Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have my first BRB and she is beautiful. She is a few months old and has been eating well until after her recent shed. I didn't feed her while she was in the blue, but after she had shed(perfectly), she would not eat. It has been 10 days and I made her eat a pinky but she still won't take a fuzzy. Any suggestions? I'm planning to take her to the vet today or tomorrow. thanks, byo

"made her eat a pinky" and only 10 days since last feeding?

IMO, many people stress out way too much over feeding. I feed my babies (dozens) on Mondays and each week a few will refuse. Shedding etc. Those that refuse almost always will eat the next offered meal with no problems.

I have had a few stubborn eaters ove rthe years and even had one baby that didn't eat for the first four MONTHS of it's life. That one I did have to "train" how to eat. The point is, a week or two or even a month of not eating will not hurt a BRB, Yes, not preferred and could indicate a real problem. Ten days IMO without any other symptoms would be a watch and wait thing.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB, selectively bred from good stock)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
12.25 BRB
12.14 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

byo,
...Dave's information is right on the money. I would add that you will likely get a much stronger feeding response with a live hopper mouse than with a fuzzy or pinky. Some of mine that will eat dead hoppers anytime will pass up a pinky whether it is dead or alive. I have had over a thousand baby BRBs and have never force fed one. Try a live mouse that is big enough to run around. I know feeding dead prey is better than live but force feeding is stressful and stress can contribute to refusal to feed. I will add that I have never had a Rainbow Boa injured by a live rodent. If the rodent is large enough that I would not want it biting me then I would not want it biting my snakes so I would not feed it live to them. A mouse as large as a hopper may nip you but it would not hurt you. The fact that your snake had a good shed is a very positive indication that it probably does not have a health problem.
Jeff

>>"made her eat a pinky" and only 10 days since last feeding?
>>
>>IMO, many people stress out way too much over feeding. I feed my babies (dozens) on Mondays and each week a few will refuse. Shedding etc. Those that refuse almost always will eat the next offered meal with no problems.
>>
>>I have had a few stubborn eaters ove rthe years and even had one baby that didn't eat for the first four MONTHS of it's life. That one I did have to "train" how to eat. The point is, a week or two or even a month of not eating will not hurt a BRB, Yes, not preferred and could indicate a real problem. Ten days IMO without any other symptoms would be a watch and wait thing.
>>-----
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Dave Colling
>>
>>www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com
>>
>>0.1 Wife (WC)
>>0.2 kids (CBB, selectively bred from good stock)
>>
>>LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
>>12.25 BRB
>>12.14 BCI
>>And those are only the breeders
>>
>>lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats