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2 year old not eating

Tiffycj

Western Corns
There's lots about hatchlings, but not about the older guys! Just wanted to ask on here in case I am wrong.

I acquired Pepper in June of 2013, making him almost 2 years old.

He is in a 20 gallon long zilla tank.

98 grams.

4 hides and a fake hanging plant (Don't have a pic here). All hides are the basic exo-terra caves, so they are covered. He fits in them perfectly. (They are not too small for him, not too big).

Cold side 71, warm (over heat mat) between 85 and 90 (there's a small gradient). The heat mat covers 1/3 of the tank. I use a lamp dimmer to regulate temperatures, and check them every couple days. They are steady.

I have not recently changed any husbandry conditions. He stopped eating when he was in this tank for a while. I had not switched prey items or took him out more often. He acted this way before I got the females in the room after quarantine, and I never touched them before him.

He used to be a ferocious eater. Now seems completely uninterested. He does seem to be a lot more calm. He has been hiding under the aspen instead of his hides, which he never used to do. He seems physically healthy (I have only handled him to check this, as to not stress him out). He has lost 2 grams in about 2 months (so he isn't really losing weight).

I'm in Canada, and it's been getting steadily colder. At first I thought maybe he was getting his brewing instincts in, but it's off season. Now I think he may be trying to hibernate. Thoughts?
 
I have wondered about this too - my snakes don't refuse food in the winter but they become extremely inactive. This is even with their warm hides nice and warm - they rarely leave them. I've also noticed that in the winter it sometimes takes Marceline weeks to shed after I notice that she's blue. I'm afraid I can't help with the eating problem, but I just wanted to say mine act weird in the winter too. Rigby totally went off his food for several weeks last spring, and there was nothing I could do to entice him.
 
Ill be interested to see what answers you are getting... My lizards I know becomes less active despite I do not cool them by any stretch... They eat a bit less and are basking less, just generally sleeping.. The beardies are really bad, they sometimes don't move for 1-2 weeks... They don't hide like snakes do so they will lay in a corner.. I wonder if snakes does the same, I've read some do and some don't... I would imagine he may just try to brumate.. the pro's will most likely have good answers for you!
 
Yeah I hope somebody will be able to give an answer/opinion!
It makes sense that he may be trying to brumate to me. The temperature here has dropped, and although the house is at a steady temp for the most part, maybe I haven't noticed that couple of degrees. I just didn't think they would without the keeper purposefull dropping temperatures in their tanks/tubs. Their heat pads are at the same as they have always been!
Mind you, it's only the one doing it.

Still no luck btw. It's just crazy how he hasn't really lost weight.
 
Well my lizards do it too despite I don't change the temps.. I think they feel the change somehow even though they are with "us" so to say... and the fact that he's not losing weight is an indicator to me that his body has shut down.. However, I am not a pro on snakes like the rest... So far all of mine are eating but I have mainly babies so that may not be a surprise..
 
The shortened daylight triggers them to want to brumate if they get window light, especially if accompanied by cooler temps. I have to use a light in my snake room to keep everyone on feed throughout the winter.
 
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