I have a trio of these things. They started off feeding about once a week on moderate sized meals. Around Dec/Jan they really started pounding food (2-3 fuzzies every few days). Lately they have gone off feed. One female hasn't eaten in a a month. Nothing is different about my husbandry. Water always available, same food items offered, bedding, etc. The only difference between now and a month ago is the ambient air temp of the room is a little warmer. I've heard that you can keep these thing at room temp, and they will do fine. Also, I know of a guy who had his at an ambient air temp of 80 with a heat source as well, and his did not thrive. I've been careful not to over-heat them, so now I'm wondering what the hell is going on. They look fine, but I'm concerned nonetheless. Pull them off heat for a month or so? Any suggestions.
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lineaticollis feeding problems....
Replies (5)
My first reaction is why are you pushing these guys by feeding every few days. With most young pits it is a cardinal sin that many times can cause them to go off feed never to restart. A much better approach is to feed weekly and then increase the number of smaller feed animals as they grow. The central american and mexican ssp's seem to be even more suseptable to this problem.
I know that some folks do this power feeding routine and do okay with it, obtaining max. early growth etc. But there is a definite risk to it. I would moderate my temps., leave them completely alone for a couple of weeks and then try feeding them. Hopefully they will come around for you, if they do slow down and let them grow naturally with a moderate food intake.
Good Luck,
John Cherry
Cherryville Farms
Cherryville Farms - Reptiles
sir.......power feeding is used for feed animals.....steers and such.....even then free range is always better....see you in langtry.......
This time of year going off feed may not be that big of a concern. One of my females went off feed a while last year. I was feeding her rats and when I tried mice she resumed eating with her old vigor.
Scott John Reptiles
I had heard that the other mexican sp. were better off fed lightly, but had not heard that about lineaticollis. These are my first pits, I guess I have to get out of the Lampropeltis mind-set. Thanks again for the input
