Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi. I was given a subadult bp late last year. I am almost 100 percent sure she is a wild caught. Although she is healthy she won't eat (she has to be tube fed due to her regurgitating force feeds), she is inactive, and no matter how much I try to tame her she is still super stressed evertime she is handled.
I know this sounds silly, but is there anyway that she could be released into the wild(aka africa), or is there a way I could make her happier?
Thanks,
bpg

After reading your post I'd like to give you my opinion. First, I think tube/force feeding is very, very stressful for him/her and although I may not have all of the facts here, I would certainly only resort to those methods as a last resort. If the animal is WC it could very well be doing what most do once in captivity...fasting or refusing food - but unless excessive weight (I'd say 10% or better) has been lost I would not worry too much. You say he/she has a low activity level, that also falls into the category of stress. Please let us know your set-up, your temps, your substrate, etc...that will help us help you. Taking for granted the animal is set up properly, and all is well with his surroundings, I'd say get an accurate weight, leave him alone (no holding, etc...) no bright heat-lamps, just fresh water at all times, a hide or two, an acceptable thermal gradient, and belly heat (UTH) He/she needs to be left alone, it sounds like he is stressed out bigtime with all of the attention and assisted feedings. I really think 3-6 months of being left to acclimate in optimum conditions with little to no disruptions he should turn around. Sometimes a complete change of scenery helps as well, start fresh maybe with new surroundings...after he adjusts try various prey items - there's all sorts of "tricks or techniques" that have proven successful, and we can all cross that bridge when it comes. If I am assuming you haven't tried or are already aware of some of the above, I'm sorry, I just think that's the way to go right now. Tube feedings, etc are only making matters worse I would think in this case, but that is only my opinion. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help, and GOOD LUCK!!

tube/force feeding was a last resort, and it is only done after the snake has lost weight. it's not as though I do it every week, in all actuallity I 've only done it once or twice since I got her last year. Plus, i wouldn't do it if the snake didn't need it because i can't imagine it's fun for her and it's not fun for me either.
I have her housed in a thirty gallon sweater box (she's roughly two and a half feet long), with newspaper substrate, a water dish big enough for her and her roommate(a male ball of equal size)and a opaque hide box that both snakes inhabit snuggly. For heat I have an under pad heater
as far as handling goes, I haven't handled her for several months now (only to clean her enclosure and provide fresh water.

First off I would say seperate her and the male. Housing them together only puts her under more stress.

What did you try before you decided to go with tube feeding?
Did you try f/t and live?
Mice, rats, and maybe a gerbil?
What was the result of her last fecal? Sometimes it is parasites and not stress that makes them refuse food and lose weight.
Does she strike at prey at all or show no interest?
What temp range do you have in your setup?