Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know that i should not be worried by a snake that has not eaten in a couple weeks, but i do need some info! My western male has always been a reluctant feeder, needing lots of time and maybe even a couple chances to eat. I thought I had it all figured out but now there seems to be a feeding stike. Does anyone know if daytime is a better time to feed? OR is it night time that they are more comforatable. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

If it's an older male, he probably wants to breed. My male stopped eating about 3 weeks ago, and now does nothing but breed. If your worried about it, try scenting the rodents with toad, this will usually get a reluctant feeder to eat. The only time my male is not interested in feeding is when he's "in the mood".

Chad

Thanks for the advice, but unfortunatly he is way to young to be "in the mood." im trying againt today, so we shall see if he eats
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1.1 Columbian red tail
1.1 western hognose
1.0 tricolor hognose
0.0.3 kenyan sand boas
1.1 cornsnake
0.0.1 burmese python
0.1 chinese water dragon
0.0.1 tokay gecko

If he's way too young, I'd try a scented item, but I'm sure he will feed soon.

Good luck,
Chad

Hognoses are crepuscular, so try only feeding it in the morning or evening. The best thing to do is to wait until the snake is active in its tank. It's easy to assume that they will be more likely to eat when they are already active and presumably searching for food, rather than being "woken up".
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...the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)

I am not so sure I would go to scenting yet. He may decide that is all he likes and it may take some work to get him back to unscented. Check your records and see if he is due to shed. I have noticed with many of my hogs that some of them go into an extended shed cycle. Hogs seem to go a long time between sheds and likewise it sometimes takes them a long time to go through the cycle. They are off feed during this time but soon start up after shed is complete. These are just obvervations based on my animals. I have two right now going through this very thing. And had I not observed their 'blue' phase I might be wondering why they are'nt eating.

I have heard that scenting can be a double edged sword so to speak, how do others feel about scenting. Anyone have trouble swithing back to normal pinkies after scenting one with an amphibian? I would just like to know for future reference.
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1.1 Columbian red tail
1.1 western hognose
1.0 tricolor hognose
0.0.3 kenyan sand boas
1.1 cornsnake
0.0.1 burmese python
0.1 chinese water dragon
0.0.1 tokay gecko

I have one female that I had to go to scenting with and i have not been able to get her to anything else yet. I try unscented everytime and if she does'nt eat I go with the scented and off she goes. I do beleive it is a matter of time. To add more to my previous post one of the aforementioned hogs that was going thru shed and had not eaten in 4 weeks, shed this morning and ate at first offering this evening. Don't overlook the shed cycle with a non eating hog that had otherwise eaten fine for you.