Reptile & Amphibian Forums

about 3 weeks ago my chondro shed, 1st time since i got him. of course he skipped a feeding while shedding just a last wed i noticed he had mite and ive been treatiing him for them but his appetite has increased ALOT since then. he ate 2 fuzzies one night a 3rd 2 nights later and today he still looks hungry!!! that would be 4 fuzzies in 5 days! hes approx 2.5 ft long at most and about a 1/4-1/2 inch in diameter. i could be off by a little as i am just eyeballing it but i dont belive he is big enough to eat 4 fuzzies this would be equivalent to one small mouse! and he hasnt deffecated yet. could the mites be increasing his appetite? does anyone know? ill try posting a pic tomorrow so you can see size but im a little worried as my chondro seems to be eating like a burmese! i figure maybe because the mites are maybe takin a little something from him that might be why he seems so hungry. any thoughts?

first off... you should only feed your snake 1 time a week regardless of the species... they will gorge themselves if they are given the chance... and that can kill the snake... i always feed a mouse or rat equil to the largest part of the body...
the mites should not affect the appetite of your snake... i am assuming that you are treating your snake and have it under control since you dident ask for help on that...

good luck... and try to get that feeding issue under control... i promise you wont starve him to death... all mine are always looking for seconds after eating..

Shiloh

>>about 3 weeks ago my chondro shed, 1st time since i got him. of course he skipped a feeding while shedding just a last wed i noticed he had mite and ive been treatiing him for them but his appetite has increased ALOT since then. he ate 2 fuzzies one night a 3rd 2 nights later and today he still looks hungry!!! that would be 4 fuzzies in 5 days! hes approx 2.5 ft long at most and about a 1/4-1/2 inch in diameter. i could be off by a little as i am just eyeballing it but i dont belive he is big enough to eat 4 fuzzies this would be equivalent to one small mouse! and he hasnt deffecated yet. could the mites be increasing his appetite? does anyone know? ill try posting a pic tomorrow so you can see size but im a little worried as my chondro seems to be eating like a burmese! i figure maybe because the mites are maybe takin a little something from him that might be why he seems so hungry. any thoughts?
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Shiloh Hawkesworth
kansas
(Midwest Serpents)

really? i was always told chondros eat very little so it seems wierd that they would even be looking for seconds after they eat unless the food item wasnt big enough. i figured it was the mites or him catching up after skipping a feeding. im not having a serious problem with mites. i found some mites took everything out of the cage washed it in an iodine solution took his cage down to the bare minimum.... perch h20 dish and paper towel substrate. i thought they went away for a while there but just yesterday i found another on his head. ive sprayed him with repitle relief spray twice in the past week and in between sprays i would give him a bath in iodine h20. so the mite problem while not completley resolved is somewhat under control.

Chondros like most any snake will often eat as much as you give them or refuse to eat at all for a while. Myself I feed my youngsters smaller meals more often. From your description your snakes sounds like it's long and thin but it could be just that you are guessing. Feeding a number of pinkies to an animal that would say take a med mouse isn't a problem other than the cost of feeding that number of pinkies compared to one med mouse.

As for the mites I don't know about using iodine I don't think it would be good for your snake as it will absorb some through its skin. Reptile relief works well and you can spray it right on the snake and the cage so you shouldn't need to soak it in iodine.Randy

>>really? i was always told chondros eat very little so it seems wierd that they would even be looking for seconds after they eat unless the food item wasnt big enough. i figured it was the mites or him catching up after skipping a feeding. im not having a serious problem with mites. i found some mites took everything out of the cage washed it in an iodine solution took his cage down to the bare minimum.... perch h20 dish and paper towel substrate. i thought they went away for a while there but just yesterday i found another on his head. ive sprayed him with repitle relief spray twice in the past week and in between sprays i would give him a bath in iodine h20. so the mite problem while not completley resolved is somewhat under control.
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