Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Everyone, I'd like to thank everyone for their previous posts and the knowledgeable replies that they have received back, I have received a tremendous ammount of knowledge from reading them. Hopefully, I'll receive the same reception for a fairly beat up question...my Dumeril will not eat.

I picked him up at the White Plains show on Jan. 7. I specifically asked for the best eater that he had, trying to avoid the headache that I have now. I was assured that snake I received was eating well and even got the feeding chart on him. The last (documented) time that he has eaten was New Years Eve and I'm starting to worry a little. I've even gone so far as to getting a scale to keep an eye on his weight!

I'm currently trying the shoebox method (7 days now) and attempted to feed him last night but to no avail, the hopper was sleeping soundly in the corner and the snake was just hanging out. The shoebox is inside of a 20L tank and covered by towels to keep it as private and secluded as I can make it...but still - nada. Virtually every time that I've checked in on the snake he is crusing the box looking for an escape route, not settling in at all. Further more he has shown ABSOLUTELY no interest in food at all.

When they are buried under the aspen (with just the head poking out) is this "hunting mode"? He had done that a few times before he went in the box, but still didn't take a hopper!

Should a snake that is only approx. 6 months go off feed and into a hibernation mode, and if so, approximately how long does this last before I REALLY have to stress out about it?

He seems healthy and does not look to be losing weight (he will be re-weighed tonight if that hopper isn't gone when I get home).

Any EXPERIENCED answers and (or) suggestions will be VERY much appreciated, thank you in advance.

John

I'm looking for the quickest solution because to add to this issue, my girlfriend keeps naming the damn mice after the snake doesn't eat them and they're becoming guests at my place...THIS is a problem, I don't want a mouse colony!!!!! hahahaha!!!!! PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

Bought one at that show too (same day you did) and I had a similar problem.

A more experienced snake hobbyist (friend) took him for a week and left him alone with a large water bowl- he then offered it a crawler and the snake ate it. He has now eaten again and is doing well.

One workd of caution- I also bought 3 corn snakes from different sellers and they all had mites! Be careful about buying snakes at the White Plains Show~ while I do enjoy the show- I have to admmit- they all had mites!

Here's a shot of the hesitant Dumeril eating (mine)

there is nothing wrong with your snake and it is not in hibernation mode or anything. it is simply nervous because of a new, strange environment and is being cautious. everyone that brings a snake home has to go through this.it is getting used to it's new home... takes about a week to 10 days. when you bring home a snake, put it in its tank give it some water and LEAVE IT ALONE!!! no matter how pretty it may be do not mess with it. after the week to 10 days of noninteraction (besides refilling the water dish) you can offer food.
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1.1.0 Colombian Redtail Boas
2.1.0 Sumatran Blood Pythons
1.0 Black Blood Python
1.0 Dumeril's Boa
0.1 Coastal Carpet Python
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.0 Texas Tiger Salamander

now if the snake continues to refuse, then it could be a few things.

1. what did the previous owner feed it before you bought it? if it normally ate 1 mouse a week and it was fed a colossal jumbo rat before you bought it chances are it isnt going to eat for awhile.

2. It could be going into shed. lots of snakes refuse to eat before their shed cycle.

3. it needs to use the bathroom. some snakes will refuse the next meal until the previous meal exits.

4. youre not holding your mouth right. (lol jk)

5.temp/humidity is too high. if you lived in an enclosed space with 95F temps and a 100% humidity would you feel like eating?

6. parasites. not the mites but the actual internal parasites. it is always beneficial to the snake's health to take it to a vet to get dewormed after you purchase it. and if it still doesnt et, well then at least it doesnt have parasites.

7. try switching or a diff method of presentation. if it normally ate rats try mice. if it normally ate f/t try p/k. if it normally ate p/k try live. you can switch this around to see what works. fyi...most dums go through a "live mice only" phase.

8. and the biggest shocker of them all....(gasp!) maybe it just isnt hungry.

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1.1.0 Colombian Redtail Boas
2.1.0 Sumatran Blood Pythons
1.0 Black Blood Python
1.0 Dumeril's Boa
0.1 Coastal Carpet Python
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.0 Texas Tiger Salamander

Thanks for your fast reply. I guess its best to address your points in the same fashion that you wrote them.

1. the pervious owner fed him 1 live fuzzy or hopper at an interval of 2 weeks previously, and the last time he ate (DEC. 31) was supposedly only a fuzzy, so I don't think that he was over fed on his last feeding.

2. Shedding coming on is possible, but his eyes are completely clear and his skin shows no signs of shedding coming on, he has essentially been unchanged for the month that I've had him.

