Reptile & Amphibian Forums

PLEASE HELP ME!!!!

I currently have 7 snakes, 3 of which are refusing to feed, the worst of which is my Hatchling Jungle Carpet Python. Here is the story: He is kept in my basement all year round, summer temps are about 80* and he doesn't get a heat lamp or anything. Winter temps are about 65-68* and he gets a 100watt light bulb to keep him warm. He hasn't eaten a meal since October 4!! I've tried just about everything:
-Braining Frozen/Thawed Pinks
-Offering Frozen/Thawed Pinks or Frozen/Thawed Fuzzies
-Tried feeding him in his enclosure
-Left frozen/thawed pinks/fuzzies in his enclosure over night.
-Tried 100watt bulb for heat
-Tried 60 watt blub for heat
-Tried no heat lamp
-Tried feeding him in his normal feeding container many times.
-Tried different suppliers of F/T rodents
-Left him in his tank and feeding enclousure with multiple frozen/thawed rodents
-Tried "abusing" him with the rodent to get him to strike
-Tried teasing him with rodent
-Even tried using a scented pink that I use for my hogs (I know I know..but I'm getting desperate here)
-I even tried( and I know I shouldn't have but I'm getting desperate) force feeding him. I got the pink halfway down his throat but then I got scared so I backed off, twice I tried this, he just spits it out.

Today I went out and bought a heat pad, I am going to affix this to the bottom of his tank, and move him upstairs where it is a few degrees warmer, although I don't think it is the heat that is causing him not to feed. For an animal that hasn't eaten a meal in two months he actually looks rather healthy(Read: no skin folds, you can't see his ribs really)..but I'm starting to get really worried.

I have a few tricks left up my sleeve before I take him to the vet:

-Try a differnet substrate with the heat pad, currently I am using Paper toweling but there is not very much humidity in the tank. Which substrate would you recommend, I was thinking of trying bark shavings or a similar thing and misting it once a day to raise the humidity in the tank? Do you recommend something different?
-Try a live feeder, there aren't any suppliers so I would have to drive quite a distance to get some.
-Try a frozen/thawed rat pup

Anything else I could try before I have to resort to force feeding (Which i was recommended not to do by a local reptile store near me.) or bringing him to the vet?

PLEASE help me before this wonderful (He truly is the nicest hatchling JCP I have ever seen, he NEVER goes to bite me..except after I tried to force feed him, and I don't blame him for that...) snake dies...

Thank you for your time,
Ralph
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2.1 Bearded Dragon
0.0.5 Hatchling Bearded Dragons
1.1 Honduran Milksnake
1.0 Florida Brooksi Kingsnake
1.0 Blood Red Cornsnake
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
1.0 Western Hognose Snake
1.0 Bull Mastiff

Another reason I don't think it is the heat is becasue he hangs out on the "cool" side of the tank, rather than basking or hiding under the substrate directly under the light. Also I have been trying to feed him once a week, not every day.

Also he was an aggressive feeder on F/T rodents until he just stopped eating all together, he would strike and coil around them..he NEVER refuesd a meal..then all of a sudden, he doesn't eat anymore

Thanks again for any help!
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2.1 Bearded Dragon
0.0.5 Hatchling Bearded Dragons
1.1 Honduran Milksnake
1.0 Florida Brooksi Kingsnake
1.0 Blood Red Cornsnake
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
1.0 Western Hognose Snake
1.0 Bull Mastiff

Ralph,

Since he used to be an aggressive feeder, I wouldn't worry with a 2 month fast. I've had a couple go much longer than that, including a chondro that went 16 months(not a hatchling though). My technique for problem feeders consists of either placing a live pinky rat in the cage, or putting the snake and f/t pinky rat in a ventilated deli cup. It may be that his cage is too large. I keep all mine up to about two years in rubbermaid or sterilite containers in a rack system. It may feel a little too insecure in its current conditions.

Any more questions, just ask away.

