Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My year old yellow rat snake hasn't eatten in about 3 1/2 weeks. He ate two fuzzies the last time he ate then started to shed.He actually shed last week and I offered him two fuzzies but did not pay them any mind at all.He has been active as I have seen him hiding in his plastic bush,sitting in his tree and just slitering around the tank when no one is around. The fuzzy mice have been in there for 2 days and he could careless about them. Should I worry or is this normal? When spring came he ate every week then slowed down when summer came along. I guess he has always been like this. Last year he did the same thing ... sometimes would eat and then would go 3-4 weeks without food.

Should I offer him something else like an anole?

I recently got a king snake and their tanks are next to each other but I have a piece of cardboard between the tanks.Could this have something to do with it as well? I really don't have any other places to put the tanks. My basements temp flux's to much,my little front room is more or less a play room for the kids,my bedroom is where my cat stays because he doesn't wanna be bothered with my dogs that are downstairs.The kids don't want the snakes in their bedrooms so as you can see I am limited in options..lol

I breed blk rats and like all colubrids babies and yearling and sometimes adults will go off feeding for no reason. As long as he /she is not lossing weight your yellow should be just fine.
The anole you would want to freeze first because of worms.
Do your yellow have a cool and warm zone if not create one...The smell of the king next door could be the problem too.The smell of death would scare me too lol... try and put some space between them.You might want to check his/her mouth and make sure it's clear too.
If all else fail take your yellow to the vet
I hope this helps
p.s. keep us updated
Later Dre'

Don't offer him an anole. Not even a frozen/thawed one. 3-4 weeks is nothing to worry about. Just make sure that your conditions (temps, etc) are good and the snake seems in good health. One thing I have noticed with a few of mine that have gone off feed for several weeks after being good feeders...Sometimes if I switch back to smaller prey they will be interested again. If you have some pinkies around, see if they might stimulate his feeding. My albino greenish was refusing his rat fuzzies, and now he's pounding 2-3 mouse fuzzies instead. My albino black went off feed back when she was on fuzzies, and switched back to pinks for awhile. Good luck, and don't worry as long as the snake seems in good health otherwise. Duffy