Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I took this girl in on a partial trade and I was told she had eaten two live fuzzy mice before I got her. I have had her about 5 days and she has acclimated well and seems very comfortable...but I cannot get her to eat. I have tried live and f/t and as soon as she sees it coming she's gone, if you stick your hand in or a tongs without a fuzzy she comes right over to see what you're doing, or at the very least doesnt move. She seems very healthy, alert and hydrated, and she shed about 2 days ago. I've tried making an f/t fuzzy "jump around" with the tongs and leaving one with her overnight but nothing. Is there anything else I should try, or just leave her alone for awhile..how long can she go without food? She's about 15-18"
Kim

The snake might not have eaten before she shed because she was getting ready to. But don't panic, 5 days is not bad at all. Leave her alone for a few days to get good and hungry, and try again. Repeating feeding attempts every day might stress her a bit. Good looking snake!
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Lauren Madar - OphidiaGems.com
1.0 BP, 1.0 Hog Is., 1.1 Hypo BCI, 1.1 Surinam BCC, 0.1 GTP

IMO, slow down, you've had her 5 days. All my "new" acquisitions go a week before I even offer food. With her shedding 2 days ago, easily could not be interested in food yet. They can go weeks and even MONTHS w/out food (not recommended, but able to).

Also, your post indicated two live fuzzy mice. Was that one meal or her entire history? Just trying to figure out the history. Since she is obviously a baby, unless you got her pre first shed, then only two meals could be not eating well.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

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

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Thanks for the advice guys. I actually didnt try to feed her while she was in shed, I've just tried the two days since then, but I'll try leaving her alone for awhile. And I'm not actually paniced yet since she still looks very good, I'm just wondering how long she can go without eating before I should panic. I'm not sure about the hatch date, I was just told exactly what she had eaten but I didnt worry about it at the time because I picked her out of a group and they all looked very good, active and alert. I'll try to find out the hatch date and the last time she ate. As long as everyone tells me not to worry, I wont worry.
Kim

oops I meant birth date, I'm used to pythons

.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

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

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

To be honest, I think her only eating twice before you got her is not good on the prior owner's part. Babies should really have more meals before they can be considered established and sold (or traded).

Also 5 days is not enough of an acclimation period. Talk to the person you got her from and set her up EXACTLY like she was with that person. Same size tub, same heat gradient, same substrate, same water bowl. Offer food in the same way too. Minimize the change as much as possible.
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http://www.GilbertBoas.com/

Just set her up where you plan on keeping her and leave (AS HARD AS IT WILL BE )her Alone for aleast a week,then briefly check her in the evening and then lights out LEAVE ! Attempt a feeding on the third week.**Temp 85-88* & Humidity 60% If blue phase is noted (which is most likely stress enduced from shipping)up it to 65'ish any higher and your asking for potential RI issues,not likely but why present the opportunity?**
If you dont get a feeding response after 1 minute(DO Not touch the animal with the prey) Leave it alone for another week but two weeks would be better. Then repeat feeding attempt as above.
Only this time raise the temp by 1-2degrees the day before(dont peek !! LOL!! just raise the temp and LEAVE !!!
I understand its hard to resist BUT !Once the magic begins there will be plenty of time to catch up.When the animal finally takes a feed,leave it AGAIN for two days before messing with it.

FWIW,
Non feeders rarely use a temp gradient as they will generally just hide where temps are tolerably(sub 90*)So no need in futile issues or worries about such.
Water dishs close by allow for access to water without clearing the hide with their entire body.Excessive Husbandry levels and human impatience are the primary causes of "ISSUES" in captive BCI.

Snakes are very simple creatures and have been for thousands of years,that simplicity as been interupted by human means and needs to be "reset".There isnt a "Anally Excessive" Caresheet of Protocals that will ever change or replace that fact in any way shape or form.
All that above may sound complicated but its actually just basic husbandry and patience.

Good Luck with it !!

TnK
Ok so I was bored ......

I actually set her up a different enclosure 2 days or so after I got her in its own room and the lights are always off (unless I run in for a sec) and other than that quick pic I grabbed I havent bothered her, except to offer her food, since I got her. Basically she is in a fairly dark (theres a window), quiet room that no one ever goes in. She has 2 hides, one on the cool side and the other on the warm side right beside a water dish and a threw a branch in there which she must go on often, cause every time I've checked she's either there or beside the water dish under the hide. So she definately has her piece and quiet for as long as she needs it.
Kim

Sounds like your off to a good start,just be patient and she'll come around.

TnK

>>I actually set her up a different enclosure 2 days or so after I got her in its own room and the lights are always off (unless I run in for a sec) and other than that quick pic I grabbed I havent bothered her, except to offer her food, since I got her. Basically she is in a fairly dark (theres a window), quiet room that no one ever goes in. She has 2 hides, one on the cool side and the other on the warm side right beside a water dish and a threw a branch in there which she must go on often, cause every time I've checked she's either there or beside the water dish under the hide. So she definately has her piece and quiet for as long as she needs it.
>>Kim