Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK. I have done everything and taken every suggestion for better husbandry for this animal. As I have been posting, she is not been the best feeder. After a regurgitation back in sept., she ate a live pinkie in mid oct., which she digested. Six days later she ate a live fuzzie, because I couldn't find any live pinks. Well, today(the 1st of nov.) she regurgitated the fuzzie, which she ate on the 27th of oct. Do I have any hope for bringing this snake around, or should I start shopping around for another female. Don't get me wrong, its not all about money for me, but I would really like to successfully breed this species. I will wait at least a week to ten days and offer her another live pink(if I can find one) and hope she takes it, but I'm not holding my breathe. I really want her to do well, like her male counterpart, who is growing very well. She is looking very skinny and I'm starting to wonder if captivity is just to much of a stain on this fragile individual. Any input would be appreciated.
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Matt Kauffman

Matt I would think you might want to try the species down the road when you are not as much in a hurry in general.
Even if your jani hadn't just recently regurgitated a meal it still would not need to fed only 6 days after it's last meal. If a jani regurges you should wait at least 2 weeks before feeding it again. If it holds down a small meal the next time it's fed it should still be given a long time in between meals for a while and also be fed smaller than usual meals for a while.
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Randy Whittington

Matt I just wanted to add that I would wait a minumum of two weeks before I offered her a very small meal next and since it is the second regurge I would probably wait closer to three weeks before the first meal. I know it seems like a long time but even though she has not had a meal in a while she was feeding a while back and would not starve. If she then holds down the next meal I would wait close to another two weeks before offering another meal. I would do this for a couple more meals and then very slowly increase the size and frequency of her meals. In the long run this could possible mean her taking another year before breeding but trust me it beats having to put her down after she has regurged several times and starts looking weak and dehydrated. You could always go ahead and get another female so you won't feel pressured to rush with her. I truly wish you the best of luck with her. I have only lost one jani to repeated regurge in the years I have been keeping and breeding them and it was very upsetting to me to watch it go down hill like that. Best of luck.
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Randy Whittington

Yes Randy, I do agree with you. I should have waited until I was able to get another live pink, instead of offering it a fuzzie 6 days later. That way it probably would have been about 2 weeks till her next small meal. I was honestly suprised that she ate the fuzzie. I think part of it too, is the fact that the male is growing so fast, and I'm not even pushing him. The female is just looking so thin compared to him, but I know she isn't in immediate danger. I'm really not in a rush to breed them, I just want her to be healthy. If I have to slow it way down with her, I'm willing to do that. I just thought since she passed the pinkie in about a week she would be ready. It was exactly 31 days since her last regurge that she ate the pinkie. If I'm lucky enough to have her accept food again, I will offer it in 2 week intervals and make sure it is just a pinkie. Like you said, it's just hard watching her whither away. It would also make things easier if she were accepting ft pinks. The thing that has me worried is, shes only kept three meals down in the two and half months that I've had her. I know snakes can go a long time between meals, but its not the best thing for hatchlings. Thanks for the advice and I'll keep you posted.
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Matt Kauffman