Frustrated Keeper

[hoax]

I am becoming more and more frustrated with Jack, my little pastel who is on strike.

He is down from around 725 to 618. I don't know if I need to take him to the vet, he seems fine other than the weight loss he doesn't have any obvious effects from the strike. If I did my math right he has only lost about 6.7% of his body weight, when I put it in a percentage it doesn't seem like alot. Am I just being a worry wart? Should I try to assist feed? I don't think I will hurt him by trying an assist if I am very gentle.

I've got a meal in with him now, hopefully he eats.

Mike

[rabernet]

How long has he been on strike? And no - I wouldn't assist feed right now - my mojave just had his first meal in MONTHS, and he lost probably 100 grams as well.

[hoax]

He has been on strike since Oct.

It's just not natural for something to not eat for 6 months.

I just want to yell at him till he eats, not really but that is how I feel every time I take food back out of his tub.

I just don't want my snakes to be uncomfortable or be in some sort of pain because of me, I guess that is why it is bothering me is because I do not know whats wrong and am blaming myself.

Mike

[RichsBallPythons]

almost 6 months and only 100grams is not bad at all.

How is he set up and how are you offering his food. His taste might of changed and wants some changes made.

[chago11]

are you feeding live?

[Moofins07]

I have yet to experience a strike, but I can only imagine how frustrating it is.

Have you exhausted all other options? Changing prey items (ASFs typically do the trick), switching to live (if you feed F/T), braining, pillow casing, etc.

I wouldn't consider assist/force feeding just yet. He might just be one of those stubborn males who insists on having a female to "bed" before they'll start eating again.

Fill us in on what you're feeding him and what you've tried - we'll do our best to help you out.

[RichsBallPythons]

Forgot to add that a good lone warm car ride sometimes kicks them back into gear.

[hoax]

I feed ASFs as a normal prey item

I have offered f/t ASF, live ASF pinkie hopper juvenile and adult. I have also offered 1 adult mouse and one medium rat, the rat was to big I bought her (Gladice, she now has a friend Gladices "friend") one day when I was put up fliers for work and she was just to big.

I have not put crumpled paper in with him but I did switch from paper back to aspen. I will put paper in with him tomorrow maybe that will help him. I even left a shed in with him this week. He did shed I guess that is a good thing, I thought they only shed when they were growing? Or is that just stupid thinking?

Mike

[hoax]

I have yet to experience a strike, but I can only imagine how frustrating it is.

Have you exhausted all other options? Changing prey items (ASFs typically do the trick), switching to live (if you feed F/T), braining, pillow casing, etc.

I wouldn't consider assist/force feeding just yet. He might just be one of those stubborn males who insists on having a female to "bed" before they'll start eating again.

Fill us in on what you're feeding him and what you've tried - we'll do our best to help you out.

I do have a pastel that I was putting him with before he went on strike, your the second person to suggest that maybe I should put him in with her after she eats and digests.

Mike

[Moofins07]

Hm. Sounds like you've tried almost anything. I would give the pillow case a shot, however. Pre-kill an ASF and put both the snake and the prey inside a breathable pillow case. Leave within the enclosure overnight, and hopefully there will be no ASF in the morning.

If that still fails to work, I would just wait it out a little longer. Breeding season is pretty lengthy with these guys. Continue to pair them for a while longer and he should snap out of it.