New Retic Won't Eat

[Willie76]

Received my 2013 Male White Phase (born 4/22) mid-week last week. Normally I will let new acquisitions settle in for a few days then feed. The breeder stated he was feeding on live adult mice and last weekend would have been feeding time so this would be perfect to get him into our routine feeding schedule. Wanting to try to get him switched to F/T I offered a brained F/T rat pup on Saturday night. Not even remotely interested. So Sunday morning, I went and bought a couple live adult mice. Offered a live mouse Sunday evening. He did strike but missed. After that, not interested. I tried again Monday night, and again...not interested. I do tend to over worry a bit with my babies but just want to give them the best...

Prior to coming to me, he was in a 6 qt. tub. The quarantine enclosure I put him in is 2'x18"x1' (I ordered his forever home from AP last week w/ divider so I could expand his area as he grew). Being a baby and his QT enclosure being a bit larger than his usual tub, I covered 3 of the 4 sides, gave him a hide and placed a few plants inside to make it seem less intimidating for him. He hasn't really used the hide and have seen him on both sides of the enclosure and meandering about when I check on him before bed. Hot spot is Flexwatt on a Herpstat reading 90 with his cool side 80-82. Ambient is around 84 and humidity is nailed in around 55%.

Though I have kept many other pythons and boas over the years, he is my first retic. I am learning retics are a whole different animal all around so I "try" not to compare him to the others I have owned or currently own. Thus my perceived anxiety with my "first" "first"....

My question is this: Am I over worrying about his first meal with me (others in my collection have normally had no issues feeding after a few days of settling in)? Is this just a matter of just letting him be until this next weekend to settle in more? Would he be better suited back in a tub for the time being?

Many thanks ahead of time...

[reptileexperts]

It's definitely normal to worry when these guys start refusing food. The main time retics refuse for me is when they have a shed coming on and I can't see it. With white phase retics especially it's stinkin hard to tell they have a shed coming on!! Do you have a record from tyler of when its last shed was? From the first shed a retic gives after birth, almost all of mine drop a shed on the third week. There is a good chance you are hitting a shed cycle and that is why he is refusing to eat. Make sure you are not handling him during this time and just let him settle. He's still fairly new to your collection after all!

The best way to tell a white phase is going into shed is the eye will be slightly paler in comparison. You won't always see the blue . . . and you will normally never notice the pink pre-shed coloration on the belly. . . Go ahead and increase the humidity slightly and see what happens. Most retics will switch from live to f/t almost immediately. But some CAN be picky. Bare with him! Give him a few days to see if you have any shed come off, and if there's no change, then offer a live again and see if he takes it. You should not need to brain a pup or anything like that. Once they are ready to eat that will just nail anything that looks like food and is warm.

So recap
1) incrase humidity to prepare for possible shed
2) look for shedding record, or ask tyler to send you at least his last date for shed
3) wait a good 4 days without handling and offer a live mouse (maybe even on the smaller side)


Cheers

[Willie76]

I am normally the most patient, laid back guy anyone will ever meet...but yes, I do worry...especially with babies. I am sure one day I'll look back on this and think, what was I thinking?!?

He has only shed the once post-hatch, so that would make sense. The quarantine room is the quietest in the house and locked. I have not handled him at all except to replace some saturated paper towels after I bumped his cage and spilled his water dish. I'll go ahead and get his humidity up, continue to let him settle (maybe dad needs a chill pill), and offer again this weekend.

Thanks again for everything, Cody!

[reptileexperts]

No worries! I would definitely link this to shedding then

[Willie76]

Just so no one is losing sleep, my male 2013 Whilte Phase (Zeus) nailed a F/T rat last night.

Dad's can be soooo impatient. ;-)

[Anya]

haha, congrats. It's always a relief when they eat for you.

[Mr Flay]

Haha great to hear, don't think theres anything more stressful then picking up a new snake and it not eating. Best thing you can do is just be patient and not try to feed the snake every day until it eats because this will cause stress. Also need to keep a close eye on temperature and humidity. But otherwise with retics once you get them to start eating you can never get them to stop lol.