First fast with us

[Yzmasmom]

Yzmas' previous owner had said she would occasionally fast in fall/winter. This is our first winter with her.
Since getting her in June, she has eagerly eaten once every Sunday for us. One rat usually between 120 grams and 130 grams. (We get as small as we can in medium. Small rats are waaaaay too small.)
At her weigh in last week, she was 1,940g.

Tonight was the first night that she has refused food. Nothing in her environment has changed - the hatchling ate with no issues tonight.

When do I next offer her a meal AND, if she refuses again, how often do I continue to offer? (I don't want to waste rats.)
She was out and looking for food and perked up when she smelled it but was disinterested when we offered it.

How often do fasts normally last?

Thanks.

[Sauzo]

It's time to get a garbage can. I recommend either a boa or retic. When Dottie went on her winter fast last year, she quit eating around Nov and began again around Mar/Apr. This winter so far she has just been pounding smalls once a week. I avoid mediums as it seems if I feed her smaller meals, she stays more consistent with eating. If I give her big meals, she becomes sporatic and sometimes will go 2 weeks.

I offered her a rat every 2 weeks and if she didn't want it, I gave it to a boa. Now that I got a retic who is king garbage can, I offer every week but like I said, Dottie has been eating so far through the winter.

Without another snake to eat the excess, I would just offer every 2-4 weeks and then I would throw the rat out. Some people will say you can refreeze it but I say bad idea. Once it's been thawed and warmed up, bacteria is going to start to grow on it.

[Yzmasmom]

So don't offer next week? Try every 2? If she still won't eat, then don't offer again until it's been 4 weeks?

Once she eats again, I will use up her mediums and go to smalls, but I'm afraid they will be too small. They are like half the size of her width, probably not even. I'd say under 100g. Is one enough at that small size, once per week? She's 1940g.

[Hannahshissyfix]

I'd wait 2 weeks to offer and then another 2 after that. I also agree if you have more snakes to get a garbage can. Makes it less frustrating than wasting rats. The smalls you have will be fine to just use up until they're gone if she'll take them.

[EL-Ziggy]

I agree with the others. I'd offer food every 2 weeks for a few feedings and if she doesn't click back on then I'd spread it out to every 4 weeks between attempts. Lots of snakes slow down or shut down around this time of year.

[jmcrook]

In the same boat here. Geoffrey, my pastel male, hasn't eaten since late October/early November. I always offer him food first and if he does actually take it then I just break out a second rat for Phyllis. Having a garbage disposal snake is way better than wasting a $4 rat every week or two for 4-5 months.


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[BPGator]

So for the suggestions to get a garbage disposal, what size/age BCI is appropriate? I'm in a similar situation - my 1600g female BP hasn't eaten in 7 weeks. I have the added bonus of she only eats live, so I keep the rats but euthanize them before they get to 150g and then freeze them. I've thought of getting a BCI for disposal purposes, but would like to get a juvenile. Do they grow fast enough such that in a year it will be able to take medium rats?


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[Stewart_Reptiles]

It's normal and nothing to worry about especially at that size, I would offer less often every to weeks or so even once a month if that does not work nor harm in it.

[Ogre]

Well a they already said it. I generally will re freeze a rat once and only once. After the first refusal I generally only thaw one rat then when Lou (my BP) refuses I feed it to my dumpster, my RTB.

[Yzmasmom]

Permanently offer every 2 weeks, or just until she's eating again?