Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just wondering how long my snake can go without eating before I would need to consider it an issue. She is new I have had her about a week, and she had eaten the week before I got her. I offered her frozen thawed after a few days and she wasnt interested.. then I got a live small fuzzy two days ago and she wouldn't eat that, so my ball ate it. It's been a little over two weeks now since she ate. I know adults can go longer but she is just a little one.. about 24 inches or so.. I'm estimating, so what should I do now? Thanks!!

Nymph

IMO they can actually go for months w/out food. I've had a baby BRB go 4 months from birth without a single meal. It did not waste away, just did not grow. I don't let them go that long any more. I figure on two months max then I "help" them eat. Some is as simple as inserting head if pinky in their mouth, others is a complete stuff and shove. So far, of the few prblem feeders I've had, all but one swoitched over to eating on their own with only a few assists.

Your's is likely stressed from transport and a new environment. Best to leave it alone as much as possible, let it settle in and only offer food weekly. Since it was already eating, is not a jump start issue, once it's settled in and hungry, it'll eat.
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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 (05/26/2009):
36.51 BRB
29.42 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Has anyone kept and bred a stubborn feeder? I'm wondering if that behavior characteristic would be more likely to show up in the offspring of the trouble feeder.

Hmmm, great question!!!

I would think a problem feeder female would be difficult to get to apropriate size. I do have a rather small male BRB that bred this year, will watch his offspring for signs of problem feeding.

>>Has anyone kept and bred a stubborn feeder? I'm wondering if that behavior characteristic would be more likely to show up in the offspring of the trouble feeder.
-----
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 (05/26/2009):
36.51 BRB
29.42 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

being in veterinary medicine, my first instinct is to come from a medicinal point of view. that being said, there are all sorts of reasons why a snake doesnt, or goes of feed. i usually do the rule out method. i make a list. i start off with medicinal reasons: parasites (internal and/or external), impaction, respiratory infections, etc. if all those are good and cleared, i go up husbandry route: temps, humdity, hides, proper photoperiod, enclosure size, etc. finally prey items and size. if all seems to be good, i come to the conclusion, that the snake will eat when its hungry. disclaimer (haha): my being in veterinary medicine gives me very easy access to look up the medicinal route of feeding (or any other) issues any of my animals have with diagnostics, as well as treatments. i know it can get pricey to do all sorts of diagnostic work-ups and then treatments on animals. so i was just stating how i go about dealing with certain issues my snakes (or any of my pets/animals), may run into
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retic is king of kings

1.0 Tiger Retic
1.0 Albino Tiger Retic
0.1 Striped Tiger Retic (het albino)
0.1 Salmon Boa
1.0 Albino Boa
0.1 False Water Cobra