Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My male texas bairdi hasnt been eating but about once a month. I was wondering should I just try brumating him and say screw trying to keep him to keep eating and try again in the spring? He hasnt had anything in about 3.5 weeks...and its just flat out getting annoying.

He's about 5 months old.
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-Chris

The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)
1.0 Green Tree Python (Claudius)... coming soon

That could certainly work but I'm a little concerned about his condition. If he isn't in good shape, he might not survive. Consider putting him down for a shorter time - like 4-6 weeks. That should be about right to avoid too much weight loss and still give him a Springtime "pick-me-up."

I agree with Mark. A 4 to 5 week cool down has helped several picky/finicky eaters I have had. Find a cool dark spot in the house like a closet and put him in there. Cover him and put in fresh water. Change the water once a week and then bring him out after about 4 to 5 weeks. I wouldn't put him down for 2 or 3 months.

Terry Parks

That sounds like a good plan...the only problem is nowhere in my house does it drop below about 70 degrees, except at night. Could I get by with putting him in the garage? However its starting to drop in the lower 40's at night...so the location is my problem.
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-Chris

The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)
1.0 Green Tree Python (Claudius)... coming soon

Chris -
I take my snakes over to a friends this time of year. I will be taking mine over this weekend. In the least, I would find the coolest and darkest part of the house and put him there for about 4 weeks.

Terry Parks

That kind of strong drop might be a problem. The snake should be acclimated to that kind of temp gradually. Now, overall, the idea of 40 degree temps isn't a show stopper. It happens to wild snakes every winter in many places around the US. If the very low temps are sustained, that could be a seriously different issue. Target temperatures are a major point of debate. Personally, I suspect the real issue isn't actual temperature as much as slowing the snake's metabolism for a while. If the coldest spot in your house gets in the 60's at night and about 70 during the day, that might be good enough. (Is there a window you could crack?) If nothing else, those temps don't represent any danger. I've got my grey rat in just such a spot right now and he hasn't poked his head out in 2 weeks. He's tucked up tight. Good luck, its sure worth a try. let us know how it works.

Some will stop. Many will "slow down" to once every several weeks. 3 of mine are about ready to be sent down to the basement for at least a few weeks. For breeding purposes you really need to put them down for a few months in some cases (some species in particular). But I have found that just a few weeks in the cold, dark basement is usually enough to cycle my fasting ratsnakes back up to feeding. I usually try to do this during the shortest days of the year (Mid-late Dec) and bring them back up in January when the days are actually starting to get a little bit longer. I have natural lighting, so I feel that this makes a difference. Like I said, "Get used to it"...
It doesn't even annoy me anymore. I thaw out, like, one rat for four or five snakes and figure one of them will eat it (I have one corn that will almost always take the rat if none of the "other" ratsnakes want it! Duffy

this is the guy i got back in august or september and couldnt ever get him to eat. i finally got him to eat lizard scented live pinks..but he's very picky about that. and he only has been eating about one every 3-4 weeks. he fed three times before he was shipped out to me.

and about the garage...are those temperatures too extreme on the low end or is it ok? (35-40 at night)
-----
-Chris

The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)
1.0 Green Tree Python (Claudius)... coming soon