"I don't want to insult your intelligence or experience but I'm going to try to be thorough in case someone with less experience is reading this."

Not insulted at all, and I thank you for giving your suggestions & advice.

I agree this guy has more going on then just being a picky eater. He did require force fed because he was loosing weight and not showing any "normal" feeding behaviors.

He is used to handling, (Initially he was a no-touch snake, for fear of stressing him and turning him off food) but he has even done some programs with us now, and doesn't seem the least bit put off by people. He is not head shy, and actually that has been a concern - most snakes (healthy snakes) shy away when they have their heads & faces touched. This guy doesn't. He has been to a herp vet several times, and each time got a clean bill of health.

His cage is 4' X 18" X 32", kept at 80F ambient, with a basking spot of 98F. He rarely uses the basking spot. I'll warm it up some if you think it would help. I know his humidity is right because he always molts without problems & is in a temp/humidity controlled room. I will take away his hide if you think it will help, but he rarely uses it anymore. Hes otherwise kept on cypress mulch, no newspaper. The only "regular" traffic in the room is really me, and he is situated in a corner of the room.

This past feeding on frozen thawed was another no go, even when it was cleaned with the soap, dried off & heated up.

I admit to being "weak" and broke down & the day after provided him with a freshly prekilled large rat, and he took that right off the tongs, right away. I'll wait him out for the next feeding and see if that, (possibly missing a month if he refuses) has any affect on getting him to "make the switch".

(I am used to snakes not feeding for multiple months for the record - both my large male Burm/Indian cross & Argentine boa generally go off food from October to March/April - I just get anxious when young snakes without the mass of the larger animals do that, hence my wimping out & providing Kaa with the freshly killed rat)

[ Reply To This Message ] [ Subscribe to this Thread ] [ Hide Replies ]