Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My '08 Bull has not ate since Sept. 4th, he's very active in his cage. 85 degrees (warm side) 77 degrees (cool side). Last year in Oct. he refused food until the middle of Dec. Anybody else experience this?

I'm not the most experienced keeper here but since no one else has offered yet I'll try to help. I would guess that despite the local temps he senses winter's onset and is probably searching for a suitable hibernaculum. One of my Cal Kings seems to do that.

Another might be that he is simply bored or feels insecure and wants to get away. Those are both blind speculation though.

I have a N. Pine that became very stubborn on f/t. She is highly active also. I reluctantly offered live and she's all over it. Others suggest a change-up on the f/t to quail but that didn't work for me in this case.

Funny thing, seems the reluctant feeders are ofter the most active too? If my observation is true, then that might mean something.

Good luck with him. Hopefully he's got enough weight on to put down for the winter soon. I'm sure he'll start eating when you wake him up.

I agree with the previous point that your snake might be sensing a seasonal change and just want to fast a bit. I would turn off the heat pad for a month and see what happens after that.
-----
1.0 Boa- Hogg Island
0.1 Bull- Northern
1.0 Bull- TX Red
0.1 Bull- KS Yellow
1.1 Bulls- Red X Yellow
1.0 Bull- Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
1.0 Corn Snake (Okeetee?)
1.1 Fox Snakes- Western
1.1 Kings- Black Easterns (L.g.nigra) Todd Co. KY
1.2 Kings- Coastal CA
1.1 Kings- NC Eastern Chains (M from Union Co. & F from Mecklenburg Co.)
1.1 Kings- Gray Banded 'Blair's'
1.1 Kings- Speckled, Harris Co. TX
1.1 Pines- Carolina Northerns (M from NC, F from SC)
1.1 Pines- Louisiana (pure descendants of Terry Vandeventer stock)
1.1 Pythons- Ball
1.1 Ratsnakes- Black, Henderson Co. NC

Hello. I just wanted tell you that this seems to be typical colubrid behavior in my experiences. Some seem to go off feed and some continue to eat all year.Personally I have noticed this more if the snake was hatched late in the year towards fall. I have seen this in Pits, Kings, and rat snakes. As stated in one of your other replies, I would turn the heat down and not worry about offering any meals for awhile. Give him a hide, if he doesn't have one already. The cooler temps should slow him down so he won't lose much weight. Rich

Thanks for all the replys, I have since turned down the heat. Both of my snakes (Black Pine, Bull) have calmed down and retreated to their hides. Thanks again... Jeff