Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK, I've got a black rat snake that I caught outside my house. It is about 3.5 ft long. It hasn't eaten in about 2 months. I've tried feeding dead mice and live mice, I've tried scenting the mice with chicken broth (I heard that was supposed to work well). I've tried feeding it in its cage, and in a seperate feeding box. Someone told me they like it to be dark when they hunt since they eat at night, so I tried making sure it was pitch dark and left one overnight. No luck.

What other tips do you have? How long should I keep trying before I give up and let it go?

If the snake is obviously looking body mass, then I would suggest releasing it back to the wild. Some other prey types to try would include chicks, and baby rats. The snake may not be used to mice, and certainly not lab mice. Is it possible its a gravid female? Its not unusual for gravid females to refuse food until after they lay eggs. Still, my advice for a ratsnake that refused food for two months is let it go!!!

How would I tell if it is Gravid? There have been a couple times I thought the body was lumpy, and I thought it might be gravid, but most other times it does not look that way.

Ratsnakes can fast for long periods, for no apparent reason. Some can be garbage disposals while others are sparse feeders throughout the year. I've had them eat as much as I'd give them for several weeks, then they wouldn't eat a bite for months. Watch for weight loss, otherwize the snake is probably eating about the amount it would in the wild. I have a few that are fasting now, that may not start eating until next Spring. I've seen this similar behavior patterns in the past, and I eventually got these snakes to breed. Hope this helps.

Thanks, that's very reassuring!

My big male only feeds about 3-4 months out of the year,but I feed him very well in those months.Like clock work he shuts down around labor day each year and won't eat again till a few weeks after post brumation warm up.

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"Upon Thy Belly Thou Shalt Go"

Not sure what your housing is for the snake. Go with aspen shavings and for now make it about 4" deep so the snake can burrow. Put a hide box in and and try leaving a (small)freshly dead mouse overnight at its opening.
I'd say a 20gal. long fish tank is as small as I'd go for that snake to feel comfortable in.
Is there a heat pad at one end to allow it to thermoregulate? (be sure to use a reostat with the heat pad so you don't over heat,warm is good, hot is bad)
Got to ask, is the A/c on? Not good for a feeding response.
How active is the room its in. Too much and it won't settle down. So leave it be for awhile, don't handle too much and if it feeds don't hadle it for a couple of days.
If its been kaotic around the snake let it settle down for a day in a new spot before trying to feed it again.

Ok if all this doesn't work in say another week, I'm with the others let it go. Some captives never adjust.
Good luck!
Mike.