Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a normal who has been in his hide (a fake hollowed out rock) for a long time. It is feeding time and he looks like he might be getting ready to shed, but he won't come out of his hide for me to know for sure!

Any advice on whether I should try to feed him or just leave him alone for a while. It has been 17 days since he last ate.

thanks in advance!

Yeaaah, mine has been doing the same thing. I believe, (somebody correct me if I'm wrong, please) that it has to do with the colder-than-usual temps (even with using UTH's and spot lamps) and they are sort of "hibernating". Our Neo still eats every week, on schedule, when we put him in his feeding tank so I don't think it will hurt to try to feed him. Just wiggle a mouse in front of him and see if he wants to eat. Has he at least moved at all? Shifted position?

he has moved or at least changed position in his hide. I do occasionally see his tail out or his nose. he is just very dormant. he is about 5 foot, so a mouse wouldn't do. he usually gets a medium rat every 10-12 days. thanks for the reply though. I appreciate it!

Mine was doing the same. So I moved her into our bedroom and turned the Heat up for the house as well as the tank and keep the door shut. Now a week after moving her she started moving alot more and eating about two mice a week.

I have noticed that most of my snakes go through an "antisocial" phase befor they shed. This happens befor there is any real visual clue that they are going to shed. They stay in their hides and don't want food. I think that if your snake is staying in it may be getting ready to shed and unless it comes out and starts looking for food that the best thing is to just leave it alone. Healthy BPs can go a long time between meals now and then and be just fine.
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1 BP
4 Cal Kings 3 alb 1 het
3 Alb Corn
1 Rev Alb Nelsons

you nailed it! he was, in fact, getting ready to shed. He had a great shed too! For the first time, I think I actually have his environment set up correctly. His prior sheds have been incomplete or more like a sun burn peel (partial sections scrapped of on the driftwood and such...) This shed was textbook "sock". I was very happy to see that. He fed 2 days later, so he is happy again.

Thanks for the information!