Not Feeding - Losing Weight

[Icatsme]

I brought home an 800 gram normal female from a local breeder on 2/3. She hasn't eaten yet, which is no big deal (my seven year old male has gone 8 months) except for the fact she is losing weight rapidly. At last weigh she was 720, losing 80 grams in two months.

I've tried live/frozen rats, mice...you name it. I've contacted the breeder and he is willing to take her back and replace her with a different female (I've got 2 other snakes I bought from him and they're doing wonderfully). She's beautiful and I don't want to give her up, and I'm hoping that she'll rebound and I won't have to. Does anyone have any special tricks to help entice her to feed. She should shed in the next few days, and I'm hoping that kickstarts her feeding response....but any help in getting advice how to get her chow down is greatly appreciated.

[lord jackel]

In order to help I think we need some more info...


What is her setup like? (temps, humidity, cage layout, substrate, etc.?)
How often are you trying to feeder her?
How are you trying to feed her (seperate tank, tongs, drop it in, etc.)

What was she eating for the breeder?

Let us know and we can take it from there.

[Icatsme]

Temps 90ish on the warm end, 78-low 80s on the cooler end. Humidity around 60%. She's got a water bowl, two hides, housed alone in a boaphile "condo" with opaque sides. Newspaper for substrate. I've tried to feed her in her tank, and in a "prey bowl" outside her encosure. I've tried both feeding live in her enclosure (let loose and under supervision), prekilled and thawed offered to her with tongs.

I offer her food each week, when I feed my others. I belive she was one of he breeder's stock raised from hatchling. She was feeding while he had her, and he was feeding live rats.

She is cranky and does hiss, however she hasn't struck me yet, not the most friendly of bps.

[Freakie_frog]

Put some crumpled up news paper in the cage then take her hides out put the food item in the tank turn off all the lights and leave her alone for 1 hour (for PK food of course).
Heres a little trick put in a snake bag and take her for a car ride for an hour or two when you get home put her right in her tank and offer her a feed,

[lord jackel]

Heres a little trick put in a snake bag and take her for a car ride for an hour or two when you get home put her right in her tank and offer her a feed,

I have never heard of this trick...what is the car ride supposed to simulate or do that makes the snake want to eat?

[Freakie_frog]

I have never heard of this trick...what is the car ride supposed to simulate or do that makes the snake want to eat?

No clue but it works. I have a pastel male that I had to take for a car ride every week to get to eat. I think the vibration can stimulate them. It works for some and some it don't

[Nate]

a car ride.....that's a new one for me too

[adizziedoll]

anymore opinions on this subject?

[Icatsme]

I felt compelled to give everyone an update and some serious kudos to the breeder that I got this girl from. I hear about so many people having poor experiences, so I just have to point out there are good guys out there.

The breeder I purchased her from, has been in touch with me the whole time during her "fasting." Since she had lost nearly 200 grams in approximately 4 months, he offered to swap her out for a different female. This past weekend I made the swap and he assured me he'd get the "non-eater" feeding again and would swap her back if I wanted after she was back on a regular feeding schedule. He has guaranteed the replacement as well.

It's great to see people caring about the animals they sell!

[frankykeno]

That is great Staci and just what a decent breeder should be doing as far as I'm concerned. It's great to see breeders out there that are there with you long after the sale and willing to help out as much as they can to ensure you and the snake they sold you are both doing well. We do have a Business Inquiries/Feedback forum here if you want to publically name the breeder and give your feedback there as well.