Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I acquired an new 09 male Dumeril September 21st and he still has yet to eat. I know they can go a long time without eating but I've never had a young one go this long without eating. He drinks regularly and seems to be pretty active but he just won't eat.

I've tried, mice of various sizes, rats of various sizes, live, frozen thawed, wet, dry, at night, during the day, morning. The only thing I haven't tried is force feeding to get him started but I don't really like that idea.

I forgot to ask the breeder when I got him too what he was feeding on, and I can't ask him now.

Anyways, any help would be appreciated.

Phil

What worked for another forum member was quail chicks, so you could try that. Otherwise, I'd set up a shoe box set up (rubbermaid/sterilit/iris plastic "shoebox" tub) with newspaper/heat/water and some seclusion and only check on him once a day max, and attempt feedings weekly. Don't try to assist feed if he's still looking visually healthy. SIDE NOTE-be sure he's tongue flicking as I've seen baby dumerils for sale by other breeders that were not tongue flicking, and when I grabbed one once in a hurry, assuming the person was trustworthy, and not fully looking over the animal, MISTAKE, he didn't tongue flick and subsequently did not feed. I assist fed, but he still died months later. If you don't see flicking, open the mouth, and most likely the tongue will be laying alongside the glotus. If you see this, you should either get a refund, or consider it a lesson learned as I had to do.

This is the weirdest part of this, she's tongue flicking all the time all over the rodents. I only go see him every second day or so just to give water and mist my snake cages. The snakes have their own room.

His tank is pretty small enought for a small water bowl and a hide. He spends most of his time it seems in the hide with his head stikcing out. He'll come out and drink sometimes as I pour water in his dish and I've even noticed a similar behavior as my other dumeril with his eyes going completely black. This usually meant my other Durm was hungry.

I'll maybe have to see if I can find quail chicks in the area to give it a try though.

Thanks