Female laid....now I cant get her to eat

One of my female pastels laid 7 slugs about 3 weeks ago. She lost alot of weight after this. I tried to wash her with antibacterial soap and even switched her tub as was suggested to me before. I can not get her to show any interest in food. Should I try small meals? I have been offering a med. rat about every 7 days and nothing. Im starting to get nervous for her because she needs some nutrition!
Any suggestions welcome

I would try giving her a small rat, if that doesnt work maybe try bathing her again, and offer her a mouse.

Would try that for a couple more weeks, if african soft furred are available try that, those seem to get just about anything to eat.

Patience, but guessing the small rat and another bath outta get her going again.

Did she shed yet?

Definatly start her back on small meals, even just try a mouse. I had a big male who wouldn't touch anything. He could take good sized medium rats if he wanted, but I actually scented the room with a mouse first and threw it in there, left him alone for awhile and he took it. Then I threw in a small rat and he took it.

She definatly needs to get back on feed since she is probably real skinny, make sure not to handle her to much and make her stressed right now.

You need to remember that in the wild females won't eat until the eggs hatch. I wouldn't think she'd be in any danger yet.

You mentioned changing her tub. Is she in a rack? If so, did you wipe down the ceiling in her slot?

At this point I believe you are worrying for no reason.
I have had females that did not go back on food for several months no matter what I tried and then one day they just click.
Try smaller meals once a week or even every other week.
Keep fresh water and a clean cage.
Again, 3 weeks after laying is not anything to worry about.

I agree with the above posts. I have seen females not start to eat until after their eggs have hatched. And this is with the eggs in an incubator.

I would keep trying .... smaller meals and maybe ASF

Thanks for the suggestions. THis eases me a little bit. I will bathe her one more time and wipe down her slot in the rack as well. Gonna try a small rat this week. Maybe next week I might try a ASF because I need to pick up a few for another snake. Ill let you guys know if I have any success

Hi,

Remember to wash any waterbowls and hides as well. :gj:


dr del

There are quite a few good posts already in here, but I thought I would add my experience. I have only had three females slug out on me in the past 4 years. However, none of those females ate for at least 3 months. It seems to me that the females that slug out take longer to get back on food. I don't know why that is, but that is what I have observed.

I would (and I do) still continue to offer a small meal every week. Maybe skip a week every now and then, just to give them a bit more time to relax.

p.s. I also have never been able to get a girl that slugged to drop eggs the following year. I know you don't want to here that, but either the male was not providing viable sperm, or the female thought her body could not handle fully developing the eggs. So, with that said, you can try her next year, but I wouldn't have high expectations, and I usually just give them the following year off. I believe that wiullyield betyter results in the long run anyway.

Muddoc

Thanks for that tip. I dont wanna hear that she might not lay next year but I will probably just give her the year off to rest. Im glad you told me that though so I kinda know what to expect.
I appreciate everyones suggestions. Im gonna wash everything down again and see if I can get her going.