Carpet Not Eating? No Worries!

[Gio]

A lot of folks get uptight and worried about a snake that doesn't eat.

Just remember, millions and millions of years and changes and adaptations have "hard wired" snakes to be able to survive and thrive.

I won't go into a long rant about food refusal.

Jewel has not eaten since December, 10 2019.

Today she had an XL rat. Boom.




She continues to grow. She decides when she is ready to eat and I follow her lead. If there are no glaring issues, a snake refusing to eat for several months should not cause much concern.



She may be fired up for summer, but I will not feed her until she has completely eliminated all signs of this meal.



She's been a strange eater since day one. That said she's 7 feet plus.

No worries, they eat when they are ready!

[EL-Ziggy]

I agree 1000% Gio. As long as my temps are dialed in and I know the snake isn't sick I don't worry about them not eating anymore. A few of my carpets will take food breaks over the winter. My last holdout hadn't eaten since Dec. 21st. She took her first meal of the year on April 18th. I've gotten used to this cycle now and I trust my snake's instincts to know when they want or need food.
BTW Jewel is still the Belle of the Ball. 🙂

[vivi]

Does this apply to all snakes or just carpets?

[wnateg]

Does this apply to all snakes or just carpets?

Maybe not ball pythons; they're... special

[Bogertophis]

Does this apply to all snakes or just carpets?

I would faint if my Aussie spotted python or my corn & rat snakes ever refused food, so no...it doesn't apply to all snakes really. You want to consider what's "normal" for what you're keeping. Others that don't (or very RARELY) skip meals are Pituophis (bull & gopher snakes) & king snakes, & BCI-boas. But rosy boas will, in the winter time, & they'd brumate in the wild, but so do many of the others that "never" refuse food, so it just depends. (doesn't count if they're in shed, that's a common refusal for most any & all snakes)

[EL-Ziggy]

Does this apply to all snakes or just carpets?

I think the same principle applies to most snakes and most animals. If they are not ill, and their husbandry needs are met, then they'll eat when they're ready. My Cal King would go off food for 3 months every year since he was two. He didn't lose much weight and I'd have to give him one or two live mice to kickstart his appetite again. My male bullsnake behaves similarly for a couple of months during breeding season each year. He doesn't go completely off food though. He won't eat rats but he'll still eat chicks. After that he's back to eating regularly. BPs aren't an exception to the rule but I think they're special cases. They tend to go off feed for longer periods than other snakes but in all the cases I know of they all eat again eventually. Any animal, including humans, will eat whatever's available if they get hungry enough. When faced with a choice of eating or slowing starving to death most will choose to eat.

[Gio]

Does this apply to all snakes or just carpets?

There are certain species of snakes that have extremely fast metabolisms and exhibit foraging behavior, they are constantly hunting and moving. But even certain members of that group will have a seasonal shutdown. More goes into the equation than the snake itself. Seasonal changes and what the snakes prey on set the tone. When prey migrates or is no longer abundant, the snakes don't eat. Guess what? Mother Nature and millions and millions of years of adaptation has them covered.

If you study pythons and boas, you will find they are set up to feast and famine.

Most snakes in captivity are over fed. Vin Russo and Nick Mutton did a wonderful podcast on this very subject.

Boas NEVER eat every 10 days in the wild. Royal pythons can go a year, maybe more without food.

Unless you have glaring issues that show signs of illness or your husbandry is completely off you should not worry about food refusal.

A snake is at an advantage if it refuses food now and then. A lot keepers will continue to over feed and a great deal do not understand the natural biology of the animals they keep.

My advice is to learn the biology of the animal you are going to keep. Learn beyond the "care sheet" media you will likely see first. I love scientific field studies and read them frequently.

Captivity does change things but knowing what your animal truly is will help you in the long run.

Do either of these animals look under fed?

This carpet had not eaten since December, 10th.


This boa doesn't eat from October until mid March or early April and that's every year.


If your animal never refuses, at some point you should refuse for it.

Like I said. No worries.