BP won't eat... or has a disorder

[Half Crazed]

BP wont eat. We've tried in feeding bucket and cage. She didn't even act like she saw the rat. We've tried three different rats at different times and nothing. It's like she can't see them. She used to eat fine but last time she ate was over 3 months ago.

Her cage is 12hr heat lamp + uv lamp, and 12hr off. Humidity is 75ish. Heat around 85f. She's moving around reaching out of tank like she's looking for food, an indicator we've used before to feed her. Completely oblivious to all food.

Vet said to keep trying every week. . It's been three weeks since. We even bought one of those African soft haired rats or whatever, and nothing. .

Thoughts? Besides giving it away so that i can reclaim some space in my living room?

[John1982]

Looks like a pretty healthy build on that snake. I have animals that routinely go 4-6 months without feeding..

[SnowBP]

I remember the days I used to worry when my snakes go off feed. Lol

I have snakes that will go 5-6 months without eating and then pick up again on it like it never happened. Who can understand it! Don't worry about it. Give her a break. Only try once a week.

Also, when you say her heat is 12 hours on and 12 off. You do have some sort of heating 24 hours though, right?

[Half Crazed]

I remember the days I used to worry when my snakes go off feed. Lol

I have snakes that will go 5-6 months without eating and then pick up again on it like it never happened. Who can understand it! Don't worry about it. Give her a break. Only try once a week.

Also, when you say her heat is 12 hours on and 12 off. You do have some sort of heating 24 hours though, right?

Yes, there is a heating pad under one of hides

[Half Crazed]

We left the rat in her cage overnight because this rat is sooooo passive.. woke up to this:



..... they are now best friends.

[EL-Ziggy]

You may want to be careful leaving a live feeder in overnight with your snake. That could turn our really badly for your animal. I've seen snakes badly injured or killed by caged rodents. Three weeks without eating is no big deal especially for a BP. Like others have said they can go months without any issues. As long as your husbandry is dialed in and it's not losing significant weight or showing other signs of illness I wouldn't worry at all. When my snakes go off feed I usually only offer food every 10-14 days until they start eating normally again. Best wishes.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Be glad that's all you woke up to.
Fix your husbandry first.
There is no need to feed in a separate container either.
What are you using to regulate the UTH?
UV lighting is not needed.
How and where are you getting the 85 degree reading and what are you using to measure that reading?

AND for the love of your not yet chewed on snake please never leave a live rat in overnight.

[Reed12321]

my snake is doing the exact same thing. She ate a live mouse on sunday, and it was rough. She got bit and scratched and I thought to myself, "She's probably afraid of mice now. I'll get a rat pup since i want her eating those anyway." I put the rat pup in the tank and it's like it's not even there. She's still trying to get out of the tank looking for food and stuff. If she doesnt eat it, looks like I'm going to be trying to keep a rat pup, a mouse, another snake, and a cat as pets -____- i hate mice, i love rats.

[Fireproof]

Try a live mouse. They smell a lot different and some balls just prefer them. I have one ball that ignores rats but eats mice as soon as it's dropped in the tank.

You also might try cleaning the habitat thoroughly to maximize intensity of the prey smell. (There's a sticky somewhere about feeding habits that talks about how they prefer ambushing in a clean burrow).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[blk02ssmonte]

NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER!!!!! leave a live mouse or rat unattended in a snake cage. Did I say NEVER NEVER enough. Sorry but you could have a dead snake doing that. I have seen horror pics and stories.