Six Months of Refusals Too Long?

[Nuzum1978]

I got a rescue earlier this year - an adult female. Previous owner fed mice, but I was able to make the switch to F/T rats and managed to get her to take 11 rats between March when I got her and the end of June, which was the last time she ate. It has been a steady string of refusals since then. I've had best success with F/T, but have tried live mice and small rats and even tried a F/T mouse to see if she was just used to mice. Live prey was terrifying for her as she is one of the flightiest snakes I've ever met.

I have her in a tub with a Johnson Controls keeping the warm side in the low 90's and a Helix on the cool side set to 84. Humidity is on the low side b/c there just is no moisture in this house during the winter. I have been putting a damp rag on top of her hide to help out, but it is making little difference. She is tucked away in my bedroom so there isn't much traffic. She has a small litter pan for a hide which she NEVER leaves. Being antisocial we never handle her except for cleanings.

I don't have scales, but she is still quite a meaty snake so I doubt there has been very much weight lost. I know they can go months as my other ball usually won't feed for about 3-4 months during the winter, but entering the seventh month without food I am wondering if I should start worrying yet. Sorry for posting a thread I know comes up a lot. I tried searching, but there were way too many panicked newbies b/c their BP missed a single meal.

Should I worry yet or remain to be patient? How long is too long for an adult? Thanks.

[Chocolate Muffin's]

I doubt your situation is similar to mine, but I thought I would share. I totally understand your concern. My larger BP went off feed 3 months ago, after 18 years of never going off feed. She takes frozen and live, so a refusal just seemed odd..anyway, turns out she had an infection that had not presented itself yet.

I know that many folks around here have had snakes go off feed for varying amounts of time. I know that if you are really worried, you can take the animal to the vet and even if its healthy, they can tube feel the snake. Its not expensive and they say it can get the snake to begin feeding again...

Good Luck and please keep up posted on your progress.

[Nuzum1978]

I'm considering a trip to the vet, but figured I would ask opinions beforehand. I just don't see an animal simply laying around and starving itself to death. It's one of the most basic survival instincts.

Thanks for the input. Cost of the vet is not a concern so if things don't change somewhat soon I'll be sure to have her checked out. Tube feeding isn't as harsh as force feeding, right?

[Chocolate Muffin's]

I'm considering a trip to the vet, but figured I would ask opinions beforehand. I just don't see an animal simply laying around and starving itself to death. It's one of the most basic survival instincts.

Thanks for the input. Cost of the vet is not a concern so if things don't change somewhat soon I'll be sure to have her checked out. Tube feeding isn't as harsh as force feeding, right?

You are correct. The tube is placed down the throat and the snake tolerates it well..probably better than a person, because we have gag reflexes. Anyway, the vet attaches a syringe and deploys the food into the stomach. They sometimes hold the snake upward to ensure the food moves into the stomach.

I would guess that your snake will come back on feed once the weather changes. There is a poll on the site right now on how long most folks have had their snakes go off feed. I looked at the number of people that were 7-8 months like yours. You might want to ping those members and see what they did to get their animals eating again. Mine stopped because she was sick...didn't know it at first though.

Definately let us know if there are any other changes or you are able to get her to eat. Lots of people like you are looking for answers

[psycho]

My snake is going off for five months & counting... i check last years calendar & she went off feeding for 5 months exactly... i think they dont always start feeding the same months/weeks as the past year & i wouldnt worry to much until she has like 9 months without feeding... but im also kinda concern because i've noticed like a sneezing sound but she does it very rarely & i dont see any mucus or shed stuck what can it be any advice anyone?

[SlitherinSisters]

I would be leery about a vet wanting to force feed an adult (tube feed). Adults really shouldn't ever need it, unless they are seriously ill, but that's an extreme case. Force feeding is extremely stressful and is usually only used for hatchlings that didn't soak up their yokes. Assist feeding on the other hand is acceptable (putting a small f/t rodent in the bps mouth so it will swallow it). It's still stressful, but no where near as stressful/dangerous as force feeding because it's not invasive. In your case I would give her some more time if she hasn't noticeably lost much weight.

Are you offering her food every week? You'll most likely have the best luck with live rodents since she has been off fed for so long. Do you leave the rodent alone with her at all? If she is shy, she might need to be left alone. If the rodent is well fed and watered you can leave it in alone for 10-20 minutes. Put it in at night, shut off the lights and leave the room. If you want to try f/t put it in at night and leave it in all night, you'll have to throw it away, but it's a shot. You could also 'knock out' the live rodent so it is still alive but stunned.

Also have you changed anything about her tub set up since she stopped eating? You could always try moving her to a smaller tub, I've had luck with that, and a snug hide!

If she starts to noticeably lose weight I would assist feed her.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

If the animal is healthy and well hydrated there is no reason to go to a vet, you can but it will be a waste of money.

The animal is an adult and knows how to eat (obviously would not be that age and size if it didn't)

It is frustrating but the only thing to do if the husbandry is on spot is to wait it out until the animal resumes feeding.

No force feeding, no assist feeding no tube feeding but PATIENCE

[Nuzum1978]

im also kinda concern because i've noticed like a sneezing sound but she does it very rarely & i dont see any mucus or shed stuck what can it be any advice anyone?

Dunno here. I've been fortunate to never have had any heath issues...so far. Sorry.

[Nuzum1978]

Are you offering her food every week? You'll most likely have the best luck with live rodents since she has been off fed for so long. Do you leave the rodent alone with her at all? If she is shy, she might need to be left alone. If the rodent is well fed and watered you can leave it in alone for 10-20 minutes. Put it in at night, shut off the lights and leave the room. If you want to try f/t put it in at night and leave it in all night, you'll have to throw it away, but it's a shot. You could also 'knock out' the live rodent so it is still alive but stunned.

Also have you changed anything about her tub set up since she stopped eating? You could always try moving her to a smaller tub, I've had luck with that, and a snug hide!

Thanks for the good advice. I leave a baby rat in with her for around twenty minutes... both supervised and not. Lights on and lights off. Daytime and night. I usually leave the F/Ts in over night and toss em in the morning.

No changes in the set up since I set up my "poor-boy rack." Looks like I just wait her out.

[Nuzum1978]

No force feeding, no assist feeding no tube feeding but PATIENCE

Yep. It's frustrating to say nothing of the cost, but as much of a nervous wreck this snake is already I'm not going to attempt any kind of feeding except the usual way.