Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am an experianced reptile hobyist, and used to own an amazon tree boa. However that was a few years ago, I recently purchased a Muruke green tree python. I've had him for a week now and he shows no interest in food. I even put a little lizard in with him for a day with no results. I've done my research for this snake. I have him in an aquarium, however its only a 30 high and the sides are covered with black pastic. Humidity is within 70-80% constantly with temperatures always around 85 F. I try gently force feeding him today, but he wouldn't take it. Im sure i stressed him out even more. I've never had problems with a snake not eating and its really stressing me out, especially since he was almost $500. He is CB baby, still yellow and everything. Please help guys, i dont want $500 to goto waist.

The temperature does not need to stay at 85. Try dropping it a little. Leave it like that for some time then try feeding again.

"I have him in an aquarium, however its only a 30 high and the sides are covered with black pastic."

Put the baby in a tub a small rubbermaid tub. Leave it there for a week then try again. That enclosure is way to large for a baby chondro.

In the interim look shop around for a nice enclosure built to house chondros. THere are a lot of place who make them specificly for chondros most of the time the people selling them to you keep chondros themselfs. Your baby should be ok in that tub for at least 2 years.

--Below taken from www.allchondros.com--

Common Mistakes

The first impulse for many new owners when they get a new baby chondro is to move it to a large elaborate display cage. After all, what animal on earth is more striking than a green tree python?

The problem with this is that the larger cages do not provide the security that these animals need. The result is sometimes stressing the animal to the point that it will no longer eat. It is also very difficult to maintain the desired humidity levels in larger cages for neonates.

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Julian Garcia
Chondros Exquisite
Seattle,WA

I am just curious where did you get a captive born Merauke for under $500? I must not be keeping up with prices. You should hold off on force feeding her if you only have had her a week. Sometimes it takes a week or two or three for animals to settle in. Do you have any pics of her? I also agree the cage is too big try the rubbermaid. I am not trying to be rude but honestly you should be worried more about the animals well being than as you stated "wasting your money"
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Tim Rash
www.nocturnal-creations.com

Underground Reptiles, it's the "CB" as in captive born in Indonesia, most likely at Bushmaster facility. They had babies in their recent ads at $450 I think. Plus shipping would put it right around $500.

One week does NOT make a problem feeder. Do NOT even try to feed lizards, why give you snake a good source for picking up parasites. The yellow babies are harder to know when they are going into shed which puts most gtps off their meals for a couple weeks. It should also settle in for a few days before even trying.

If the snake was healthy and not skinny when you got it, you have at least a couple months time to get him to start taking food voluntarily for you. Put it in an smaller enclosure where it will feel secure. The babies are used to small tubs. In my experience Meraukes are a docile locale type and trying to feed just after sundown may help you out. Don't even bother trying to feed during daylight hours if you don't want to be frustrated.

Thanks guys. i read that i should put it in a rubbermaid thing i just didn't want it to be true lol. i will buy stuff to make one tomorrow. do i even need a light with this type of enclosure? what should my temps be?

You would not need a light for any of your snakes, as long as there is light from a window in the room. It very well could be a light on the aquarium that the snake does not like, if it is too bright. I would definitely go with the recommendations above about putting the snake in a rubbermaid. It is a cheap solution and it could easily be the thing to get the critter to eat. I would not try and feed the critter again for another week, especially since you tried to force feed it. Hopefully once it gets a bit more settled in you will get a better feeding response.

I would keep the warm side of the rubbermaid around 83 degrees. The rubbermaid will give your critter a much more secure feeling and will hopefully alleviate any stress.

I would always hold off on force feeding until it is absolutely necessary. Noticeable weight loss would be the first sign that you might need to help the critter eat. On a critter that is 4-6 months old, it would take about 6-8 weeks before I would be extremely concerned. The older and bigger they get, the longer they can go without food.
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Mike Bair
Chondro Dreams

Thanks again. I made him a little rubber made container using the instructions i found on another "not eating" post. First i tried using a ceramic heater with a cheap thermostat, and that made it way too hot. Now i have a Compact flourecent light in there and it keeps it right around 85. I also have a fake vine/plant thingy in there to dim the light. He already seems to be more comfortable. I will try feeding again in a few days and give you guys the results.

What are you using for heat at night? The light needs to be off during the night. You might try an UTH attached to the top of the rubbermaid container or on the side for heat instead. You can't keep it light 24 hours a day. You'll stress the poor thing out. You can always get a thermostat to regulate the temperatures and probably should have one for that purpose anyway.
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I have an UTH on a seperate timer that comes on when the light goes off. He already looks more comfordable, and is moving around alot more.

Give him some more time and do what the others said about the rubbermaid container. I have one that was a "non-eater" that was born on May first. I had to let it settle in for a few weeks before I had ANY luck with it at all. Finally, last week it shed and today I was able to get it to strike at a day old live Pinky. It dropped it after the first 6-8 times, but finally held on and swallowed it.

Give it time, you are rushing into this. I know of people who have waited for months(Like I did) before they took their first meal.

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Mike C
MClark202@insightbb.com

Found him this morning lifeless on the floor of his container. Dont know what the deal is, a temperature and humidity probe were constantly monitoring his conditions. I guess he went longer without a meal then i thought. On top of the beautiful snake that is now dead, thats $500 down the drain. Thanks anyways for all your help, i dont think i'll be getting another.

Sorry to hear this. I would contact the person you got her from.
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Tim Rash
www.nocturnal-creations.com

Sorry your baby died. When I first got mine it didn't eat for three weeks because it took that long to adjust to the move and the new enclosure. I was trying too hard and thinking too hard and stressing over it so I got an experienced chondro keeper to show me what I was doing wrong in person. It really helped. The first time he tried to feed (about a week after my last failed attempt)it did not eat for him. He came back a week later with chick down and finally - like magick - she ate. Ever since that she eats like a savage beast without hesitation. However I got mine from a reputable breeder captive bred so who knows what kind of parasites yours had or other issues. Feeding lizards and force feeding at such a young age right after the shipping may have stressed the little one out too much. Are you going to take it to the vet and see if they can determine cause of death? I would want to know what went wrong. Sorry your baby died.