Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A python breeder friend rescued a starved corn, put some weight on him & adopted him out to me. He has gained good weight & no longer eats everything placed in front of him. He is 15 years old (for certain), appears blind & has a wheeze when he breathes sometimes. He often sneezes. I took him to my herp vet months ago when I first got him. He put him on Baytril, which cleared up mucus in the mouth & helped reduce the sneezing. The vet & breeder both feel meds have gotten him as far as he's going to go. He is active, sweet to handle.

Finally, my question. He has refused his last 2 meals, so hasn't eaten since 12/30. Should I be worried, or is he just finally satiated enough to put himself on a lesser feeding schedule?
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2.1 Corn snakes Snake Plissken, Jack Skellington & Abby
1.1 Hog Island Boas Harley & Isaboa
1.3 leos, Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1.1 frogs Buffy the Cricket Slayer, Butrose Butrose Froggy
1.1.5 firebelly newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Juice Newton, Olivia Newton John, Helmut Newton & Thandie Newton
1.1 cats Gus & Mena

Sounds like you've done quite a lot for this snake, probably about all you can. I would not worry about him missing a couple of meals. Normally, I don't even think twice about any ratsnake that goes a couple of weeks without eating...especially this time of year. Your snake, of course, is one that you will be inclided to worry about every little thing...and understandably so. You might try offering him a tiny meal next time. I have a greenish rat who was eating rat fuzzies last summer and now he's subsisting on pinkies for the winter. Again, not unusual.

Just keep up the good work, realizing that with his age and history he could go downhill on you at some time. Nice job on the rehab effort. Duffy

I looked at my records again, he hasn't eaten since 12/23. But he's still as active as usual, so I'll try to stress less. Thanks for the reassurance. Part of me figured he'd never refuse a meal, due to his previous starvation, but clearly that's not true I was thinking of offering him a smaller meal, I'll try that.
Thanks again.
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2.1 Corn snakes Snake Plissken, Jack Skellington & Abby
1.1 Hog Island Boas Harley & Isaboa
1.3 leos, Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1.1 frogs Buffy the Cricket Slayer, Butrose Butrose Froggy
1.1.5 firebelly newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Juice Newton, Olivia Newton John, Helmut Newton & Thandie Newton
1.1 cats Gus & Mena