Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Feeding large RTB and a Dumeril's. Wont take. Split head open of rat for the RTB. Could it be a breeding fast?

dumeril's is a yearling Female....and the RTB is a 4 yr old Female--proven.

vet says they are healthy 100%
thanks
Hunter

Hey Hunter-

Where did you hear of splitting the rats head open? Do your snakes have a hide? Have you been handling them? What are their temps? Refer back to Hoppy's post not too long ago about animals that aren't feeding. It has some really good information in it.

Brett

yes, they have hides. the temps are right at 88 and 82. ill take a look at hoppy's! everwhere ive read says to expose the brain and bloody up the head of the rat or mouse.
thanks
hunter

I've heard of dipping them in chicken broth. I'd really get grossed out splitting open their heads.

I am used to blood...my father is a dentist and spent many a day in his office when i was young. I prekill them, then cut with a sharp knife. i hope it works...leaving in there over night...hopefully they will take their prey.

Hunter,
I normally don't have my females go into a fast, I make them fast by only offering food every 14-21 days overwinter but they always feed aggresivly when I feed them during this time. Only the males I have refuse food and I have them do this for months, so are you sure that they are females?
My next tip would be to raise the temps on the hot spot, about 95 degrees is a good belly hot spot, and now for a few silly questions that I need to make sure of.
I assume that you are feeding F/T rats? Are they completely thawed and not still cold in the middle? Are they at least warm room temp and have you tried warming them up by placing them on a heating pad, it has worked for me on stubborn feeders.
Try reducing the size of the prey item.
Brianing is normally used on baby corn snakes that are reluctant to feed, maybe even baby boas, but I would not reccomend braining a large rat for feeding to a boa, fractured skull peices could damage the snake while it swallows it's prey, pinkies don't have hard bones formed yet and that is why it is ok for them.
Try Live prey, smaller then normal and see if that works. The Chicken broth idea is a great one, originally used and publicized by the Barkers for Pythons, it works great on Boas too.
The very first thing I would check however is the snakes health, A vet check really sounds in order for you. I know you have not had the BCI too long so it may have come to you with a parasite load that has gotten out of hand inside her and may be the reason she is not feeding. Also the URI s can and will cause a snake to stop and without holding her and feeling her breathing it is hard to know if that is a problem.
Try raising the temps and feeding a smaller then normal live rat. If she still refuses then she needs to be seen by a Vet. Keep in mind a snake is at its most aggressive feeding level a day or so after a shed, they shed they poop and they are hungry. If she is refusing then, something is not right.
The is the outside chance that she came to gravid, but for her to refuse food while gravid it would normally be in the last 3-4 weeks and she would be hugely swollen.
Good Luck and let me know if you have any more questions
-----
Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

we went to the vet yesterday and she was pronounced in perfect health, a little overweight. ill try the chickenbroth. im buying live rats/mice and prekilling myself....so they are body temperature of a normal rodent. ill get the dumeril's to the vet...she just finished her shed....im going to try it one more time with chicken broth.

i am sure they are females. one had 2 litters (saw the babies), and the other was sold to me by a well known breeder...but i will re-probe to make sure.

thanks for all of your help with a newbie!!!!
hunter