3. He has defacated since I've had him.

4. I did manage to get the electrical tape off of his mouth, so maybe that will help (j/k - LOL)

5. The environmental conditions are EXACTLY as they should be according to what everyone says.

6. This one I didn't even think about - the internal parasites...looks like "Chuck" will be making a trip to the vet VERY soon, as in TOMORROW!!!!! That's a great piece of advice, thanks. I was under the WRONG impression about CBB animals, it didn't even cross my mind that there may be parasites involved.

7. I've read on NUMEROUS posts that most Dum's go through the "live mice only" phase, that is why I had given up immediately on the F/T after 1 attempt and went with live only. I'd rather just get him to feed now on whatever he'll take and try to convert him later once he's an established eater.

8. OUCH that hurt (LOL)...I figured that there is a possibility of that...

just a quick note to you and everyone else. just because your snake is cbb that doesnt mean it does not have internal parasites. the prey they eat (mice, rats, rabbit, quail, etc) do have parasites. freezing kills many of the parasites in these but not all. just because your snake is cbb and you feed it f/t that does not mean that regular dewormings at your local (or trusted) vet clinic should be overlooked. remember...you are what you eat.
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1.1.0 Colombian Redtail Boas
2.1.0 Sumatran Blood Pythons
1.0 Black Blood Python
1.0 Dumeril's Boa
0.1 Coastal Carpet Python
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.0 Texas Tiger Salamander

Thanks again for that piece of information...it makes 100% sense now that I think about it.

Any parasties that had just simply gone dormant during the freezing process of the prey, will awaken during the thawing or once the temps are right, and viola, your snake's gonna get 'em.

Seriously good information....

Sorry to hear about the Corn's, that sucks. Its amazing that a "breeder" will let the snakes go with mites. Did your Dum have the mites too???

But on the other hand, your Dum in now feeding regularly, and that's good to hear. Even though each animal is obviously different, its encouraging to hear

-John

Try baby quail. This male ate only quail for his first year and then went to small rats. He has never eaten a mouse.He is now 5ft long and very healthy. Your boa will not turn down a quail.

Were the quail F/T or live? Also, was it difficult to transition him to rats? (One more) were the rats live?

Thanks for replying

I bought the quail a day or two old. He ate both live and thawed. About once a month I tried a small live rat until he finally took it.

It sure doesn't have the standard Dumerils look...

Since he got wormed yesterday, I have a few days to try and get some quail chicks, the only issue is finding a place nearby that I can pick 'em up. Thank you for the advice, its much appreciated.

dont you mean "dewormed"? anyway, whats going on with him now? figured out anything more? how did the deworming go?
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1.1.0 Colombian Redtail Boas
2.1.0 Sumatran Blood Pythons
1.0 Black Blood Python
1.0 Dumeril's Boa
0.1 Coastal Carpet Python
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.0 Texas Tiger Salamander

the Vet called it wormed, but whatever. tomato/ tomAto, ya know? Anyway thanks for asking abou the little guy, everything went smooth as silk and Chuck got a clean bill of health. Oh yeah, and the Vet had me bump up the hot side of the tank to 90. Oddly enough, he started burrowing in the aspen a few hours after his appointment. Since he had only done that 2 times before, I'm viewing that as a positive sign. So I'm going to give him chill out for another day or so and attempt to feed him. But other than that, no solid answers as of yet, the next few weeks and Vet check ups may reveal more.

I've also ordered some day old chicks, but they will take almost 2 weeks to get here. You don't happen to know anywhere in Northern NJ where I can just pick some up, do you, hahahah? Yeah, I know...that's a long shot.

How big are quail chicks at the age of a day or two?

I have never handled them, so I wouldn't even have something to gauge them by for a guess. I would also have to guess that quail would be awfully expensive in addition to being hard to find.

I'm a big fan of feeding rodents only! They are easy to come by, and once you feel the need to breed your own, reproduce reliably, are easily contained, and easy to provide with proper nutrition - which then provides your snake with proper nutrition.

I've heard a lot of people say (about other species) that once you feed birds as prey, it is next to impossible to get (the snake) to switch back to rodents. Granted, that's the 'word on the street' which should always be taken with a grain of salt, but it makes me curious nonetheless.

~Rebecca
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1.1 Ball Pythons (1.0 '05 Ghost, 0.1 '03 Normal)
0.1 Dumeril's Boa '04
0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers (40 lb darling lap dogs)

Quail are very small right out of the egg. I was able to find a local breeder where I live. Babies were a $1.00 a piece and he produced them almost weekly. Check with local feed stores or pet shops and ask them about local breeders. I feed my adult boas quail and rats and never have had a problem of them refusing rats after being fed quail. I do this with dumerils and red tails. Good luck