Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I have a virgin salmon female, going on 5 years old. She stopped feeding in early August, refused a few meals, just ate a small rat yesterday, but she usually ate two colossal rats regularly before voraciusly like clockwork.

I had to hold her off of breeding last year because of the same thing, she didn't have enough body weight going into cooling to breed, last year she stopped feeding and became restless, rubbing her nose against the cage and refused foods. In the spring and summer she was an eating machine.

I'm wondering if it us due to the shorter days? She is in a room close to an unshaded window that faces due east here in the midwest with the mornings sunrise.

I normally begin cooling in November and this is PRIME TIME to pump up body weight on my females. Should I start cooling her down now?

Thanks for your input.

In my limited experience females don't usually slow down on the feedings. But basically you'll need to play on her terms. Give her what she will take. Also double check the sex. Males will often be the ones that go off feed and become restless.

Good luck,
Dan

If her body weight is decent, put a male in there. By making her wait until November, you may be missing her "window".
Seasonality is at best misunderstood.
According to The Boaphile (who has produced a few Boas) females who are given a natural light cycle, here in the midwest, will oftentimes go off of feed in september. Jeff says that it indicates a desire to breed.
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sounddjinn@yahoo.com

Things always get cloudy, just before transformation.

Thanks for the advise, she fed heavily during the summer, is holding decent weight, I may try to put my male in with her.

She is a definate female.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!