First off...welcome to BP.net!


Second off...I have no experience with ATB's, but I can offer a few basic thoughts based simply on what I know of snakes in general. We do have some folks here with experience, but not a huge population of them...so be patient for them to log on and find your thread.

From what I've read, ATB's like a gradient...but a vertical one rather than a horizontal one that we see in most snake enclosures. Different perches at different levels, with the enclosure heat source near the top and cooler at the bottom.

You described your enclosre as a "medium sized KK"...but I have no idea what that means so can't begin to offer any suggestions based on that.

What kind of cover do you have for the snake? Maybe extra greenery around the perches would help him feel more hidden and secure? An insecure snake usually doesn't want to eat.

I would not even begin thoughts of force feeding. Besides being a very stressful and usually unnecessary technique for any snake, I understand that young ATB's are delicate snakes. No need to risk injury at this stage. Force feeding should be a last resort for a snake that has lost the ability to feed itself (not just the will to) and should always be recommended and supervised by a vet.

Most feeding issues like this are related to husbandry. So...just be willing to learn and tweak. 3 weeks isn't that long, even for a young snake. I have a cape gopher that stopped eating for 5 months while he was still very young...he suffered no ill effects from his extended fast...although I can't say the same for my frazzled-keeper-nerves. Fasting is usually far more stressful for us than it is for the snake.