Reptile & Amphibian Forums

about 5 weeks ago I purchased a juvie blue eyed lucy at a show, as of yet I havent been able to get her to eat. I have tried f/t pinkies, hoppers, live pinkies and hoppers, rat pups bot live and f/t. I tries cracking open the skull no luck. Any suggestions, Ihave had balls act like this before the just start to eat,but my limited expierience with rats none have refused food this log????

That is odd!! From the pic, its obviously not a hatchling, and being leucy, its obviously not wild caught. Are your temps OK? I keep my corns and rats at room temp with a bit of heat at the back of their cages so they have a warm spot between 81-85 degrees to access. Also, it may need better hides or be in too large a cage. There are tons of variables as to why it may not be eating. Most established rats like that are usually no-brainer feeders!! It could be its nervous and doesnt have hides to feel secure in. Depending on where you live, room temp may be too low and it may need more heat.

I would not handle the snake at all until it is feeding on a regular basis. I'd keep it in a tank the size of a 10-gallon or smaller. I would only attempt to feed the snake once a week and otherwise not disturb it. I would ask the seller what the snake was eating previously (live or frozen/thawed, mice or rats). Like Kevin said, that snake is obviously captive bred and already has some size to it, so it was eating previously.

Tim

I've had couple of TX rats that were shy feeders.
I would suggest putting a hide box in the cage and offering a rodent at the entrance - when the snake is in the hide.

As was already stated; check your temps and try not to handle the snake very much till things are normal..... For a Texas rat that would be biting, eating, and crapping!

Hope that helps.

byron.d

My leucistic rat eats only 2-3 months (late May, June and early July) the entire year. That's it. She's 7 years old, 5.5ft and weighs over 1600 grams. Sometimes that's just the way it is.

Did she always only eat 3 months a year? My baby is 2yrs old and never turns down a meal.

No, when I first got her as a yearling she would eat every week, but as she got older her eating slowed down. It's weird, she only eats in June and July then shuts down the entire year. I can't explain it, but she's normal sized and healthy for a texas rat so there's really not much else I can do. Also, she only sheds once a year, but that's understandable because of her diet. I'm starting to think maybe because I have her in a high traffic area it could affect her appetite. I have to find a nice quiet spot for her and see how it goes from there.