Adult corn snake hasn't eaten in 2 months! Please help!
I was wondering if I could get some advice regarding my corn snake who won't eat. He is a hypomelanistic cornsnake and will be 3 years old this coming August.
He's got me really worried. He hasn't eaten in 8 weeks. I faithfully attempt to feed him every week, except for last week, he shed, which was a perfect full shed. I see him drinking which is good. I'm giving him the same size thawed rats he's always eaten. He appears interested, will smell and move around it. I even think he's coiling around because when I go back to it it's quite floppy like he's been playing with it. I've tried putting him and the rat in a small feed box for a few hours but still nothing. I haven't tried a mouse instead of rat, fresh killed or live. I was hoping not to have to go that route. He's had frozen/thawed rats since he was born.
He did this last year around the same time but only for about 4 weeks then he was right back on his food.
His temps are good I think. 87 on the warm side, 72 on the cool. I think humidity is good since his sheds are always full, never partial. He's actually had 2 bowel movements since his fast started, which all appear normal. He appears to have possibly lost a bit of weight, I can pinch a small bit of skin but he appears bright, alert and still very strong.
And his behavior has changed somewhat. He is normally a very shy snake. Likes to hang out hidden, will wander on occasion but not very often or for too long. Lately he's been out and about alot, sometimes with part of his body in his water dish. I find him looking for a way out of his cage most of the time. He'll be running his nose along the wires on the top of cage looking for a weak spot. He is still very docile and gentle, has showed no aggression at all, just not himself.
The only thing different is on occasion I find my cat sleeping on top of his cage. I shoo her away and shut the door when I find her. I've make sure she's not in there when I feed him. Although he should be used to her, he's been around her since I got him on July of 2008.
I thought maybe he was in hibernation mode and now he wants to look for a girl snake but 8 weeks seems like a long time to me. I last tried to feed him on March 6th with no success. I'm not sure if force feeding is the way to go now or not. I've never done that and wouldn't want to injure him or stress him out more.
I'm worried about him. I don't what else to do with him. I was hoping to get your advice before I whisk him off to vet.
I'm going to attempt to feed him a mouse instead of a rat tomorrow night.
Any advice you can give me would much appreciated. Thanks very much.
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