Re: I need your help! Snake still won't eat . .
Re: I need your help! Snake still won't eat . .
Re: I need your help! Snake still won't eat . .
Previous owner told me when I picked up the snake that she was a "picky eater". He used to feed live rats, but only "once in a while" and she often didn't take them. Then he took the snake to his friend, who was allegedly a vet, and he convinced him to switch to f/t. He said that she liked the f/t a lot better. He did answer my first email (about 2 months ago) and said "don't worry sometimes she just doesn't eat". I think he was a bit, um, neglectful though, so I'm not just settling for that answer.
I'm willing to give live feeding a shot, although I've avoided it (when I got my first bp I read that the prey could cause injuries to the snake). I'd also happily try mice, gerbils, whatever---I've just offered Kona rats because that's what my other bp takes, and Kona is a big girl!
Oh, and by the way, I'm a "she" too :) Dana here, nice to meet you all!
Re: I need your help! Snake still won't eat . .
Welcome Dana! Glad to have ya.
Don't worry about the size of the prey(unless it's a pinky mouse or a medium rat). I have adult girls that are eating adult mice(4-6 at a time) and they gain weight like nobody's business. It's personal preference though and whatever the snake will eat.
I'd do what Robin(Rabernet) suggested and move the snake to a small tub enclosure with small hides or a small kitty litter pan, keep her in a dark, quiet room for a few weeks leaving her totally alone except to give water, and then try to feed a small adult mouse. Hopefully she'll settle in and begin to eat on a normal schedule.
Good luck!
Re: I need your help! Snake still won't eat . .
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dananyc
Thanks for all of the suggestions. I'll go get a new temp/humidity gauge---the guy gave me one with the snake, but I think it's junk. What type would you recommend?
I use AcuRite right now, that's what's in the picture. I got it from Walmart in the hardware department and it runs on one AAA battery.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dananyc
The picture of the set-up was very helpful---question for you---how did you cut the kitty litter pan (great idea--I couldn't find a hide she looked comfortable in!) to prevent rough edges? I thought about cutting a tub of some sort, but I'm afraid the edges could scratch her, and I've heard horror stories about duct tape in tanks (used to cover the rough edges I mean, but I don't want to take any chances).
I used a $5 soldering wand from Walmart (in that same handy dandy hardware department! :) )
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dananyc
Thanks again for the quick responses--she's very active, friendly, curious, and has gone through 2 perfect sheds (which makes me think the humidity's ok)---but no food. I didn't even know a snake could go through a full shed period without eating.
Just get her set-up in a similar tub set up and don't handle her until after she's eaten for you. And don't offer any food for 3 to 4 weeks, just give her a warm environment in a nice dark area of the house. Closets are really good for that! :carrot:
