Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all. I recently purchased a baby Apricot Pueblan Milk, approximately 2 1/2 months old. I cannot get her to eat. I have tried for the last 5 days. She has been staying in a small dish of sphagnum moss for the last 3 days. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Here's a few suggestions that come to mind:

Don't handle the snake until it is eating on a consistant, regular basis.

Do not attempt to feed the snake every day.

Let the snake "settle in" for a week before trying to feed it.

I have found that baby snakes tend to feed best when kept in small enclosures, you did not mention your cage size.

Do not watch the snake, put the food in with it and leave it alone.

Feed the snake in the evening. Set the food in with the snake and leave it alone overnight.

Ask the person who you got the snake from what their feeding method was. Some baby snakes feed more readily if placed in a deli cup with the food item.

Check your temperatures and make sure you have the proper heat gradient and hideboxes on each end of the gradient.

You did not mention lighting, nocturnal snakes do not like bright lights.

Tim

Third Eye Herp

Hello. I have a 20 gallon tank, no lights, just an UTH & ceramic heat emitter that I do not leave on all the time. Just checked temps with infrared..warm end 84.5..cool end 72.6. I purchased the girl from Reptmart. They said she is eating pinkies & her next feeding should have been 6/20/12.
I have purchased a King from them before with no problems. Maybe she is still skittish. I would hate to lose her, she is a beautiful snake. Thanks for your advice.

One more thing to consider----if the snake is staying inside a moist hide there is a good chance it is getting ready for a shed and most snakes will not eat during this time. If not, the above advice is great. Just a thought

joe

That is what I was thinking, but being a novice, just thought I would ask the more experienced. Thanks.

A pic of her the first day I got her..

I'd keep her in something smaller.
Also, there no need for a cermaic heat source.
It gets way too hot for a 20 gallon tank.
If you have standard room temperature (68-72), all you need is an undertank heating pad.

Tim

I have had smaller snakes get stressed and go off feed in an oversized enclosure. You would think it wouldn't be that way. But it is. Im sure Reptmart kept them in hatchling tubs. Good luck

She was very active for the first few days!

Like others have stated, that baby pueblan may really feel too much " in exposure " being in a 20 gallon tank. You would think the more space, the merrier, but alas, such as it is with some kind of kings and milks, at times.

Put her in a much, much smaller enclosure. Follow Tim Spuckler's advice, which is perfect. Baby pueblans can be very nervous little snakes, and the trick is to make them feel secure, comfortable, and safe. A smaller enclosure should do just the thing.
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Genesis 1:1

Thanks to all of you for the advice!!

i bought an andean milk in january. it took her a whole month before she ate. and then after that she wouldn't eat her pinkys unless i put her in a small box over night where noone could see her. then gradually she was eating in front of me. now i throw the hoppers in there and she goes right after them. it just takes time to get used to surroundings and new smells. good luck