What do you think is going on with my spider?

I got my spider BP about three weeks ago. She is currently in a rack with an average of 90 degree (hot spot) with a hide and 84 degree (cool spot). It's a 41 qt. tub and the spider weighs about 1000g. She hasn't eaten anything yet even though I tried live and pre-killed hopper mice, live and pre-killed small rat. The last two or three days, I keep finding her in the water bowl and she stays there for hours. I can't figure out what the heck is going on with her. All of my other pythons (nine of them) are acting normally.

By the way, there are no mites in case that's what you're wondering and she doesn't seem to be shedding anytime soon. Help?

Are you absolutely sure that there are no mites? They can be hard to see. This is classic mite behaviour.

If there really aren't any mites she might not feel secure and is trying to use the water dish as a hide.

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Originally Posted by digizure

I tried live and pre-killed hopper mice

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Way too small for a 1000g snake.
What did her last owner feed her?
What bedding do you have her on?
Any mites in the water bowl?

I know the hopper mice is too small. I'm trying to get her to eat anything. The previous owner said she ate live or pre-killed rats. I use white paper towel and I don't see any signs of mites anywhere, on her, in the water bowl or on the paper towel. What I find is really odd is that my other spider is on a food strike as well but at least she doesn't "live" in her water bowl.

If she doesn't have hides, try giving her one or two. She could be using the water bowl as a substitute to make her feel more secure. That same insecurity could be why she is refusing food, also. Give her two weeks alone, with only necessary cleaning and water changes, and then try offering another live small rat. The wait won't hurt her at that size, and might even whet her appetite once she settles in.

In my original post, I did mention that there is a hide. I'll try leaving her alone and hopefully that will help. I'll do the same with the other spider.

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Originally Posted by digizure

In my original post, I did mention that there is a hide. I'll try leaving her alone and hopefully that will help. I'll do the same with the other spider.

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Sorry, I even reread your post and missed that. :rolleyes: Maybe squeeze a second hide on the cool side, or just make sure the one she has fits her snugly. Either way, time is probably going to be the key.

Could the overall ambient temp be too high for her thus she is using the water dish to cool down?

Temps sound correct, my guess is the prey size is way too small.
If you're having issues with a snake that size try 3 week old fuzzy rats or small/medium adult mice.
One hide is plenty in a 41qt tub, just give it time and an appropriate sized food item.

I would get a magnifying glass and scope out the water really well after the snakes been in the bowl for hours...
Too hot of ambient temps and mites are the two biggest reasons for soaking

I have 1100g bp's in V-18 tubs (~8qt) and they love it. I generally don't move them over to the 41qt tubs until they're over 1100g and getting close to breeding size. I just moved my 1100g Pied girl from a V-18 to a V-70, 41qt tub and I'm hoping it doesn't throw her off feeding too long. Try a smaller tub for kicks.

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Originally Posted by coreydelong

I have 1100g bp's in V-18 tubs (~8qt) and they love it.

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I am pretty sure none of my 1k+ snakes would even come close to fitting in an 8qt :O:O
Nor would I do that either ;)

The V-18 is a tad larger than 8qts... hence the "~8qt". It's probably closer to 12qts, but I never see a volume listed for it anywhere- just dimensions, and I'm not really interested in doing the math. The water bowl is a 5" dish for size reference. It's a kick hearing the thrashing when I throw a rat in there.

0.1 Pinstripe- 975g and cozy as heck.... whatever makes her happy ;)

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...914_175118.jpg

The tub looks kind of small to me. I don't think my snakes would appreciate that but then again, I'm a newbie.

I tried a rat pup today and to my surprise, my spider killed it... but she didn't eat it. Wow. I'm shocked that a BP would kill and NOT eat its prey!

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Originally Posted by digizure

I tried a rat pup today and to my surprise, my spider killed it... but she didn't eat it. Wow. I'm shocked that a BP would kill and NOT eat its prey!

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Did you leave it in there? It isn't uncommon for them to kill a rodent and eat it a little later. Usually they do eat right away, but it isn't always the case. I'd leave it overnight and check on it in the morning.

I moved her back to her rack and placed the rat pup in her rack. She finally ate. I don't know if this means that she will eat again next week but I'm hoping she will. I'm not too thrilled she ate a rat pup because the pup is wayyy too small for her size. Oh well.

Now I gotta concentrate on the other spider's eating habit. Ugh!

Are you feeding them in their tubs or are you moving them to a different container? If you're moving them, try just leaving them in the rack and feed them in their tubs.

I feed all of my snakes in the bin and prefer to feed them in a bin. I did drop a pre-killed rat in the rack and she wouldn't eat it. If I have to, I guess I will drop a live rat in her rack.