be in quarantine. If this wasn't done do so first and then let him settle in. If you snake actually was sick and wasn't quarantined it could have been something that spread to all your other snakes if they were in the same area. That's why you always quarantine new reptiles. If he is quarantined then let him be for a week.

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Originally Posted by CORBIN911

Iuno if it's just me or not, but it doesn't sound like you did a quarantine, placed in a tub sounds like hes in rack with other snakes?

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Tubs tanks don't have to be in racks. I got animals in tubs but the aren't in a rack system. It's just cheaper then buying a tank. But if it is in a rack, or even the same room, then yes it should be seperated

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Originally Posted by vangarret2000

Tubs tanks don't have to be in racks. I got animals in tubs but the aren't in a rack system. It's just cheaper then buying a tank. But if it is in a rack, or even the same room, then yes it should be seperated

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"Sounds likes he's in a rack with other snakes?" I was asking to clarify


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Ok I was going to wait and post pictures but I'll just say that my QT is basically just a tub or tubs set on top of a dresser and right no he is only near the one I got him with. I've left him alone lately too and will.