Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've got a question regarding my NJ stock N. Pines. I've owned them for 3 years now and they usually feed like psychos, they hit f/t rats really hard before I can even take my hand out of their cage. I purchased them as CB neonates. None of their cage conditions have changed but both have refused food the past three weeks which is odd for them. I know the days are starting to get a little bit shorter, but given I still have been keeping temps up I felt like it was a little bit early for them to shut down for the year. Do any of you experience this? All my other snakes are still feeding fine and normal.

I'm not to concerned as they have adequate weight to get through the year, it just seems odd to me. Last year I don't remember them slowing down until mid-October. And I was really hoping to put it to the female in hopes of getting her breeding.

Sometimes offering real small food items which them can gulp down in one mouthfull gets mine jumpstarted again.

The small food item thing proved out just now with one of my '08 pyros. I had a leftover fuzzie nobody else seemed interested in eating so I gave it to Dotz and she ate it pronto! So now I have turned her heater back on.
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

Most of my '08 snakes are stopping feeding as the days get shorter. All my '08 pyros and a pair of '08 Pacifics have stopped. I have turned off the heaters since they don't need them for digestion now.
Some of my 09 Pacifics and '09 bulls and '09 pyros, and my one '10 pyro are still feeding. The younger the snakes the more likely they will continue to eat through out the winter, so I leave the heat on for those who still want to eat. The exception to this is my '08 Pacific female who will eat no matter what all year round, and is enormous compared to anyone else.
What your pines are doing seems normal for the age they are now, at least in my limited experience. I weigh all mine and if they are not losing a too much weight, they can go all winter without eating just fine.
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

Thanks for the replies, I kind of figured they were just starting to shut down as the days have been getting shorter. I guess I will give it one last shot with a couple of mice instead of rats just to see. I don't actually weigh my snakes, but judging by girth and the fact that they eat plenty throughout spring and summer I'm not to worried about them making it through the winter.

Anyways, thanks for the replies.