snakes won't eat

i have two snakes that haven't eaten in a while, the first is my pastel ball python- he's almost a year old and went off feed a few months ago...was off feed for 2ish months, then ate a couple of small mice, and hasn't eaten since. he is in a 35q tub with the hot side temp being 85 and the cool side 80. I know snakes, ball pythons especially, go off feed every once in a while, but he has lost a little bit of weight so I'm starting to get worried.

My other snake is a corn snake hatchling. He is about a month and a few weeks old. He fed last on August 9th, regurged that meal the next day and hasnt fed since. his ambient temp is about 82-83 degrees.

I feed f/t and i have tried feeding live to my ball python- he just turns away from it. any suggestions that I could try?

thank you!

Hi,

Is the 85f the hottest part of the tub? You could try expanding the thermal gradient to give him access to a hot hide temp of around 90-94f.

**edit**
Re-read the bit about the cornsnake - I would put up a thread in the corn snake forum. Maybe having a temp gradient might help rather than just a set ambient?
**end edit**

How where are you measuring these temps by the way?


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Is the 85f the hottest part of the tub? You could try expanding the thermal gradient to give him access to a hot hide temp of around 90-94f.

**edit**
Re-read the bit about the cornsnake - I would put up a thread in the corn snake forum. Maybe having a temp gradient might help rather than just a set ambient?
**end edit**

How where are you measuring these temps by the way?


dr del

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ok I uped the temp on the Johnston control, but the flexwat reads 95 degrees atm ( but i have aspen in the tub, so perhaps thats why its a bit lower) so hopefully thatll perk him up in a bit.

the reason i have just ambient temp for the cornsnakes is because they are not on flexwat- so the temp in their tup is a steady 82-83. I also posted this in cornsnake.com...still waiting on replies..will post on the cornsnake forum, thank you!

i am measuring the temp with a temp gun, i do have temp and humidy things in the tubs, but i prefer using the temp gun for just measuring the temp. :D

Are you tubs in a rack system? Do you have a tight-fitting hide? If all else fails you could try putting them in a smaller enclosure. I have a yearling pied male that stopped eating in 28 quart tub with a hide. I decided to put him into a 6 quart tub, and he has been eating well ever since.

i do have a rack but the tubs fit loosely in it...we are getting an animal plastics economy rack coming in this week, it holds 15q and 32q tubs. I could switch him into a 15q and see how that works. tho i prolly also need to get a new hide for him as well. so lots of moving around this week :oops:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LaFilleClochette

i do have a rack but the tubs fit loosely in it...we are getting an animal plastics economy rack coming in this week, it holds 15q and 32q tubs. I could switch him into a 15q and see how that works. tho i prolly also need to get a new hide for him as well. so lots of moving around this week :oops:

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A 15 quart with a tight-fitting hide should do the trick. Good luck.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wh00h0069

A 15 quart with a tight-fitting hide should do the trick. Good luck.

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thanks

If the smaller tub doesn't seem to be working, try crumpling up newspaper and putting with him. I had the same problem not long ago and asked for help on here and that is what was suggested. To put it mildly, my non-eating snake will now wolf down anything you stick in his cage!! Good luck!

Have you been trying to feed the corn snake f/t or live?
How are you going about it?

Some of my hatchlings actually seem to prefer f/t. 2/8 didn't eat their first meal (live), but 8/8 ate their second (f/t).
If I have a picky eater, I will put an f/t pinkie in a small plastic dish w/lid. Chances are, you got him in one similar to the ones I've been using. I put them in there with the mouse and leave it overnight. If that doesn't work, try braining the pinky.

For the ball, I think lowering the cage size to a 15q and raising the temperatures a bit will do the trick. I usually have my flexwatt temps at around 100F in order to get a proper in-cage temperature. Good luck!

well i tried feeding them both live today and neither one wanted to eat...so I am gonna try the newspaper trick ( yesterday i tried the paper bag trick with the ball python...he didn't eat...not even remotely interested, and same today with a live mouse.

I tried to feed the baby corn live also but he was not interested...I think I will wait a week and try again and leave the pnky in over night.

my other corn ate today ! :D im wiked happy about that- he regurged a few days ago but I put in a live big pinky in and after some thought he decided to eat it. ANND our two new ball pythons also ate their live meals...gonna hafta go switch them to f/t tho.

overall today was a 50/50 day :D. thanks for all your help everyone!

Yikes,

Your trying to feed too often. :(

I would definately have waited longer to feed the corn to lessen the chances of another regurge.

Offering food too often can actually discourage feeding by stressing them out - your idea of waiting a week is the best one.


dr del

ooops. well i hope he doesn't regurg. :please:

Hi,

If he does follow the advice on this thread by Kathy Love.


dr del

thank you for your help dr. Del- I went to that thread and followed Kathy Love's advice and so far we have had 2 meals with out regurges on my normal baby corn! I have not handled him at all ( gonna wait till 6 meals just to be on the safe side!)

My other corn ate as well with no regurge!:banana: and hes getting another meal today :D woot!

Hi,

Glad to hear they are both doing so well. :)


dr del

ok so I have been trying everything with my ball python- he is in a 15 quart tub with newspaper substrate. He has a hide and a water bowl His temps are great and he is not bothered at all ( I have been handling him as little as possible.) I have put crumpled up newspaper in his tub so that there is almost no room in it. I have seen him roaming out at night and know he does because of the tipped over water bowl i find almost every morning. yet when ever i offer him a mouse he refuses.. this is a SMALL mouse...maybe about 20 grams... hes big enough to eat much bigger and hes not looking too great. he's a little jumpy when i pick him up but otherwise he doesnt move. :( im really starting to get worried.