Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 14 month old female northern that refuses to eat.In the last 2 months she has ate one live mouse.She had been eating 1 small f/t rat a week.The temps 82 day/72 nite are the same I keep my male at.They are both in the same size tanks 30 longs with the same hides.They are in seperate cages.I have probed both to make sure the non feeder wasnt a lovestruck male.Her stools are normal and she is active and healthy with good muscle tone.

Should I keep offering her a small f/t rat every week or try live again?I really want to avoid anything live.

Thanks for your replys. Paul
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If lead paint is so deadly why do they make it so delicious?

try and keep track of her weight, if she is not losing weight, then she should not have too much of a problem. try a f/t rat once a week or so to see if the fast has past. of course a vet visit and a fecal exam to check for parasites or other problems may not hurt.
you may also try day old chicks or quail if she remains recalcitrant, most pines cannot seem to pass these up.
daveb

As long as she is maintaining decent body weight, I would not get overly concerned. You may want to try a live rat pup to get her "jump started" if she continues being obstinate. Then go back to f/t rats of the appropriate size. My experience with northerns is that they will sometimes go off feed for no apparent reason. I have one adult male that has refused food for a couple of months on occasion. He is now eight years old and 8.5 feet in length. Missing an occasional meal didn't seem to hurt him much.......lol!