Question about a poor eater

[jtipton]

Here is my situation, I have a Mojave female that is approx. 3 and a half years old and has a current weight of 1140 grams. I bought her as a hatchling and she ate good for about 6 months. After that she went off feed for about 8 months and started her routine of only eating approx. 2 months of the year. Around July and August she usually eats great. I have tried every option that I have read about (rats, mice, live, F/T, etc, etc) to resolve picky eaters but none work on her. So here's my question and please nobody jump down my throat about this I'm just looking from some real opinions on the matter. I was reading that putting a male in with females could up there feeding response. I don't know if this is true or not just asking this is my first year of breeding and the 3 females that I do have up to size and breeding have had a great feeding response lately but they have always been good eaters. My major concern with this is what if she does get bred, at her size would it be possible for her lay eggs without causing harm to her. She looks healthy despite her poor eating habits, she has good body shape and doesn't look under nourished or anything. I just want everyone to understand I'm not asking this because I'm in a rush to breed her (I have other snakes to breed this year including her Mojave sister which is about 2500 grams) I am just concerned about her eating and have exhausted every other method that I have heard of. Any rational opinions on whether or not this would be safe for her would be greatly appreciated.

[PitOnTheProwl]

I don't think it would hurt. How is her build? I mean does she look like she needs a meal or two?

Could kick in her feeding response

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

I'm not experienced on this,but it seems like your looking for a quick fix...once you take him out he may go right back off feed. So IMO,try and fix the issue the right way,as tough as it may be and try not to rig the situation..basically don't mask the issue..

[PitOnTheProwl]

I'm not experienced on this,but it seems like your looking for a quick fix....

Exactly

once you take him out he may go right back off feed

Did you read the question??

[jtipton]

I don't think it would hurt. How is her build? I mean does she look like she needs a meal or two?

Could kick in her feeding response

Her build looks good for a snake her size. She doesn't look malnourished or anything. I mean she could definitely use some more weight but she looks healthy. I not afraid she is going die if she doesn't eat I would just like her to start eating more.

I'm not experienced on this,but it seems like your looking for a quick fix...once you take him out he may go right back off feed. So IMO,try and fix the issue the right way,as tough as it may be and try not to rig the situation..basically don't mask the issue..

I have tried everything I can think of with this girl to fix the problem. She is on a shelf with her heat tape away from the others because she won't eat if I put her in the racks. I have tried putting her in the racks on different levels, changing her heat settings, every type of prey item that I can get my hands on, live and F/T, etc. If it has ever been mentioned I have tried it, except for this which I have refused to try because of her size. She will only eat live rats and only in July and August. I have all of my snakes feeding records since I've owned them. I have 18 BP and all the others except for rare occasions eat just fine. I would love a permanent fix for this girl, but right now a quick one would do maybe it would snap her out of her routine. But I don't want to do if more experienced people think it could put her in danger.

[PitOnTheProwl]

We are POSITIVE it is a female??

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

Pit, I read it to quick,but yes I see now,haha. I caught on to your exactly wink face with you abbreviating certain words..justsaying, I'll let his one slide. If it makes you feel better about yourself,lol

OP,idk,if this been going on for a long time,it may just be how she is and nothing you can do. I wonder if she is maybe sick or some thing is wrong..but if you are saying she only eats during the summer,well have you considered maybe making her enviroment a little bit hotter? That may stimulate a feeding response.

she just may also be this way forever,hard to accept,but I mean if she is healthy,then I guess that's that..maybe come summer feed her a bit more than you normally do your others.

[jtipton]

We are POSITIVE it is a female??

She hasn't been checked since she was a baby. I'm pretty sure, wouldn't hurt to check again though.

OP,idk,if this been going on for a long time,it may just be how she is and nothing you can do. I wonder if she is maybe sick or some thing is wrong..but if you are saying she only eats during the summer,well have you considered maybe making her enviroment a little bit hotter? That may stimulate a feeding response.

she just may also be this way forever,hard to accept,but I mean if she is healthy,then I guess that's that..maybe come summer feed her a bit more than you normally do your others.

She has no signs of being sick. I have tried raising the temps of her hot spot and all that did was make her stay on the cool side. This past summer I did feed her double on the weeks she would take them. That didn't seem to help her gain much weight though.

[jtipton]

If I did put a male with her would they actually need to breed to up her feeding response or would just having a male in there with her possibly help? My mystic male is about 800 grams and has refused to breed any female that he has been put with.

[SquamishSerpents]

We are POSITIVE it is a female??

This is my first thought - that's male behavior to a T.

Verify "her" sex first before you do anything drastic.