6+ Weeks Without Eating ('07 Hatchling)

[Roy Munson]

In mid-September, Stephen sent me a bunch of hatchlings from a breeding loan we conducted, and this guy was in the bunch. He's an ultramel motley/stripe het caramel. His first two meals were fairly routine, except that he wanted the pinks washed. No big deal. Then he refused for an entire month. I finally tried anole-scenting, and he resumed feeding fairly regularly for a little over a month. Then he started refusing even anole-scented pinks. :angry01: Here are his records:

9/17/06: Pink (washed)
9/25: Pink (washed)
10/16: SHED
10/25: Pink (anole-scented)
11/4: Pink (a-s)
11/6: SHED
11/11: Pink (a-s)
11/18: Pink (a-s)
11/26: Pink (a-s)
12/2: Pink (a-s)
12/12: SHED

So tonight was feeding night for his group. He wasn't even looking bad yet. He looked well-hydrated, and his spine wasn't sticking out or anything. He was still energetic and curious. Still, I've been getting more and more worried. But for some reason, he ate tonight! Whew. I hope he keeps it up. He's not a keeper, but I still didn't want him dying on me.

Maybe this will give novice hatchling owners some idea of how long these guys can go without eating, and a little insight into dealing with problem hatchlings.

 

[Corny Noob]

If at first you don't suceed, try try again.
Good thing you're a softie and you don't want his cute little face dying on your hands even if you don't plan on keeping him

 

[Roy Munson]

If at first you don't suceed, try try again.
Good thing you're a softie and you don't want his cute little face dying on your hands even if you don't plan on keeping him

Well, I sure tried again... and again, and again, and again. I won't let a snake starve itself to death. If he had started looking really bad, I would have euthanized him. But like I said, he never really looked bad. He may have lost a gram off his peak weight, but that's about it.

 

[Shorty6]

That gives me hope for my little Ziggy! He's regurged twice with me, and I just fed him yesterday and all is well so far, knock on wood.

 

[mike17l]

Maybe this will give novice hatchling owners some idea of how long these guys can go without eating, and a little insight into dealing with problem hatchlings.

Or, perhaps it will give semi seasoned pros an idea of how long they can wait between feeding of animals they are not planning on keeping.

What do you think?

 

[clipclopclip]

I'd just like to say that that little guy has a very nice face! He's super cute! Good for you keeping him healthy!

 

[Weebonilass]

He's a handsome little thing.. apparently he's getting enough if he's only dropped a gram or two. He's lucky to be in your snake room

 

[Velvet]

Congrats on getting him to eat Dean!!! I think he's LOVELY!

Thanks for this post, I have learnt alot and I am sure others will too!

 

[snakewispera snr]

We have some who have there moments and do the dieting bit (does my cloaca look big in this?)
And like you we worry, your bound to. We always wonder if this is the time it stops feeding altogether. God knows whats going on in that little head, but they seem to know what they're doing.
Good thread Dean make it a closed sticky so people can look at it when panic starts to set in..
MIKE

 

[CALIVIK]

I like em too! My Cali King who is only 5mths is in hiding w/out eating for a little over 2mths now. He is doing grt. I think he is brumating. UGH the joys of learning a new breed. Have no problems w/ the corns eating. Have had a few regurges but that's it.

Anway, glad to hear all is well!

 

[diamondlil]

What a naughty little snakey! Hope he gets back on track, but it's good you showed how his bad habits aren't affecting him so far.

 

[Susan]

I've had my share of these type of feeders myself. And the really weird part is that on some occasions, after refusing the specially doctored pinks they've been sporadically eating for you for months, they suddenly only want to eat the regular ol' pinks that everybody else is eating. :shrugs:

 

[Roy Munson]

Or, perhaps it will give semi seasoned pros an idea of how long they can wait between feeding of animals they are not planning on keeping.

What do you think?

Ouch! I hope not. I don't think it would be prudent to subject snakes you intend to sell to a semi-starvation diet. It wouldn't be conducive to establishing consistent feeding response. Not only that, but you could run the risk of weakening the snake to the point where it couldn't eat again.

I've had my share of these type of feeders myself. And the really weird part is that on some occasions, after refusing the specially doctored pinks they've been sporadically eating for you for months, they suddenly only want to eat the regular ol' pinks that everybody else is eating. :shrugs:

I'll have to try a regular ol' pink for his next feeding. It would be nice if I didn't have to drag that nasty, freezer-burned, quintuple amputee (tail too) anole out of the freezer for a while.

 

[wade]

I'll have to try a regular ol' pink for his next feeding. It would be nice if I didn't have to drag that nasty, freezer-burned, quintuple amputee (tail too) anole out of the freezer for a while.

:rofl: I have raised Lampropeltis thayeri and greybands and several other kings that often require lizard scent to begin with. We do disgusting things sometimes in the name of snake care. :rofl:

 

[Jcapicy]

Roy,
You may have jsut sold me on getting a corn that isn't an anery!

That one looks great. Glad to hear your working with it.

If it makes it let me know. ( I have a strong feeling that it will!) I know a perfect little spot in Florida where it would be happy!

 

[Roy Munson]

Roy,
You may have jsut sold me on getting a corn that isn't an anery!

That one looks great. Glad to hear your working with it.

If it makes it let me know. ( I have a strong feeling that it will!) I know a perfect little spot in Florida where it would be happy!

I'm pretty sure he'll make it too. It's just a matter of keeping up with his shifting preferences. If I can get him stabilized over the next couple of months, I'll let you know.

 

[Jcapicy]

That'll be perfect as I am potentially getting a new python late feb and will be looking for a corn march/april.

 

[ArpeggioAngel]

Nice job Dean. Goes to show that patience and persistence are really paramount in this hobby!
I can relate as one of my female Sinaloan hatchlings went through a similar ordeal.
She ate the first meal that was offered to all of the hatchlings - unscented pink - and then quit eating. I tried everything, washing, scenting, braining, even anoles themselves with no luck. She went from mid-September until mid-December with no meals at all.
I thought she was on her last legs but decided to give her another shot (I had been trying every week on schedule to get her to eat). I had some live anoles for the graybands and threw a small one in with her - and she ate it - so I threw in a 2nd one - and she it as well. So now she has had a few anole meals in a row. Each week I try with the mouse again, but so far she is still stuck on the anoles. Eventually she will get weaned off of them and back onto the mice - but I am just glad she is eating again.

 

[phicks48]

some times you need to up the heat for those not eating Paul H

 

[Roy Munson]

some times you need to up the heat for those not eating Paul H

You're absolutely correct, Paul. And sometimes you need to keep them at lower temps. And sometimes you need to provide a better temp gradient than is sometimes offered to hatchlings housed in small containers. Heck, sometimes they seem to just require a plain ol' "change of scene" (i.e., environment or location). And sometimes when you mess around with all of these things, you start worrying that you're introducing stress by doing so!

Welcome to the forum.