Now that my RI patients are doing better.....

[Salamander Rising]

I have time to worry about why my male Fire is not eating.

He's 9 months old, almost 600 g and is strictly a live feeder although he was sold to me as a F/T feeder.

He has always been my worst, most finicky eater.

Trying to switch him not only didn't work, he then became "afraid" of live mice after a tiny, nasty mouse scratched him.

He eventually got over that, ate fine for a couple of months and is now not even remotely interested in them.

Bizarrely, he hasn't lost weight...he actually seems to have gained a bit but is now longer, thinner and "pointy" on top.

He no longer has the solid, rounded shape he used to have.
His sides feel 'soft' as though the same amount of skin is loosely covering what was a fatter body.

He's very active when out and if not held onto, will take off for parts unknown.

He has no signs of RI whatsoever.

He does not feel dehydrated and looks beautiful, in a scrawny fashion model way.

He just won't eat.

I know BPs are infamous for ritual fasting apropos of nothing but his soft-sided, pointy shape worries me.

I thought of trying to assist feed him but he's such a mental pansy, I'm sure that would send him into PTSD mode.

Is he just being a jerk or could he be thinking of lady snakes?

[yes, I worry too much]

As an update for all those who helped me with them, the two RI snakes are responding to treatment very well.

Thanks...

[Don]

Have you tried rats instead of mice? At 600 grams, you could feed him a crawler (leave it in for a while at night). If a crawler is too big, then go with a fuzzy or even a pinky.

If you have had some RI's in your collection (I didn't see the other thread regarding the cause), it could mean that something is off in your husbandry. If that is off, then it isn't unusual for them to go off feed. If you can get the husbandry spot on, it would help with feeding issues.

Good luck.

[Slim]

It's great to hear your RI snakes are coming around and responding to treatment.

Interesting situation with your Fire. At 600 grams he's certainly big enough to have the girlies on his mind. Are you keeping him in close proximity to any females of breeding age? If you are, you could try moving in further away from them. I understand moving him might not be an option depending your set up, but I learned this trick from a breeder a few years back who swore by it.

I would only consider force feeding as a drastic last option, and I would try assist feeding well before I got to that point.

[Salamander Rising]

Have you tried rats instead of mice? At 600 grams, you could feed him a crawler (leave it in for a while at night). If a crawler is too big, then go with a fuzzy or even a pinky.

If you have had some RI's in your collection (I didn't see the other thread regarding the cause), it could mean that something is off in your husbandry. If that is off, then it isn't unusual for them to go off feed. If you can get the husbandry spot on, it would help with feeding issues.

Good luck.

Husbandry's good but the one snake got shipped here in cold weather well past the ability of his "24 hour heat pack" to keep him warm.

He was like ice when we opened the box and considering the freakish "east coast mystery tour" FedEx sent him on, there's no telling how long he was that cold.

Odds are he developed it first and gave it to the female because his symptoms were extremely worse than his were and she's a very stressy snake, therefore more susceptible.

[nobody else has symptoms and are all eating well, knock on wood]


He only eats small live mice.

[total PITA snake]

[Salamander Rising]

It's great to hear your RI snakes are coming around and responding to treatment.

Interesting situation with your Fire. At 600 grams he's certainly big enough to have the girlies on his mind. Are you keeping him in close proximity to any females of breeding age? If you are, you could try moving in further away from them. I understand moving him might not be an option depending your set up, but I learned this trick from a breeder a few years back who swore by it.

I would only consider force feeding as a drastic last option, and I would try assist feeding well before I got to that point.

When I got him in November, a guy at the show popped him and yelled "Sperm plugs!! Find him a woman!" and he was only 6 months old, then.

He's about 5 feet away from 2 breeder females and 3 juvies and there's no way I can put him anywhere else.

[thermostat setup limitations]

I'd never force feed and I have no idea how to 'assist feed' a live angry mouse to him so that's pretty unlikely, too.

*Once* I snuck a small F/T in his mouth as he was finishing his small live mouse and he did eat it but that little sucker's never forgotten that stunt.

If he even sees a F/T now, he tears off into his hide and "kicks" me with his butt if I try to touch him.

He really is a very clever jerk.



Since we're talking about breeder girls, one of my het Clowns gals is occasionally to be found coiled up but laying sort of on her side, as in I can see her belly.
She eats but not like a hog as she was doing a month ago.

She's been with the het Clown male.

The aspen shavings around her water bowl look as if she's been squeezing around that, too.

Does that signify anything?

I checked her temps in case she was 'too hot' but they were they same gradient as ever.

[Slim]

[thermostat setup limitations]

I thought that might be the case. Well, you know all the tricks, might just have to ride it out with him and hope he phases out of it.

Sorry I can't help answer the question about your Het Clown girl..."I don't know nothing bout' birthin' no babies!"

[Salamander Rising]

I thought that might be the case. Well, you know all the tricks, might just have to ride it out with him and hope he phases out of it.

Sorry I can't help answer the question about your Het Clown girl..."I don't know nothing bout' birthin' no babies!"

I can't imagine Mosby's one 3 day weekend with Leah resulted in babies.
I don't have that kind of luck.....

[BTW, every time I read your posts, I start singing "Rose Marie" in my head]

[Annarose15]

I'd never force feed and I have no idea how to 'assist feed' a live angry mouse to him so that's pretty unlikely, too.

For starters, assist and force feeding should NEVER be done with live prey. He is choosing not to eat, and will start again when he is ready. As long as he isn't losing weight, doesn't exhibit signs of illness, and husbandry is correct, there isn't anything else you should be doing.

[Salamander Rising]

For starters, assist and force feeding should NEVER be done with live prey. He is choosing not to eat, and will start again when he is ready. As long as he isn't losing weight, doesn't exhibit signs of illness, and husbandry is correct, there isn't anything else you should be doing.

Thanks!