Retic will not eat.

Hey guys, recently (19.04.2017) I have picked up a 3 1/2 month old female reticulated python Tiger het. purple albino
She shed (21.04.2017) I offered her food 2 days later, adult mouse sized rat F/T, she grabbed him and let go, i left her alone but still she didn't eat.
Today i tried once again (25.04.2017) She was showing no interest in the rat whatsoever
30C Hot spot, ambient temp. 25-26C
60cm x 30cm x 30cm terrarium
Humidity - 65-70%
What could be the issue ? :(
Thanks, Jacob

I would assume that the snake just needs to acclimate to its surrounding a little more and should start eating. From what i know retics have a great feeding response, that and the fact the snake is young it should be pounding food. If however it dosent start in a week or two id be worried. I know the retic owners here will have some better and more insightful advice.

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Originally Posted by Ba11er

I would assume that the snake just needs to acclimate to its surrounding a little more and should start eating. From what i know retics have a great feeding response, that and the fact the snake is young it should be pounding food. If however it dosent start in a week or two id be worried. I know the retic owners here will have some better and more insightful advice.

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Thank's for the info, ive been keeping snakes for a pretty long time, this is really mi first situatnion tbh, others were eating right of the bat, 2 days after they came in


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You might try a live prey item to generate more of a feeding response to get it started. Mine has only had a few live meals to start it's life and has been slamming f/t for over a year now.


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Originally Posted by jmcrook

You might try a live prey item to generate more of a feeding response to get it started. Mine has only had a few live meals to start it's life and has been slamming f/t for over a year now.

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Ok, ill try feeding live on sunday and we will see how well it goes, ill keep the thread updated

Also, do you know exactly what it was eating before you got it? I'd try offering the same prey that it was eating before you received it, that should help too


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Originally Posted by jmcrook

Also, do you know exactly what it was eating before you got it? I'd try offering the same prey that it was eating before you received it, that should help too


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She was eating live adult mice and F/T Rats

Does she have hides to feel secure?

And like JM said, what was the breeder feeding her?

Just let her settle in a week before trying again.

Sounds like a defensive strike if she just bit and let go so she might be scared.

I know Caesar ate within 2 hours of arriving to me but he is a pig. I have never seen a snake that likes to eat more than him hands down.

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Originally Posted by Sauzo

Does she have hides to feel secure?

And like JM said, what was the breeder feeding her?

Just let her settle in a week before trying again.

Sounds like a defensive strike if she just bit and let go so she might be scared.

I know Caesar ate within 2 hours of arriving to me but he is a pig. I have never seen a snake that likes to eat more than him hands down.

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Yes, she has a hide, i'll see how it goes, Thanks!

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Originally Posted by gymstax

Yes, she has a hide, i'll see how it goes, Thanks!

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Give her 2. One on the warm side and one on the cool side. If they can't regulate their temps, they can become cranky and not eat. Snakes will often sacrifice their warm or cool needs in favor of security even if it is detrimental to them. I always give new snakes the same hides on the warm and cool side. Then once they are settled in, you can remove a hide if you want or need more room.

Low light, two hides and waiting a week, even two with no disturbance should help.

Nothing wrong with a smaller, live prey item to start things off when you do feed again.

I have a male retic that isn't a year old yet that goes 10-14 days between meals and has struck and refused before too. ALL species of snakes will refuse food at certain times. I'll bet she eats soon enough.

The time span from the arrival at your home, the first and second attempt at feeding was relatively short and may have added some stress to the move and acclimation.

Don't handle, don't disturb and wait a bit. I know that may be difficult but the snake will feel less threatened as an end result.

It isn't a bad idea to contact the breeder and find out the exact setup they used for the snake before shipping. You may want to mimic that if things don't pan out.

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Originally Posted by Gio

Low light, two hides and waiting a week, even two with no disturbance should help.

Nothing wrong with a smaller, live prey item to start things off when you do feed again.

I have a male retic that isn't a year old yet that goes 10-14 days between meals and has struck and refused before too. ALL species of snakes will refuse food at certain times. I'll bet she eats soon enough.

The time span from the arrival at your home, the first and second attempt at feeding was relatively short and may have added some stress to the move and acclimation.

Don't handle, don't disturb and wait a bit. I know that may be difficult but the snake will feel less threatened as an end result.

It isn't a bad idea to contact the breeder and find out the exact setup they used for the snake before shipping. You may want to mimic that if things don't pan out.

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I have pretty much the same setup with the same temps, thanks for the help


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Originally Posted by gymstax

I have pretty much the same setup with the same temps, thanks for the help


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OK,

Just wait it out a bit.

It will happen.

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Originally Posted by Gio

Low light, two hides and waiting a week, even two with no disturbance should help.

Nothing wrong with a smaller, live prey item to start things off when you do feed again.

I have a male retic that isn't a year old yet that goes 10-14 days between meals and has struck and refused before too. ALL species of snakes will refuse food at certain times. I'll bet she eats soon enough.

The time span from the arrival at your home, the first and second attempt at feeding was relatively short and may have added some stress to the move and acclimation.

Don't handle, don't disturb and wait a bit. I know that may be difficult but the snake will feel less threatened as an end result.

It isn't a bad idea to contact the breeder and find out the exact setup they used for the snake before shipping. You may want to mimic that if things don't pan out.

