Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i grew up a pair of cb biak locality gtps (seperately) in a shoebox rack- they both were kept under the same conditions and have pounded frozen/thawed food for the last 18 months
recently i decided they had "outgrown" their small cages (i apologize i got super lazy and didnt realize they were 3 ft and were still in a sweater box!) so i set them up into slightly larger setups. both have since refused food (for over a month)- but they will strike/coil the prey but wont consume overnight.
cage temps: 70-85F

opinions wanted please

1. im assuming that stress from moving to a new larger cage would cause them to go off feed? if so, how long will that last? should i return them to their smaller previous setups?

2. they have been going through their color changes, does that ever affect their appetite/feeding response? i have heard some males tend to go off feed after 18 months?

3. i have experience with colubrids/ball pythons, would the cooler/darker months affect gtp feeding response? (im assuming not since they are tropical but who knows?)

4. i have always offered frozen/thawed mice since they had accepted it without hesitation since ive had them. i will try live prey this weekend? or maybe a live rat pup?

thanks in advance for any responses. im always learning something new, take care

-jon

Hey Jon,
Given the fact that your 18-month olds are of Biak lineage, they should have a prolonged ontogenic color change (sometimes stretching up to 5 years!). But to address your question about both of them going off feed, here's my "personal opinion"..take it for what it's worth:
1) I would hold off trying to feed them anything live, especially if they have (in the past) fed on thawed/frozen. The last thing you want is to get them into the "habit" of enjoying live or pre-killed for that matter.

2) You might simply have two males doing what males do at this time of the year, regardless of whether or not they have been subjected to thermal cycling. Males fast at these times.

So are you aware of their sexes?

Lastly, if they are males, and even more so, if they ate before....they will eat again..but on "their" terms. So relax..and enjoy them. I do realize that this is easier said than done....but most 'weathered'...or experieced keepers will also agree....they will eat when the time comes.

Rich Culver

they are 1.1 and i do understand biaks take much longer to change colors

You didn't mention whether you had moved these animals from an opaque box to a transparent one. More than one of my animals has gone off feed after moving them to a clear box. The sudden feeling of insecurity makes them skittish. Try covering the front of the enclosure with something during feedings if that is the case.

Hope this helps,
Mark

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