Snake didn't eat
- Thread starter smmfish
- Start date
Yeah, it sucks. Should I take him to the vet and see if everything is ok or just wait a week and see if he eats then. I know they can go a long time without eating as long as they don't lose any weight. What are your thoughts. I live in a small town and to take a herp to a vet is quite costly, but if something is wrong with him it is well worth it.
dude, don't give your snakes/lizards live food. just give them frozen rats/mice. its a lot safer and you don't have the worry of the rodents biting your snake.
Ok, with my last few snakes I have always fed live mice and rats. I have never once had a problem with them biting my snakes. The reason for this I think is I use a feeding box to feed them. None of my snakes have ever been fed in their enclosures.
How do you get them accustomed to eating dead mice? And how do you kill them. I have never done it this way before.
How do you get them accustomed to eating dead mice? And how do you kill them. I have never done it this way before.
I'm sure there are frozen rat/mice suppliers over there, if not, hold the rat by the tail and run a ruler up its back bone towards it head make it swift and quick, it has to be a hard ruler like a metal one or a bit of hard wood as you only really get one chance with it. your aiming to snap its neck.
if you can get frozen rodents, put one in a water tight bag and then just soak the bag in some warm water, the water defrosts the rodent as well as warming up the body temp, if it's a larger snake you may want tweezers but you just grab it by it's tail and shake it, once the snake has a hold of the rodent, keep shaking it as though it is alive until it starts to consume it.
The reason for putting it in the bag is to keep water away from it, if you directly soak it in water you are washing away good rodenty oders!
Check this out for more information..
if you can get frozen rodents, put one in a water tight bag and then just soak the bag in some warm water, the water defrosts the rodent as well as warming up the body temp, if it's a larger snake you may want tweezers but you just grab it by it's tail and shake it, once the snake has a hold of the rodent, keep shaking it as though it is alive until it starts to consume it.
The reason for putting it in the bag is to keep water away from it, if you directly soak it in water you are washing away good rodenty oders!
Check this out for more information..
I doubt a vet visit is needed as it is a BP and they go weeks and months off food at times.....especially if they are male.
I would say at this point that I would let the snake entirely alone for a week then drop in a prekilled mouse some evening and leave it til morning. This is only provided you don't have substrate that is dangerous....like bark.
Feeding live is playing roulette with the chance that a prey will bite your snake and 'cause some impressive damage. Living in a glass box is not the wild and both the snake and prey know this....that is why the rodents are more dangerous...they know they can't get away.
The striking and 'missing' you describe makes me think that for whatever reason the snake is not willing to eat and it is just hitting defensively. Sometimes they just bang the prey and sometimes they fling it around but not grabbing and wrapping is a sign he/she is not willing to eat and I would break off trying and give him a mental break for the week.
I would say at this point that I would let the snake entirely alone for a week then drop in a prekilled mouse some evening and leave it til morning. This is only provided you don't have substrate that is dangerous....like bark.
Feeding live is playing roulette with the chance that a prey will bite your snake and 'cause some impressive damage. Living in a glass box is not the wild and both the snake and prey know this....that is why the rodents are more dangerous...they know they can't get away.
The striking and 'missing' you describe makes me think that for whatever reason the snake is not willing to eat and it is just hitting defensively. Sometimes they just bang the prey and sometimes they fling it around but not grabbing and wrapping is a sign he/she is not willing to eat and I would break off trying and give him a mental break for the week.
smmfish;705991; said:
dont try feeding frozen yet, if you plan on it try in the spring after your guys been feeding well for a while. make life easy on your self take the food back and exchange it for a live mouse that your bp has been taking.
Just a little tip i used to use feed boxes also after running into a period of snakes getting spooked from being moved and not eating, I started throwing the
live rats into the viv and was surprised at fast a bp will come out of his hide for
dinner. Just watch them and if they don't feed don't leave the food in overnight just try again the next day.
To keep mice/rats alive provide water in a bowl some pine shavings and gerbil
food a tupperware box works good to house them
I have a pet rat and I feed her "rat/mouse food" that I get at PetSmart and thats about it. And the only reason I have a pet rat is because one of my ball's would not eat her. She is about 2 years now.
I tried to take the baby rat back and exchange it and they said, "Once it leaves the store, it doesn't come back in" So now I am stuck with a baby rat. I also have a black mouse that he wouldn't eat either. I will try and feed again on Saturday, maybe he will be hungry enough by then.fishnutham;707769; said:
Maybe I will just throw the mouse in the enclosure and see how he does.
Is it just a myth that if you feed in the enclosure they will think that all action in the tank is food?
smmfish;707950; said:
its a myth i wouldn't worry about it . The only snake I've had problems with is Cali Kings because of their voracious appetites.