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I disagree with ALL snakes will refuse food at certain times!! Caesar has never refused a meal even when in shed and even 2 hours within me receiving him lol. Luna, Vicky, Rango and Gina so far have never refused ever. Rosey did refuse once in almost 5 years which about floored me. Dottie, I am more surprised if she eats than if she doesnt now that she is an adult. Up until 1 year old, she was a bottomless pit that ate every week like clockwork.

The rest i agree on though.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...918b57da24.jpg
Here's a photo of her, She looks pretty healthy


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She does look to be in good shape, but I would minimize or stop handling until she eats for you a couple times. She may not act stressed but if she's not eating at that size then something is amiss


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Originally Posted by jmcrook

She does look to be in good shape, but I would minimize or stop handling until she eats for you a couple times. She may not act stressed but if she's not eating at that size then something is amiss


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I know, this is a photo from when i have picked her up, she hasn't been handled now for about 4 days


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Also, i almost forgot, she has been making this clicking noise, no signs of RI, no bubbling on mouth, since the day i got her, could this be stress related or what ?

To all the people who helped, i gave her a couple of days, she ate without any hesitation :D Thanks fot the help once again!


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Great to hear !

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Originally Posted by gymstax

Also, i almost forgot, she has been making this clicking noise, no signs of RI, no bubbling on mouth, since the day i got her, could this be stress related or what ?

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Like a puffing sound? Like short little exhales out the nostrils? Thats normal when you have them out. Mine and JM's both do that when out. Seems to only happen when they are excited. Once Caesar is sitting in his house, he doesnt make any noise. He used to do it more as a baby. Now he doesnt do it too much anymore.

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Originally Posted by Sauzo

Like a puffing sound? Like short little exhales out the nostrils? Thats normal when you have them out. Mine and JM's both do that when out. Seems to only happen when they are excited. Once Caesar is sitting in his house, he doesnt make any noise.

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Yeah, little short exhales, sometimes its kind of a clicking noise


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Not sure about the clicking. The sound Caesar makes sometimes is like if you just quickly blew out your nose like if you had dust in it. Like i said, he did more as a baby. Now that he's older and a lot bigger, you dont hear it too much from him unless he gets really worked up lol.

And good that he ate. Pray he doesnt get an appetite like Caesar or you will go broke with one snake lol.

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Originally Posted by Sauzo

Not sure about the clicking. The sound Caesar makes sometimes is like if you just quickly blew out your nose like if you had dust in it. Like i said, he did more as a baby. Now that he's older and a lot bigger, you dont hear it too much from him unless he gets really worked up lol.

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Yeah its the same noise haha, good to hear that its normal :D


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Yeah probably just normal. I was all worried about Caesar when he did it but JM said Phyllis did it to so since both ours did it, we figured it was normal. Plus i guess JM talked to other retic guys who said theirs did the same thing. As long as you have the temps and humidity fine, you should be fine.

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Originally Posted by Sauzo

Yeah probably just normal. I was all worried about Caesar when he did it but JM said Phyllis did it to so since both ours did it, we figured it was normal. Plus i guess JM talked to other retic guys who said theirs did the same thing. As long as you have the temps and humidity fine, you should be fine.

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Yeah, Phyllis does that when she's out and cruise around a bit. Her last shed cycle she let out a few grown man size sneeze/exhales that had me concerned but there were no other signs of RI and they subsided as soon as she shed. Retics are such a trip! I love em!


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by jmcrook

Yeah, Phyllis does that when she's out and cruise around a bit. Her last shed cycle she let out a few grown man size sneeze/exhales that had me concerned but there were no other signs of RI and they subsided as soon as she shed. Retics are such a trip! I love em!


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Yes! They are amazing [emoji16]


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sauzo

I disagree with ALL snakes will refuse food at certain times!! Caesar has never refused a meal even when in shed and even 2 hours within me receiving him lol. Luna, Vicky, Rango and Gina so far have never refused ever. Rosey did refuse once in almost 5 years which about floored me. Dottie, I am more surprised if she eats than if she doesnt now that she is an adult. Up until 1 year old, she was a bottomless pit that ate every week like clockwork.

The rest i agree on though.

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You haven't had any of your snakes very long my friend, not when looking at the big picture at least.

It is highly likely that one or more will refuse for you at some point in time and it is perfectly natural.

I'm speaking generally, but even the foraging colubrid snakes experience periods when they go dormant and do not eat.

The expert breeders of retics will often talk about their males not eating and females as well. Some go for a month or two.

It is normal especially with a new captive that may be stressed, which was my point here. When somebody posts about eating/refusing, they should learn that it is in MOST cases normal and nothing to worry about.

If you look at the most commonly asked questions here from newer keepers, food refusal leads the list.

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Originally Posted by gymstax

Also, i almost forgot, she has been making this clicking noise, no signs of RI, no bubbling on mouth, since the day i got her, could this be stress related or what ?

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My fella makes that sound as well. A good buddy of mine that has kept and bred retics for years told me it isn't uncommon.

Glad she is eating for you now good job.

Taking it slow is the way to do it.

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Originally Posted by Gio

My fella makes that sound as well. A good buddy of mine that has kept and bred retics for years told me it isn't uncommon.

Glad she is eating for you now good job.

Taking it slow is the way to do it.

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Thanks! Take care bro


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