Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

my three year old female collared has been eating less and less for about three or four weeks and has stopped eating now for one week. She's already become a little skinny as you can see on the pics. I already arranged some cooler places in her tank, but she likes sitting under the heating spot.

What can I do to get her eating? I think it's much to early to hibernate her (I started to hibernate them in november or december the last years). Is there a minimum weight for hibernating?

Thanks for your help

Chris

Image

....can't be good. I can see a couple of loose 'beads' in the photo, she could have ingested some and have a blockage. I think someone (Johne?) said the stuff is also toxic, but I don't have any info on that. She looks dehydrated to me, has she been pooping or passing any urates? Ever see her drinking? Her patterning reminds me of my female yellowhead ('formerly known as' C.c. auriceps).

DC

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I've got the blues...LOL...them screamin' yellow-head blues...

remove it, or cover it somehow. Hope she snaps back real soon for you as far as eating, she does look a bit thin. I would not brumate her if she continues to lose weight. Eve

Thank you for your answers.

The foam you see on the picture is normally covered and was only removed for cleaning purposes. As far as I know it is not toxic, but if she has a blockage, how can I help her?

Concerning her drinking, I try daily to put some drops of water with vitamines on her snout. Normally, she then starts drinking from a syringe.

Any more ideas?

Chris

....really is before attempting to treat it. Have you noticed any fecal material passed in the last few days, or since the last time you know she ate 'normally'? That would be the thing to watch for if you suspect a blockage or impaction. I'd think about a vet before her condition runs down too far, and you may want to consider force-feeding at some point. However, a couple of mine have really had their appetite drop off recently, maybe this winter is going to be bad and they know it!

DC
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I've got the blues...LOL...them screamin' yellow-head blues...

....but I have no info on that aspect, other than the mechanical problems possible from ingesting the expanded 'beads'. Keep in mind the number of human food-grade approved containers using this material (coffee cups, burger packs, etc.) and the fact that most authoritative sources (universities, field biologists, etc) recommend packing reptiles in closed styrofoam-lined boxes for shipping. There are some types of similar two-part catalysed foam materials that ARE toxic and produce some out-gas byproducts for a good time after the initial reaction. What I remember about styrofoam from my work as a patternmaker (investigating the 'lost styrofoam' casting process) was that the styrofoam beads were activated/expanded by exposure to live steam, and no chemicals were given off in the process.

DC
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I've got the blues...LOL...them screamin' yellow-head blues...