Not eating. Not shedding.
Hi everyone,
I have had my python for 4 weeks.
I have tried to feed him (mice) and he has not eaten since I've had him.
He also has not shed yet.
I'm getting really worried.
I had to postpone his vet appointment so I have no one to give me any comfort about him.
I really want him to eat and shed on a regular bases.
New parent jitters...
Please help.
Thank you,
Lady
Re: Not eating. Not shedding.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Daybreaker
What is your set up and temps?
How often and how are you offering the mice? What was he eating before you got him?
How big/old is the snake?
I wouldn't worry about not shedding so much as the reasons why the snake isn't eating.
I have pictures on my profile of his set up.
Usually around 95 to 100 in his tank. (Haven't figured out an awesome way to keep the temperature consistently 95 yet)
I've only tried once. That was last weekend that I tried.
I was told that he is a foot and a half.
Oh nice to know about the shedding :)
~ Lady
Re: Not eating. Not shedding.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Inarikins
Thanks.
I will get to answering these questions.
Some of them are hard because even the snakes past owner didn't know the answer to them and I have to go through her to the past past owner. (He's been through a lot :( )
Re: Not eating. Not shedding.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Inarikins
Answer to the best of your knowledge. If he does have a bad past (a rescue?) there's no way of knowing when he was last fed or he last ate or shed for sure. If you don't know, say so. 95-100 is much too hot. the max temp in your enclosure should be the hot spot and that should be between 88-92 degrees. If he's too hot, it could be why he's not eating.
Oh no!
Do you think he will be okay?
His past owner told me that was the correct temperature... :(
Also, I don't always mean for it to get that hot, but I go to school and such and it always ends up that hot in there...
Re: Not eating. Not shedding.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Inarikins
Answer to the best of your knowledge. If he does have a bad past (a rescue?) there's no way of knowing when he was last fed or he last ate or shed for sure. If you don't know, say so. 95-100 is much too hot. the max temp in your enclosure should be the hot spot and that should be between 88-92 degrees. If he's too hot, it could be why he's not eating.
I don't mean for it to get too hot, but I can't sit a turn the lamp off and on all day.
So I'm trying to find a way to regulate the heat still.
His lamp is currently a 100W lamp.
Should I change the lamp to a light watt bulb?
Re: Not eating. Not shedding.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Daybreaker
The real temps may even be hotter than 95-100.......I'd get a digital thermometer asap. They're about $10 at Walmart, I like the Accurite brand.
This is making me so nervous.
Now I fear that he may have burns or something because I kept it to hot.
I have a temp ad humidity thermometer currently as well.
So I think I will switch to using just.
Re: Not eating. Not shedding.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NormanSnake
I reccomend switching to an under tank heater and a t-stat as soon as possible. Until then, I'd say switch to a 60W bulb and make sure you try to mist the tank a few times a day to keep humidity up. Good luck.
I do have an undertank heater.
I was told not to use it unless it gets really cold in there.
Plus I'm not sure if I have enough substrate in the tank to turn the pad on.
I'm really afraid to burn him.
(Which it seems I'm already doing and it's scaring me/ freaking me out)
Re: Not eating. Not shedding.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NormanSnake
I reccomend switching to an under tank heater and a t-stat as soon as possible. Until then, I'd say switch to a 60W bulb and make sure you try to mist the tank a few times a day to keep humidity up. Good luck.
For some reason they only had 50W or 75W so I choose the 50 one.
What's a t-stat?
Re: Not eating. Not shedding.
this worked for me i do not know all that much as the others do in here but
i took the box i got my snake in put the snake back in it for feeding closed the box put the box in a old pillow cass i was not useing set it off to the side then put a rubber band around the top of the pillow cass so the little hodeane could not get out the snake ate just fine the mouse was a frozen one
Re: Not eating. Not shedding.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Daybreaker
A t-stat is a thermostat, which is different than a thermometer. A thermostat makes it so your UTH or flexwatt doesn't overhead and burn your snake, as unregulated UTHs can get over 100 degrees.
In the meantime of getting a thermostat I would pick up a lamp dimmer from Home Depot asap ($10) and plug your UTH into that so it doesn't get too hot. Even if the UTH doesn't feel warm to you, it could very well be hot enough to cause burns to the snake.
There are cheaper thermostats available online (I believe some get a certain kind on Amazon, though I'm unsure of the brand) but I use VE-200 thermostats on the racks and vivs and love them (
http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermostats).
I currently have just picked up a 50W inferred bulb, so hopefully that will help for now.
I do intend on investing in a thermostat because I have been advised to do so by many.
Re: Not eating. Not shedding.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
hatsu
this worked for me i do not know all that much as the others do in here but
i took the box i got my snake in put the snake back in it for feeding closed the box put the box in a old pillow cass i was not useing set it off to the side then put a rubber band around the top of the pillow cass so the little hodeane could not get out the snake ate just fine the mouse was a frozen one
I'm not an expert.
I've been told many times that you are not supposed to move you snake during feeding.
I also am not going to force him to eat if he is not ready.
And it might just be that he is not comfortable in some other way.
So I'm looking for ways to make sure he is at his absolute comfort first. :)
Not eating. Not shedding.
What size is the tank he is in? (I can't get to the pics on my phone for some reason) & how large is your snake?
Yeah definitely be careful because contact burns are awful. A year ago I was misinformed and just slapped on one of those petstore uth and I burned my snake :( it wasn't terrible and I was given injections to treat it and all healed well,but it definitely scared me!
Re: Not eating. Not shedding.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lesserlove
What size is the tank he is in? (I can't get to the pics on my phone for some reason) & how large is your snake?
Yeah definitely be careful because contact burns are awful. A year ago I was misinformed and just slapped on one of those petstore uth and I burned my snake :( it wasn't terrible and I was given injections to treat it and all healed well,but it definitely scared me!
The tank is 30in x 12 1/2in x 12 1/2in
He is about a foot and a half
Yeah I'm really worried that I have burned him now :(
I'm so terrified of the idea of him being hurt in anyway...