Tim

To me it seems like you are probably stressing the snake out with all the different techniques on trying to get him to eat. Try and give him a couple weeks alone from everything other than general maintenance and keep the temps up to a 85-90 degree hot spot if you can and then attempt again with a live fuzzy or whatever size of food you are at and put the snake in a small container with no interuptions for awhile. Just give the snake a break for a while.

I'd have to agree that all those changes like moving him upstairs, changing his substraight, ect... are probably not helping. Sometimes JCP go off food just because, but if you stress him out with a lot of change it really doesn't help. You need to make him comfortable with his suroundings. Hatchling carpets like small, dark, warm enclosures, with perhaps a place were they can get off the ground when the mood hits them. Just keep that in mind as you try to temp your little guy.

The only suggestion I can add is to perhaps try covering the enclosure when you feed. I personally find it sucessful with my youngsters. It keeps the enclosure dark and adds a bit of security. This can also be accomplished with a hide box in the cage were they can eat in peace and or feeding at night and leaving it overnight.

There are several threads and a few articles with other methods posted below. Just be patient and try one thing at a time.

Darci
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Takes all kinds to make a World...

I second everything that has already been said by the other forum members.

I had a hatchling bredli that stubbornly refused to eat. I was keeping her in a 10 gallon tank that, apparently, was way too big for her. After putting her in a much smaller rubbermaid container, she began feeding consistently almost immediately.

I'd suggest putting her in a smaller container. In my case, I placed the container inside the cage, heated from beneath by a thermostatically-controlled heat mat. Give her a small, tight, hiding spot (I recommend the flower pot base approach advocated by Robyn on the Pro Exotics web site... check the FAQ section), some water, and a clean paper towel substrate. After a week in this setup, leave a prekilled fuzzy mouse on the floor of the enclosure and leave the room.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

-John

I would check AMBIENT temps first... It sounds like you might have it a little cool for them. Hang a thermometer from some string and the lid of their enclosure in the cage in different spots to check this. I think an ambient temp in the low to mid 80's is good. Also, go buy some tupperware containers, put a hole in the lid for the snake to crawl through, and put some damp sphagnum moss inside for a humidity hide in the warm end. I say this because you are using overhead lights for heat which destroys humidity. Also make sure the guy has plenty of hiding spots, in the cool end, in the warm end, branches to perch on, etc. Maybe add some non-toxic plants, too. Then wait a week or so before trying to feed again. Most importantly: Do Not Stress Yourself Out! Good Luck!

I really like to use that shredded coconut husk substrate. Good for humidity, even with lights. You can mist this substrate without worrying about bacterial growth. I would also purchase bulbs that are for night-time light (red or purple color), and leave them on 24 hours a day. I have windows in my room that I keep my reptiles in, so they get a natural light cycle.

Thank you everyone for the very generous response...I will be attemtping to feed him tomorrow, I have tried to leave him alone as much as possible, and I did not change his substrate or anything, just the placement of his tank. I will try a F/T pinky and Fuzzy as I can't get live or pre-killed where I am. I will try to "tempt" him with the food at first, if that doesn't work, I will cover his tank wiht a black sheet and place the rodents outside of his hide box.

Thanks again for all the suggestions, I will try to try as many of them as possible, will keep everyone posted!!

-Ralph
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2.1 Bearded Dragon
0.0.5 Hatchling Bearded Dragons
1.1 Honduran Milksnake
1.0 Florida Brooksi Kingsnake
1.0 Blood Red Cornsnake
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
1.0 Western Hognose Snake
1.0 Bull Mastiff

If he doesn't feed tomorrow, then I will wait the recommended week before I try again. I have been trying weekly. Also when I moved him upstairs, I switched him from overhead lighting to an under-tank heater. He is much warmer to the touch now.

Thanks again!
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2.1 Bearded Dragon
0.0.5 Hatchling Bearded Dragons
1.1 Honduran Milksnake
1.0 Florida Brooksi Kingsnake
1.0 Blood Red Cornsnake
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
1.0 Western Hognose Snake
1.0 Bull Mastiff