Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone!

I have an albino burm that we got before christmas as part of a trade. We have other burms, which is why this is so perplexing.... this burm will not eat!!! She's starting to look skinny now (over 2 months not eating, plus she started off needing some weight on her) and I am getting VERY worried. Her temps are good (80-82 cool side 90-93 hot/basking), humidity is fine (plus misting/baths). Her enclosure is a good size for her, and she herself is about 5' long. She has hides & a big water dish she hangs out in sometimes. She's still very active and tame.

Here is the strange part: she will strike at food (live/FK/frozen thawed), constrict the hell out of it, and then drop it and ignore it like it's not there. We have tried in the dark, in the light, with us in the room, and out of the room.

We have tried rats, mice, gerbils, bunnies in all combos, and all sizes, to no avail. We have inspected her mouth and there is nothing wrong in there either.

After reading through the forums, I will try and find some small chick/quail and hope that she actually swallows them down instead of just killing and dropping them. My question about this is, should we try LIVE chicks/quail? Or would she probably love and eat FT too?

Rats are the easiest available food item (we raise our own) and bunnies are super cheap to buy, but she never eats them.

We love her and don't want her to die, we know she will be a gentle giant and are looking forward to watching her grow into a beautiful adult.. but we need to get her there, which won't happen unless she eats!

Any other suggestions, or do you think the birds will do the trick? Anyone else had this happen before? Please let me know!!
Thank you muchly,

Jess

Your temps are perfect. Here's a few questions/thoughts/ideas:

1) Many burms go off feed this time of year; that's just a normal course of action. Unfortunately, if the burm was underfed going into this cyclic feeding response, it could put quite a toll on its reserves. All you can do in these cases is to make sure the snake stays well hydrated and in a stress-free environment until it resumes feeding in the spring.

2) Cage size: this sounds strange, but some burms prefer very small confines (like all snakes, they are thigmotaxic). You might try putting the snake in a smaller cage to promote more security. Additionally, do you have SMALL hide areas in the current cage? IF not, try putting several in the cage. Plastic sweater boxes w/holes cut in the lid make outstanding hide boxes because you can keep the interiors at a high humidity level w/out keeping the entire cage damp/moist. Once the snake is hunkered into the hide area, try dangling a frozen/thawed and then re-warmed rat by the entry...be prepared for a rapid feeding response. They will then pull the snake inside the hide area and oftentimes consume it there (just leave the snake alone for a while).

I am assuming you've done fecals but if not, you might consider that too.

Hope this helps a bit.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
Lake Forest, IL

>>Hello everyone!
>>
>>I have an albino burm that we got before christmas as part of a trade. We have other burms, which is why this is so perplexing.... this burm will not eat!!! She's starting to look skinny now (over 2 months not eating, plus she started off needing some weight on her) and I am getting VERY worried. Her temps are good (80-82 cool side 90-93 hot/basking), humidity is fine (plus misting/baths). Her enclosure is a good size for her, and she herself is about 5' long. She has hides & a big water dish she hangs out in sometimes. She's still very active and tame.
>>
>>Here is the strange part: she will strike at food (live/FK/frozen thawed), constrict the hell out of it, and then drop it and ignore it like it's not there. We have tried in the dark, in the light, with us in the room, and out of the room.
>>
>>We have tried rats, mice, gerbils, bunnies in all combos, and all sizes, to no avail. We have inspected her mouth and there is nothing wrong in there either.
>>
>>After reading through the forums, I will try and find some small chick/quail and hope that she actually swallows them down instead of just killing and dropping them. My question about this is, should we try LIVE chicks/quail? Or would she probably love and eat FT too?
>>
>>Rats are the easiest available food item (we raise our own) and bunnies are super cheap to buy, but she never eats them.
>>
>>We love her and don't want her to die, we know she will be a gentle giant and are looking forward to watching her grow into a beautiful adult.. but we need to get her there, which won't happen unless she eats!
>>
>>Any other suggestions, or do you think the birds will do the trick? Anyone else had this happen before? Please let me know!!
>>Thank you muchly,
>>
>>Jess
>>
>>
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

liking small confines or like the opposite of closterphobia (spelling) according to the context clues. I know all baout them not liking open areas and such as a cage and can cause stress and etc. but I never thought there was a word for it. lol. leanr soemhting new every day.
-----
Justin

well... got ahold of a button quail today.... put it in with the burm.... now there's a new problem...

the quail seems to be missing! there's just a few feathers in the tank... and the burm has a little bump in her!

ha ha ha ha ha

YAY!!!!

now I'm going to get her a bunch, then try her on a rat in a few weeks after some nice bird feedings.

thanks for suggestions and advice to my board, and on previous ones!

Jess