Multiple Snakes on Fast (Rant)

[OodlesOfNoodles]

Only have 3, all males and all are eating. 4 multis between the adult males, and two small rat pups and a multi for the little guy. They ate twice last week, the 16th & 19th, as the first lot of multis were on the smaller side.

Think the odds were in favour as the week before last the freezer was turned off for defrosting. Put a delivery in it and I forgot to switch it back on....couple days later I remembered! Surprisingly it didn't smell too bad. I did have to throw away a large rabbit, multiple mice, rats, multis and some raw cat food though.

[Lizardlicks]

Only have 3, all males and all are eating. 4 multis between the adult males, and two small rat pups and a multi for the little guy. They ate twice last week, the 16th & 19th, as the first lot of multis were on the smaller side.

Think the odds were in favour as the week before last the freezer was turned off for defrosting. Put a delivery in it and I forgot to switch it back on....couple days later I remembered! Surprisingly it didn't smell too bad. I did have to throw away a large rabbit, multiple mice, rats, multis and some raw cat food though.

Oh noooo that sucks! D:

[EL-Ziggy]

Rather than waste refused prey items does anyone re-freeze them? I'll usually re-feeeze once but I always discard after a second refusal.

[Herbie'sMom]

My adult male went 2+ months without eating and finally ate last Sunday. I'm not holding out hope that he will eat again anytime soon, though I will offer again next week or the week after.

I re-freeze once then throw away. When we are noticing a pattern of picky eating behavior, we feed my daughter's sub-adult male first (small rat vs med rat for my adult) hoping to avoid wasting a rat.

[Solarsoldier001]

We have nearly 50+ and maybe 12-15 aren't eating. But it's mainly because of breeding


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[Montypython696]

...sigh...

Out of the 14 snakes that I pulled 14 rats out for:

• 7 snakes ate - 2 of those had two
• 7 snakes refused
• 5 f/t rats wasted

I've never had a feeding day go so poorly.

After the last two weeks, I'm going to try splitting my feeding day into 2 feeding days next week. I hate wasted rats.

This exactly. I feel your pain.

What I end up doing now, is thawing out the amount for the ones that are eating, and try feeding the difficult ones first. If they eat, great! I'll de-thaw a few more for the great eaters. That way I don't waste any.

As for refreezing after trying, as much as I would like to, to save money, I just don't see it being healthy. That and after unthawing them the second time they tend to be really squishy and like to explode when constricted.

[BrandyL1193]

Just tried feeding my two again tonight. This is Jacks third time refusing and Rocky's second time in a row....now I am sooo frustrated. Neither one has ever refused a meal......until this past month.

[MontyAndMelissa]

It's winter. Some snakes "fast" in the winter.

[BrandyL1193]

Lol how do they know? It's still the same temps and humidity in their enclosures....they were both active and I just knew they were going to eat tonight......seemed interested..but no go.....I hate wasting all these rats......could I start trying every 10 days or 14 days instead of 7??

[bcr229]

Lol how do they know? It's still the same temps and humidity in their enclosures....they were both active and I just knew they were going to eat tonight......seemed interested..but no go.....I hate wasting all these rats......could I start trying every 10 days or 14 days instead of 7??

IIRC changes in barometric pressure can trigger fasting. It also triggers mating behavior - put the pair together right as a low pressure system comes in, and they'll go at it...

If these are adults you can put them on a 10-14 day feeding schedule.

Or you can buy a boa to eat the leftovers.