is this normal? HELP

[mechnut450]

about how old is the bp ( size and weight wise ) I know some of the older ( over a years old will go off feed during breeding time 0 but if this s a young bp, were you get it,show local shop, or a private breeder. I read about how some of the shadey breeder will sell snakes that not even eating yet at some shows.

I see it had 2 meals of fuzy mice so i taking it a smalller snake.. I also watch for signs of shedding the blueing (dulling ) of the skin and in some cases pinking of the belly it totally possible she getting ready for a shed cycle and it just taking a long time.

I also try offering the food item late in the day/evening . I got one snake that won't eat until after full dark if you put food in during the day will just ingore it but if you drop the food in after dark watch out the inhale the meal.. if you got a scale for weighting I keep track of her weight, and not panick until you see about 20% lost of weight .. ( if it about 60 grams don't worry until get below 40 grams.) I would after that point consult either a vet or an experience breeder . for possible forcing ( after a vet checked for parasites ) this not something to take lightly as the force feeding is stressful for both parties. It something i had to do to a hatchling but I waited until it lost about 1/2 it weight before hand(not eating, I hated spending 30 mintues to get a single small mouse ( pinkie rat) into ir gut) and it now a slammer of rodents ..

[DutchHerp]

Just on a side note...

I've had no response with pre-scenting but the snakes still destroyed the feeder item...

[spalding11]

she is a late october '08 pastel baby weighing about 3 weeks after i got her, and one fuzzy mouse full 160 grams. i haven't weighed her recently because i'm not touching her...

she doesn't look extremely skinny yet.

she had a perfect shed in the bag that she was shipped in, so her last shed was about a month and a half ago, she still has the eye caps from tht shed because i read that they'll come off on their own, and i don't wanna stress her out more, you know?
but i haven't noticed any signs of shedding..

i got her from a private breeder, well-known and loved (8 ball) so it DEFINENTLY wasn't a breeder issue...

[stratus_020202]

Did you try different kinds of mice?? I've read they can be picky. Different colors vs white, female vs male. Maybe she's ready for an upgrade to a hopper. I tried pinkies for two weeks before i figured out my snake wasn't eating because she preferred fuzzies. lol. For the first time my snake wouldn't eat if i was standing right there. I had to duck around a corner. She's more used to me being around now. I also read some people feed their hatchlings straight off of hoppers. It's worth a try. Good luck!!

[dsmalex97]

I would get him out of that tank if I were you. My one pasyel displayed fairly odd behavior when I had her in an aquaium. Taking food items sometimes, and sometimes not. Hiding outside her hides, stuff like that. I also used a heat lamp, not UTH's. I'm not sure if you use UTH's or not, but I highly suggest using them. I would get a 15QT tub, maybe a 28QT sterilite tub, flexxwatt heat tape/heat pad, and a reptile themostat. As soon as I transfered mine over after about 1 week she was eating every week. Also make sure you get some kind of thermometer with a probe, accurite makes a 3in1(hygro,thermo,probe). I don't know if that IS deff the prob, but I know my snakes deff like the tub set up better. Take the "clutter" out too. Just offer two hides at most on the hot and cool side, and a water dish and all is well.

[spalding11]

hey everyone, i just want you to know how much i appreciate your advice and opinions. THIS FORUM ROCKS!

my girl FINALLY ate last night!!!!
she ate like a CHAMP! not just one adult mouse, BUT TWO!!!!!!!!!!
she ate #1 in only a minute, and #2 in under 30 seconds! AND WAS LOOKING FOR MORE~!!!!

and she didn't just wait for them to come to her, she actually moved and hunted them, and squeezed them so hard their eyes popped out.

this made my week!


THANK YOU AGAIN, YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!

[kc261]

That's great that she ate! Woohoo!

[kc261]

if you got a scale for weighting I keep track of her weight, and not panick until you see about 20% lost of weight .. ( if it about 60 grams don't worry until get below 40 grams.)

Actually, if a 60 gram snake gets down below 40 grams, it has lost more than 33% of its weight, not just 20%. I'd definitely start to worry well before that. Probably more like when it has lost 15% of its weight. Also, this would vary somewhat depending on the size & age of the snake and other circumstances. For example, a rescue that is already thin should not lose any weight at all if possible.

Take the "clutter" out too.

Actually "clutter" is a very good thing, depending on what is being used to make the clutter. BPs are shy snakes by nature. The reason for a snake not eating often has something to do with it not feeling secure. Adding "clutter" such as crumpled up newspaper or fake foliage often helps these snakes feel more secure because they can still be somewhat hidden even when not in their hides.