Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm wondering if anyone has found that electronic devices (computers, video game consoles, etc.) may affect the feeding responses of some snakes? I've noticed several instances in which snakes that were kept in rooms with multiple electonic gadgets exhibited reduced (or even nonexistent) feeding behavior. I have experience with problem feeders and have always been able to work through it. These cases have me stumped. however.

- My younger brothers who still live at my parents' home became interested in snakes about a year ago after I took them to a reptile show. They purchased and and lost a ball python and two rainbow boas. The BP and one of the rainbows were known feeders on F/T mice and rats, but stopped feeding after being placed in a room with two computers and three game consoles, which were played virtually around the clock. I believe the rainbows both suffered from dehydration, and that that is the cause for their unwillingness to eat. But the ball python I'm not so sure about. Later, my brother purchased some corns and rats. Some exhibited very strong responses at first, but became problem feeders after time. I used to live in the same house and never had feeding problems with the snakes I kept...but I did not have computers or video game systems. Hmmm.

- I recently moved with my collection of 13 snakes (kings, milks, pythons). I expected an adjustment period in which my snakes might not eat as they grew accustomed to a different environment. Previously, my snakes were housed in my living room, utility room and kitchen (I know, weird). After I moved, however, all my snakes were placed in my home office, which has two computers. Immediately my gray-banded king began refusing food. I tried all the old tricks that I had used to switch him to f/t mice as a hatchling, but nothing worked. Finally, after two stressful months of watching my little GBK lose weight and pace his cage, I moved him to another room with no electronic devices and offered food. Within one hour he had eaten a peach fuzzy and a pink rat (he'd never eaten a rat before).

I know that cage placement, light, humidity, heat, etc. all affect our reptiles. But I am wondering if the electrical fields found around devices using microprocessors, or perhaps the vibrations from spinning hard drives and cooling fans, while imperceptible to us, may also be affecting our reptiles. Or is it all just coincidence?
Consider this: scientists believe that migratory birds may follow the earth's magnetic field when they fly south for the winter and north for the summer. Could our pets be agitated by electrical fields?
In the case of my brothers, I have theorized that it may be due to the level of human activity in the room rather than electronics. After all, having a room full of teens and twenty-somethings playing games and watching TV all day and night would stress me until I couldn't eat! I just don't have the means or the cooperation to perform an actual study of this.

So does anyone else have a theory on this? Has anyone done any research? I'd be very interested to know.

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I think in some cases electrical devices can affect feeding, I'm not sure about magnetic fields so imo mostly to do with irregular photoperiods and vibration. If games consoles are being played it can involve lots of shouting, loud tv and possibly people moving around, which all cause vibrations. Snakes are secretive creatures so exposure to all these scarey noises will stress them out, therefore putting them off their food. The same applies to radios/hi fis etc.

Also, TVs emit light, and if they're on at irregular times or on until all hours of the night, the snake doesn't have a proper photoperiod - ie day and night - so it doesn't know when it's supposed to be resting and when it's supposed to be awake and hunting. That along with the noise of the computer games is bound to be stressful for the snakes.

Personally I don't think all electrical equipment affects them though, as plenty of people use heat mats, stats, bulbs and other forms of artifical heating with healthy, feeding snakes. I currently have my snakes in my bedroom with heat mats and stats, and the TV on in the evenings quite a bit (though not overly loud), with no feeding problems.

Royal pythons are known for being fussy feeders anyway, so even if they're put into a quiet room they can go off their food.

I haven't done any research on this topic, this is just what I have gathered from my experience with snakes, so I can't say if this is the reason why your brother had that run of bad luck, but imo it seems to be a possible cause.

Mel

I didn't read the whole post but, I do have a 20 high vision snake rack next to a 60 inch big screen t.v. and the snakes feed with no problem.
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i'm not over weight i'm under tall

I think your theory about all the activity in the room may be more accurate. I almost always have my computer/laptop on, often right next to my snake cages. I have mostly ball pythons, and right now the breeding age ones aren't eating...but everyone else is chowing down like a pig.

However, at work I constantly tell people with non-feeding reptiles to a) put them in a room with less activity and b) put in even more hides. If there were no other husbandry issues, the snake almost always ate the week following being put into "isolation".

People freak reptiles out!

~jenny
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"Polysyllabism in no way insures that what you're saying is actually worth being heard." - Blake (an e-friend of mine)

"I have never made but one prayer to god, a very short one: "O lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And he granted it." - Voltaire

I don't know. I have 6 hatchlings' boxes sitting on my processor right now.... and feeding...
Mole kings and southern hogs.
:Mark
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Could it maybe, could a few game consoles, computers and a TV or two NO..
Your PC and Game console use around 200 - 750 Watts each. And I doubt any PC you have is using a 750 Watt PSU unless you overclock and are using SLi but that is another topic. Anyway your typical herp equiptment in a snake room can easily generate that much wattage especially if you are using incandescent lighting for a heat source.

No whats causing the problem is the 24/7 activity in this room, snakes just like all animals need rest, they need there day and night cycles and with all that activity they cant get it..
You need to cover each cage with a dark blanket or better yet move them to a nice and quite room.
Plus with all that activity heat will be an issue and could also be causing the cages to stay hot to long and doesn't provide much of a heat gradient.
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Jason A.
"Long time Herper, first year Breeder `07."
My 2008 Care Sheet & The BRB Stats. Username: brb@kingsnake.com

I agree it’s the activity, the light and vibrations from the speakers. Glass is like a speaker in that it vibrates when sound hits it. I don’t think it’s the electronics, magnets or remote control waves, etc. I believe snakes can darn near “hear” from vibrations. Big vibrations are like being yelled at. If the snake is curiously watching you, I think they are slightly amused. If they are prowling, they are annoyed. If they are trying to escape they are disturbed. If they are hiding and refusing to move or eat, they are freaking out. Best question on here in a while.

You hit the nail on the head. Its the activity...more specifically the vibrations that are disturbing the animals. Move the snakes, or move the game consoles...your choice.
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Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.