Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ok ive tried scenting, split brain pinkies, bird eggs, and now im going to try a lizard tail...the darn zone wont eat! any suggestions? its been 3 months since his last meal

I started my L.t. celaenops on force fed mouse tales until they put on some size. Eventually they took live pinky mice. I have never had a problem with my zonata taking live pinkies. I leave a live pink in their rack overnight and it's usually gone in the morning. Maybe your zonata needs some husbandry adjustments.
If it doesn't feel comfortable and secure, they usually won't eat. If you go the mouse tale rought, cut off a frozen adults mouse's tail, at an angle, with a razor blade and thaw. I usually dip them in a little water to help them go down. Hold the snake firmly behind the head and use the cut angle of the base of the tale to open it's mouth. Then gently push the tail in. Some snakes will then swallow the tale on their own if your very still. Most snakes will need to have the tale pushed about 3/4 of the way in and gently put back down and allwed to swallow the rest on their own. Make sure you hold the snake firmly and push the tale slowly and gently. Good luck
-Phil

To work on the conditions like is it too dry or too wet, or too hot or too cool, etc. Is the individual secure. Things like that are far more important, then tricking a snake. Theres really no need to trick them. They are designed to feed and normally on a varity of prey items. What stops them is suboptimal conditions. Cheers

And then after we look at all the variables that Frank mentioned, it's time to look at the keeper. The same guy telling you this stuff above now, told me more than 40 years ago to chill!!!!! We get so caught up worrying about every detail that we often bring trouble on by our over attention as we try to manipulate our charges. Yes, it is important to be on top of things and maintain conditions to the optimum. But we often forget to let the critters be what they are going to be. Examine Jetzen's picture closely. Just my $.02

Pat

.

Hi Jetzen!
Your snake didn't look like it was on death's doorstep even after nine months without eating. My point is that we often worry ourselves to a frazzle before we completely allow our charges to do what they are going to do. I am always impressed by how resilient they are inspite of us. BTW--glad you're posting pics. I think your collection is outstanding. Keep 'em coming!!!

Pat

Yes, i thought that was strange that he did'nt waste away, but all he did was stay buried under 2" of substrate on the cool end of his 12 qt. tub. He shed once during the 9 months and then one day he decided to eat again, he did this hunger strike/brumation thing Jan/Feb last year and i suppose he'll do it later this year. I hate it when they do that.

eat for about 9 months! but he snapped out of it, first he was offered live food once a wk then every 2 wks then every 3 wks finally one day i noticed he was very active like maybe on a hunt so i tossed in a live fuzzy and he wolfed it down, and now he is back in the pig mode.
I have had pyro, celaenops, thayeri, floridana and cali pull this hunger strike business on me, all except one have pulled out of it without being force fed.
Your zonata should pull out of it if you don't stress him out everday. Good-Luck.

I used to field collect and keep wild coastal zonata many years ago, and i could never get them to eat domestic rodents what they would eat and with mucho gusto was Sceloporus occidentalis, aka western fence lizard, aka swift, aka bluebelly.

Try the lizard tail, or a baby lizard, and make sure your snake is secure! Don't handle/disturb it unnecessarily, and make sure the temps are right and the hiding spots are good!

In addition to fence lizards, zonata also relish appropriately-sized skinks.
-----
- Andy
ToothAndScale.com - herp and underwater photography

1.0 Sandfire x Yellow Bearded Dragon
0.1 Albino Black Ratsnake
0.1 California Mountain Kingsnake