Success stories?

[Megg]

I had a normal male that went about 7 months without eating when I got him. He was an adult, but I was still worried. Eventually he ate, but it was still hit and miss for a few years. The past year he's actually been my best feeder. If one of the other snakes doesn't eat, he gets their leftovers.

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[TriniBP]

I've had many animals refuse at some point to feed, even when previously before they have great feeders over the years. I usually check, double check, and triple check husbandry. Sometimes I change their environment...either increase or decrease humidity...move to a bigger tub/smaller tub... change type of substrate etc...


Usually they would start feeding again shortly after..if not, I give the animal some time and try again. I've noticed that some of them have preferences and after you are able to determine what those preferences are, you should be good to go.

I've never had an animal starve itself to death, so all should go well once you cover all husbandry grounds.


Best regards !

[embrit345]

I have recently got a cinnabee female. She is only small at under 300 grams. She has been assist fed by her previous owners for the last 6 months.

I have taken her from a RUB and moved her to a 18" viv.

Last night she actually fed with me after only have g her for a week. Strike fed as well on a large rat pup which, although small prey for her size, is a great indicator that she is willing to feed yayyy xx

[Hannahshissyfix]

I suggest reading Justins sticky on problem feeders. The vast majority of these posts are new owners that don't realize simple things that they should change in their husbandry or even just their approach in offering the prey. It's not terrible, everyone had to learn at some point. I think back to my first bp "problem" eater and that even though I had her enclosure pretty good I was probably simply over handling her.

[Yodawagon]

My female albino will lunge out of her tub to grab the thawed rat. She hits it like she hates it.

[Megg]

I suggest reading Justins sticky on problem feeders. The vast majority of these posts are new owners that don't realize simple things that they should change in their husbandry or even just their approach in offering the prey. It's not terrible, everyone had to learn at some point. I think back to my first bp "problem" eater and that even though I had her enclosure pretty good I was probably simply over handling her.

This, X1,000. What finally did it for me was blow drying the mouse to warm it up a bit. Now I just thaw it, put it in his tub and that's it.

[Jvmun]

Well some success stories..

Recently I bought a new mouse shipment and dark fur ones came, my BPs have alway ate white mice and rats so I thought that it may be hard to switch em over.

At first only a couple ate them, but now only a couple has yet to taken any. AND my oldest male who has been fasting since winter ate one also!

So everyone is eating and only two refuse that dark fur mice. I'll keep trying to feed em also.

[scalrtn]

My male bp goes off feed late fall to spring, occasionally taking feeders here and there. A little disconcerting, but ... when he's back on, he is back on.

Some people have told me they've had snakes refuse food for up to 18 months ! (probably not good if the snake is a hatchling)

My bp is now back on feed after taking only two rats since Nov. 5 of last year

Here are some things I've found that helped..

1) Get a Temp gun. Use it to check your warmed f/t feeders (assuming that's what it eats) so they're 98 - 102 degrees F

2) Scent the room with a blow-dryer to encourage a feeding response first

3) If the snake doesn't strike, or doesn't eat, leave the (f/t only!) feeders in the cage overnight

4) If the prey still isn't eaten, don't try again for at least 2-3 weeks

5) Move up or down in prey size.

6) Meditate, and mentally/telepathically ask the snake to eat beforehand (or pray if that's what you do). Have other people do it with you. Call me insane, call it coincidence, but this has worked for me. I swear.

7) Be diligent and confident in your husbandry - Do your job, and let the snake do theirs. Stay positive.

[SmoothScales]

I'm not certain the OP was actually asking for advice on the 'how to' of getting a snake to end a food strike. I got the impression more of a personal anecdote type of posting? (I had snake X and it wouldn't eat for Y time until I did Z.) Of course, individuals having issues with their animals eating should go read the problem feeders sticky, I just took the OP as requesting we share our own experiences so someone in a similar situation can look at the thread and go 'Okay, I'm not the only one and there is hope; I know this because this many people posted that reading this sticky thread helped them and their snakes are eating now.'

Anyway.

I would have to call Buggsie a success/rescue story. (You can check her progress thread in my sig.) The biggest problem she faced was the lack of knowledge on the part of the people I got her from. They had her housed in a 2x1x1 terrarium - not large, but when uncluttered and provided with hides that were more suited for a snake 3-4x's her size I'm sure she found it terrifying. After months of refusing to eat, they took some advice on adjusting her environment and she ate a few times with them before being turned over to me. Now, she's gaining weight nicely, growing like a weed, and has yet to pass up anything I put in front of her.

Photo for comparison. She's now on day 71 and happily digesting yesterday's meal.

[Jvmun]

I had a normal male that went about 7 months without eating when I got him. He was an adult, but I was still worried. Eventually he ate, but it was still hit and miss for a few years. The past year he's actually been my best feeder. If one of the other snakes doesn't eat, he gets their leftovers.

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Yes, leftovers
My leftover fatty is my clown male right now.