Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ok, I got some helpful advice about 10 days ago about my 8 year old daughter's snake biting. Everything's GREAT! Though we're still a bit jittery, between us we pick him up, take turns holding him, and get him back in place.

NEW potential BIG problem: We fed him a furry (or fuzzy, I'll get it right one of these days) 13 days ago - almost as soon as we got him home that Saturday because they said it was probably time for him to eat. He hasn't eaten since.

We thawed another last Saturday but he wouldn't eat it. We tried again Tuesday evening; same thing. He seems somewhat interested, but ultimately turns away.

Also, the place we got him said that he would excrete something about the same size/shape as what he ate; with fur on one end. Well, we may have found a couple of pieces, but nothing whole like we expected.

We called the store last night and they said he might have a blockage. Told us to put him in a warm bath for 30 minutes. We did. I still don't see excrement.

We're panicking. Do we really wait for excrement (more) or do we try to feed him again tonight?

Always appreciate help with my zoo.

Was your snake eating live before you got him? You may have to feed him live at first. I would just let the snake be for a good week and then try and feed him again. A couple of weeks without food wont hurt him. I know you are, but keep paying attention to feces. A trip to a reptile vet may be needed.
Good luck.

EP
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Occupants not paying rent:
16 eggs incubating
7 balls
2.2 corns(candy cane, creamsicle, ghost, normal)
1 pueblan milk
1 everglades rat
1 cal. king
1 gray band king
1 w. hognose
1 bearded dragon
2 fish
1 rat
1 mouse
5 cats

he was eating frozen. So, he hasn't eaten in two weeks - you think I should let him go for another?

I also read on your corn snake forum that a young one can shed as much as every 5-6 weeks. And, someone else said their snake wouldn't touch food at any phase of shedding, so it might go 3-4 weeks between feedings.

Of course, we've now decided his skin does look definitely duller, top and bottom, so maybe that's it.

I just didn't realize the poor guy was going to depend on me being a good guesser. Are there signs? If not, the deal is - better to wait a little longer than harrass him with food he doesn't want - right?

Nice to hear from folks. There's no such thing as too much information when you're a newbee.

ps - I don't really even know how old he is. I was told about 8 months. He's about 30" long. They said feed one furrie/week.

Also, when you say leave him alone for a week, do we not even hold him or do we just leave food out of it?

Yeah, I would just leave him alone completely and let him get settled in. If hes 30 inches then he is probably about 2 years old or so. Just depends on how much he was fed and how often. Sometimes when a snake goes into shed they wont eat, but sometimes they will. When they begin to shed they will look duller in color and the eyes will go opaque. They will then clear up and should shed within a couple of days. Good luck with him.

EP
-----
Occupants not paying rent:
16 eggs incubating
7 balls
2.2 corns(candy cane, creamsicle, ghost, normal)
1 pueblan milk
1 everglades rat
1 cal. king
1 gray band king
1 w. hognose
1 bearded dragon
2 fish
1 rat
1 mouse
5 cats

you rock. have a great weekend.