Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It's been about 5 weeks of not eating now. Prior to this it was every week except when she was shedding. She's about 4-5 long and was eating small rats...I think the last one we gave her was a large rat.

We have no idea why she doesn't want to eat, she used to eat f/t rats fine. Any help would be great.

thanks

Couple of thoughts....

How old is she? If she were sexually mature, could be off feed from hormone levels?

You said the last meal was a large rat.... Has she defecated it out? No lumps? Not impacted.

Could just be her last meal was so satisfying she's still not hungry.

And of course all the standard stuff, you didn't mention anything about her enclosure, temps or humidity.
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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:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

BTW, I'm thinking 4-5 feet long eating every week (except in shed) might not mature. But IMO probably too frequent of a feeding cycle.
-----
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:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

In addition to what Dave suggested. Look at those frozen rats. They may not have the right smell if they have been frozen very long. You might try a fresh killed one to see if that makes a difference. Also, check cage temperature. A faulty thermostat or heater could have made a change in the temperature.

>>It's been about 5 weeks of not eating now. Prior to this it was every week except when she was shedding. She's about 4-5 long and was eating small rats...I think the last one we gave her was a large rat.
>>
>>We have no idea why she doesn't want to eat, she used to eat f/t rats fine. Any help would be great.
>>
>>thanks

LOL, I always forget that one - frozen rats not smelling right. I raise my own and until recently have not had any in the freezer.

I did finally break down and get a freezer and have been freezing my surplus getting ready for the onslaught of babies and hungry moms this year.
-----
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:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I think the enclosure is ok right now, humidity is not very consistent since I haven't gotten to finish the new enclosure quite yet....hmm reading break is coming up so I'll have a couple of days to work on it I think.

She is supposed to be three years old but its iffy since the pet store wasn't too sure about her history.

Some of the rats have smelled pretty bad, I dont think we can buy live rats in Alberta since it's illegal or something to have them. Think a large mouse would do the trick?

Oh and she has defecated the rat and I guess she defecated last week also...like twice since she ate last.

>>Oh and she has defecated the rat and I guess she defecated last week also...like twice since she ate last.

That's good news. And yeah a large mouse might not be a large meal but would be something.
-----
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:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Thanks for the help yet again, this forum is a great help.

Are you sure that Tiki is a "she". If the animal is a male, it is perfectly normal to go off feed for several months a year. As long as your husbandry is correct and the animal isn't losing mass, there is nothing to worry about.
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

hmmm, thats a good question. She got the snake from Petland and her history wasn't know by them so she could be he.