Grrr non-feeder you anger me!

[Carinata]

Hey guys! I bought a CB '09 Classic het: Opal (Amel + Lavender) and he is supposed to be a major part of my Bloodred breeding program! He was born 7-24-09. He weighs 8 grams. And the breeder said he ate 7 times. He had a bulge in him when I bought him. The stool from that feeding looked normal. He is very active. The pinkies the guy at the show had are massive so I have been attempting feeding with pinkie heads. I have also tried anole scenting. Today he did tease feed on a mouse tail but the took coaxing. I have him in a 5.5 gallon wuarentine cages with water and a few hides and a UTH. His temps follow basic colubrid formula. I have delt with non feeders before but this one worries me. I took some pictures.
http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo155/The-snake-man/Album%202/DSCF9984.jpg
http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo155/The-snake-man/Album%202/DSCF9985.jpg
http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo155/The-snake-man/Album%202/DSCF9986.jpg
http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo155/The-snake-man/Album%202/DSCF9988.jpg

[mynamesrick]

i just got some non-feeders from becky.. i used live pinks in deli cups and i got 3/4 to eat, and i also got my hognose to eat who hadn't for a few weeks... If you don't have live just feed f/t in the cup.. just a suggestion though.. Good luck getting this guy to feed! He doesn't look too thin so I'm sure he's gonna be alright :)

[Carinata]

Thanks Rick! I have a buddy that breeds BPs and I may have him bring me a few live tomarrow

[Susielea]

He looks like he should be able to handle a regular pinky without any problems. I have some here that will not eat pinky parts (I've been feeding pink heads to a 3 gram Opal and thought the bigger guys would clean up the bodies, but no way!), but they will eat a whole pink no problem :)

[Carinata]

Hmmm I amy go buy a 2 Dollar puny pink from peco tomarrow before trying live.

[kathylove]

I don't think you mentioned how long you have had him and how many times you tried so far (or I missed it). Don't try more often than every 5 days or so. Sometimes you just have to start them off on live pinks a few times. It may be stressed from adjusting to its new home. Sometimes a live pink is just too yummy to resist! But if you have only tried a couple of times, it is not time to worry just yet. The snake is small, but looks healthy in the photo. If it doesn't eat within 2 or 3 weeks after you got it, then it is time to try live. They usually switch back to f/t again after a couple of live pinks.

Good luck!

[Carinata]

Thanks for the tips Kathy!

[Carinata]

Got some pretty bad news. Last night at some time the snake die. Yep, I checked him just now and he was dead. Kinda pissed off right now. He was hiding under one of his hides.

[Nanci]

That's sad, David. He must have had something wrong and that was why he wasn't eating. I'm sorry.

[Carinata]

Thanks Nanci

[kathylove]

Wow - sorry to hear that. Sounds like you didn't have him all that long. Not long enough to starve, anyway.

When he was still alive, did you check him by gently palpating his midsection to see whether it was strong and muscular, or mushy feeling? I find that to be one of the best ways to predict survival on non feeders. If mushy, the prognosis is very poor.

It is a quick and easy way to check out a potential purchase when buying in person at a shop or show. It would not have helped to save him if he was mushy - not sure what you can do about it. But it can prepare you for what to expect.

Sorry for your loss.

[Carinata]

He had a nice tone to him. I don't know what happened

[kathylove]

Unfortunately, you will probably never know unless you take him immediately to a vet for a necropsy (no freezing, only refrigeration, before necropsy). And even then, they may or may not be able to tell you much. Sometimes cause of death is obvious, and sometimes not.

It is really difficult to lose one, but often even worse if it is a long time pet that you have had time to bond with. Hope your others are doing great!

[Carinata]

Thank god all teh others are gaining weight and eating! At least he was not like Jasmine and I had a close bond with. But I still like him alot.