Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Fall is surely in the air, and I was just curious if any of your Cribo's and Indigo's change feeding habits any, with the changing season? Both my Texas Indigo's and my Cribo's, and 1 male woma have recently just stopped showing interest in feeding, but the only changes that have taken place are in my house and outside, not in the enclosures. Does this happen with anybody else? I assume it is just geographic location, and for me it is a lot cooler now than usual for October. Should I adjust or do anything about this?

I presently keep 4.5 couperi from 4 different breeders. 2.2 are 2006 animals, 1.1 are 2007 animals, and 1.2 are 2008 animals. My older indy's show this behavior you speak of, however when they were younger you had to ration them for they would eat until they bursted, as do my younger ones now. So, in my experience it seems to be age related regardless of genetics.

Tim

Ok great Thanks, so what happens in the winter? Feeding go back to normal or what? Thanks....

My cribos haven't but my indigos have. They do this every year at this time.

Maybe it's related to the shorter days, or changes in atmospheric pressure.

So how about in the winter? How is the feeding then? Does it go back to normal once things level out for the season or what? Thanks....

Perhaps it varies depending on well your indoor environment insulates the snakes from outside influences i.e. shortening day length, temperature drops etc.? I notice mine slow down (but do not stop) a bit on feeding, which roughly correlates with breeding trials. I have a SW window that probably cues them to shortening day lengths. I do not provide light during the warmer 1/2 of the year.

I have to agree with Vic as well. I think when indigo's reach maturity and are clued into environment, lighting, temps, and pressure changes, natural behavior is telling them to cut back (not entirely quit) on feeding. As I mentioned before, this behavior does not seem to be as evident in my younger animals...

It is the season of love for the drymarchons. I have already started pairing mine as the males were destroying there enclosures. Happy days are here again for the beasts!!

Dan

Did you already cool them?

I haven't deliberately cooled them, but here is Southern California it has cooled naturally....

I'm not sure that D.melanurus needs cooling as much as daylight changes...but changes in the snake room has gone from the mid eighties to the mid seventies. Haven't put the erebennus together yet...won't start that until the end of November. It was just that the male blacktail was going "bonkers" trying to get to the female. Now just a whole lot of thrashing going on!!!!

Dan

I haven't experienced any decreased feeding, but my blacktails are locked up as I write...

No slowing down around here. Maybe try feeding smaller meals?

Nate