Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I got a BRB a couple of weeks ago. It came with good feeding records and ate the first time I fed it (it is on defrost fuzzy mice, the snake is 6 weeks old). The mouse I fed it was regurgitated the next day and since then it has not eaten anything I've offered. The temp in the vivarium is set at low 80s with 90% humidity. I was wondering if there is anything I could try. The snake is very healthy looking and active. She just shed her skin yesterday, could the shed cycle have affected her feeding? Any help gratefull received.

Ryan,
...Where in the cage and how did you measure the temperature and humidity? If the cage really does have 90% humidity that is good. Little BRBs do require extremely high humidity. After they grow up they can do well with lower humidity. If the temperature at the coolest place in the cage is in the 80s that is bad and likely the reason the snake regurgitated. These snakes need cages with a temperature gradient from the low 70s in the cool end to the high 70s or low 80s in the warm end. Many people check cage temperature up near the top of the cage and upon closer examination find that the bottom of the cage in or under the substrate where the snake spends much of it's time is way too hot. Little BRBs kept in the 80s with no chance to thermoregulate to their preferred mid 70s temperature will dehydrate. Dehydration will cause shedding problems, regurgitation and in some cases death. Too much activity and too much light will be stressful to a little BRB and may make it regurgitate.
Jeff

>>Hi,
>>
>>I got a BRB a couple of weeks ago. It came with good feeding records and ate the first time I fed it (it is on defrost fuzzy mice, the snake is 6 weeks old). The mouse I fed it was regurgitated the next day and since then it has not eaten anything I've offered. The temp in the vivarium is set at low 80s with 90% humidity. I was wondering if there is anything I could try. The snake is very healthy looking and active. She just shed her skin yesterday, could the shed cycle have affected her feeding? Any help gratefull received.

Temperatures too high and dehydration will cause little BRBs to go off feed. If you get the temperature and humidity right and do not cause too much stress they will eat every time a meal is offered. Where did you get a 6 week old BRB from at this time of year?
Jeff

>>Ryan,
>>...Where in the cage and how did you measure the temperature and humidity? If the cage really does have 90% humidity that is good. Little BRBs do require extremely high humidity. After they grow up they can do well with lower humidity. If the temperature at the coolest place in the cage is in the 80s that is bad and likely the reason the snake regurgitated. These snakes need cages with a temperature gradient from the low 70s in the cool end to the high 70s or low 80s in the warm end. Many people check cage temperature up near the top of the cage and upon closer examination find that the bottom of the cage in or under the substrate where the snake spends much of it's time is way too hot. Little BRBs kept in the 80s with no chance to thermoregulate to their preferred mid 70s temperature will dehydrate. Dehydration will cause shedding problems, regurgitation and in some cases death. Too much activity and too much light will be stressful to a little BRB and may make it regurgitate.
>>Jeff
>>
>>>>Hi,
>>>>
>>>>I got a BRB a couple of weeks ago. It came with good feeding records and ate the first time I fed it (it is on defrost fuzzy mice, the snake is 6 weeks old). The mouse I fed it was regurgitated the next day and since then it has not eaten anything I've offered. The temp in the vivarium is set at low 80s with 90% humidity. I was wondering if there is anything I could try. The snake is very healthy looking and active. She just shed her skin yesterday, could the shed cycle have affected her feeding? Any help gratefull received.

Like Jeff said check and double check your temps. Get the little guy comfortable and I bet it eats. Also you don't want to be handling it to much or messing around with its cage to often sounds like your little guy is really stressed. Get him set up right and you'll have a happy hungry little RB.

Look through this forum there is a lot of helpful info here.
Randy
-----
I don't care if the glass is half full or half empty !
I just want the full glass I paid for !

Hi Jeff and thanks for the advice.

I am in the UK (which also means I don't have the option of giving her live feed). I have adjusted the set up in the vivarium and won't offer any more food for a couple of days and leave the snake totally uninterputed before offering another mouse.

Thanks.

Thanks for the advice Jeff. I think I may reduce the temp in the cooler end as it probably is nearer to the 80 than 70. At the moment the snake spends nearly all of her time in the peat box recommended by the breeder (it is damp, moist and covered). The lighting is minimal. By process of elimination I'm pretty sure it must be conditions that have caused problem, the snake was eating fine with the breeder who had her in a much smaller, simpler set up. Would it be an option to get a smaller container, and place it within the vivivarium to keep the snake in? I could probably control conditions better. Or use the smaller container purely to feed the snake outside of its normal environment?