Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Franklin has not eaten in 3 weeks. At first I thought it was shed b/c he was rubbing his nose against stuff. A week ago I realized it was not a shed. This morning I found him out in the wide open with his hungry attitude face. I put my finger by the glass & he struck at it. I opened the lid & he struck at me. I put a mouse in & after getting him riled up he struck it 2 diff times. 2 hours later, he still has not eaten the mouse & he is ALL about striking in my direction. I do not smell like food & have not had him out in 3 days. Why is he after me? Why not the live mouse sitting there? The secind my face gets near the glass he goes into "S" & looks like he wants to attack me. What is going on?
-----
*newbie*

2 more strikes in my direction since that post. I am going to put a different mouse in now.

-----
*newbie*

He just hit mouse #2 twice.

I think he is starving & mad.

But he isn't ambushing the mice like usual.

He is supposed to be a lapsnake. I don't want him aiming at my face. ((wussy newbie))

What are temps? I think you already said you had hides, try moving them/adding another one. Striking snakes are usually stressed snakes for one reason or another. (what are your hides, by the way? if you're using half logs, try switching to something more enclosed. cereal boxes are a personal favorite )

Try taping paper around the entire bottm half of the outside of the cage. Might make him feel more secure (I don't remember how big your tank is), in case that's the issue.

Stop putting the mice in though. If he's just striking at them but not eating them he's warning them to stay away or else (the 'or else' being he bites them). Obviously, handle him as little as possible until he starts eating again.

Other than that I can't think of anything else to try. It really sounds to me like he's just stressed and convinced that everyone is out to eat him.

Good luck!

~jenny
-----
1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
0.0.1 Mountain Horned Lizard
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
1.1 betta fishes (Vicious and Killer)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org

I woulnd't worry much about your animal not eating....3 weeks is nothing. Ball Pythons can go a year without eating and survive (assuming they were at a good weight before hand). It sounds like he is a little moody as of late. I would let him be for a week or so do not offer food and do not handle him. Also, if your temp is way too high....remember one thing an extremly hot snake is a mean snake. Check your temps.

After the week of settlement, offer him a meal...if he refuses and strikes again....wait another week and so on. Eventually he will go back to the same ol' franklin
-----
Nick

if he continues do act in this manner for over two weeks, I believe that you should try to and handle him. If I recall, you typically hold him on a regular basis right? When instances like this have happened with my animals I give them a few weeks to act all nasty and then if they don't shape up.....I go in a show em' who's boss....LOL It's all about proving to him that his litle antics don't scare you....Man I am rambling tonight....sorry just my advice
-----
Nick

I got some gloves & will be holding him this weekend for 2-3 mins if he doesn't stop this. I assure you, he's quite spoiled.
-----
*newbie*

He has been hiding under his moss, also has a half log & a paper towel roll. I just added a paper bowl w/ a hole a minute ago.

The temps have yet to reach 90 on the hot side & are upper 70s on the other. No UTH, just heat lamp.

I did take his fake plant tree/plant out a few days ago which might have made him mad.

I am constantly misting the tank to keep humidity 60-70% at all times.

We had not offered food for a week till today. He had been out one night this weekend for 20 minutes & had a great time & was a happy boy.

The 2nd time he hit the first mouse, he coiled up on it real quick, but the mouse got away. I honestly believe he is hungry.

What is annoying me the most is that 2 mice are sitting there for the taking, I removed the hides to make it easier for him to get one & yet as soon as *my* face gets near the glass, he gets pissed coils into S & goes into attack mode. I didn't do anything to him.

I don't have tongs, but maybe I will go out & get some tomorrow & try dangling a PK mouse for him to make it easier to eat.
-----
*newbie*

You should take people`s advice. It sounds like your snake is stressed out. If he doesn`t want to eat then don`t try to feed him for a couple weeks. And if he`s striking at your face then keep your face away from the tank and give him privacy for a couple weeks. And you should never have 2 mice in the cage with him. That will do nothing but COMPLETELY stress out a snake that isn`t feeding.

The mice are out. One new hide is in. I'm outta his face.
-----
*newbie*

When was the last time he took a poop or passed urates. I got a baby burm./indian cross from a guy cheap who sayed she was mean, and she was until I figured out she was backed up. Once she passed a huge stone she was sweet as pie. If its been a while maybe a good soak and some swimming action will get things moving. Just a thought. good luck.

Jeff

didn't think of that...good advice
-----
Nick

I had a huge soaking bowl w/ hide top in there till today. Just put it back in. Have to check under moss for poop. Good on urates.

I covered 3 sides of the tank w/ paper & he went to the back so he could keep an eye on me.

A few weeks ago I thought he had a piece of moss in his (wrong term, sorry) nose hole. He rubs the right front tip/side on stuff. Then I thought it was shed. Now I wonder if maybe he has something wedged up in there. I can't see anything in there right at the moment. I don't think he's in the mood for me to start picking at anything either. LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!
-----
*newbie*

I feel terrible that Franklin is going through this.

I played his favorite music & he finally calmed down & went into his paper towel roll. He's tucked in for the night.

Tx for all the suggestions!

I'll update when I find poop.

-----
*newbie*

As much fun as it is, changing things stresses them out. When they are new, set everything up and leave it. They will adjust to whatever the situation is. Well, considering all conditions are optimal(Heat, cool, light cycle, hides, water...You get it)

Now that you have made changes, just back off and let him readjust. For pissy snakes, I personally tape the entire enclosure until they calm down. Sheet of newspaper on all sides. This, as everyone has said, makes them feel safer. Once he realizes his whole world won't change and not everyone is out to get him, he should calm down. Or you can buy thick leather gloves.
-----
When birds fly in the right formation, they need only exert half the effort. Even in nature, Teamwork results in collective laziness.