feeder not feeding now.. advice.

[runninghorsespirit]

I have had a non feeder but he went almost a month and never ate for me. I am with them on the shed. I have had hatchlings that would stop eating a week before you can see the shed change. If he is really active could be stress, My little non feeder would do laps around the cage until i changed from straight newspaper to shredded newspaper about an inch and half. He stopped doing his laps and was a lot calmer then a week of him just in his cage and not messing with him, I put in a plate with on pinkie and he ate it no problem. I don't recommend cage feeding but knowing how easy is to stress once out of the cage its what im stuck to until i can get him slowly eating in an empty container and get him eating in a feeding tank.

 

[runninghorsespirit]

I don't know what size tank you have but i keep mine in a ten gallon so they have plenty of room and doesn't feel cramped, that and sometimes rarely they do better with another hatchling about the same size. Im just learning as i go with my snakes, Ive had touch and go with hatchlings

 

[greenman]

my little guy/girl are now only 8 wks old. they are in 5qt tubs for tonight but i literally just finished prepping 7qt tubs for them. SO they are getting a bit of an upgrade. I'll also make sure to put enough substrate for them!
I'll let you know what has happened as of tomorrow morning!

 

[Caryl]

...sometimes rarely they do better with another hatchling about the same size. Im just learning as i go with my snakes, Ive had touch and go with hatchlings

You're on target with the feeding advice, but I respectfully disagree with cohabbing hatchlings. In nature the babies disperse after their first shed if not not before. Cannibalism is a real risk with hatchlings, in which case you're likely to lose both of them. There are a lot of threads on here dealing with this topic, and members who've seen it happen. I won't go into it now but wanted to encourage you to check out these stories and house all babies who are feeding separately.

 

[greenman]

Okay so i set them up in there new 7qt tubs and its much more spacious! I put the live pinky in the home tub for now. just for a few hours, after dinner if there is no change im going to freeze it.

QUESTION:
its officially been 4 weeks. going on 5.
how long until i should panic and consider force feeding OR assisted feeding?

 

[Caryl]

QUESTION:
its officially been 4 weeks. going on 5.
how long until i should panic and consider force feeding OR assisted feeding?

There's no hard and fast rule to the question you ask. Do you know the weight of your stubborn baby? If you weigh it weekly and notice that (a) its weight is dropping significantly and/or (b) it's spine is showing more distinctly and/or (c) its seeming weaker or less energetic, it would be time to examine more aggressive options and your feelings about those options. Hopefully it won't come to that.

 

[greenman]

well as of moments ago, he sees healthy at about 8g's. i need to get a new scale to be 100% sure. 2 is always better than 1!
As of tonight also im 99percent sure he is going into a shed. I thought he was a few weeks when this all started. I compared him to his sister tonight and his eyes are way whiter than the girls. Im hoping this is a good sign. If he sheds it may open up some hunger! Im just hoping the fading in colour is nothing bad!

for the past 6 weeks he ate for first 2 and not all since, but has yet to shed. His sister shed 2 weeks ago. PLEASE BE SHED!
im going to handle him all week, then offer him a live meal on friday again.

Caryl. I've recently seen your thread of your snake. How many weeks was your non-feeder, not feeding for? Also, did you snake show interest the previous meals and just protest to eat. or did he have 100% no interest in the food until he ate?
thanks for being a huge help.

 

[bambam1313]

wondering if you guys can help me outt too ..
i got a 5 year old ghost corn snake ... i got it begining of september
i unno if its where i moved to another locatioin that she wont eat anymore or not

first week i had her - she ate (live) -thats what the guy i got her off her feed her, he said she'll eat 1 a week or every two weeks

then 10 days after that i fed her again

i moved out of that place sept 28th and mvoed back in home and brought her qwith me

some point this month i tried feeding her two different times and she wouldn't eat (found out after it was due to blue stage and then shedding
(times of feeding are the closest im guessing)

she shed last week .. so i tired feednig her and she wouldn't eat .. i dunno what to do she;s gone three maybe four weeks without eating ..

tips ? im a bit concerned ..

 

[greenman]

Have you tried any of the options discusses throughout this thread? I know at this time in the year animals tend to stop feeding because they are preparing for hibernation. I wouldnt be to at the moment.

MY DUDE IS INDEED ABOUT TO SHED! IM hoping this is a good sign!!!

 

[bambam1313]

I tried a good few of them .. I'm gonna try to feed her tomorrow .. She's attive as anything and for the first time since I had her the beginign of september she stays in her heat and never hardly goes to the cool side .. She's peaking outta her cave a lot like she been whenb I first got her and she was hungry .. I'm hoping she will eat tomorrow ..

 

[Caryl]

My responses are in red. Seemed the quickest way as I'm having typing issues tonight. oke:

well as of moments ago, he sees healthy at about 8g's.
This sounds promising.

As of tonight also im 99percent sure he is going into a shed. I thought he was a few weeks when this all started. I compared him to his sister tonight and his eyes are way whiter than the girls. Im hoping this is a good sign. If he sheds it may open up some hunger! Im just hoping the fading in colour is nothing bad!

Sounds like an imminent shed. This and the stress of relocating could explain the feeding troubles. If both eyes are cloudy it wouldn't reasonably be anything other than a shed. You can expect that cloudiness to clear after a few days, and a shed to follow after that. Don't be alarmed if it takes up to a week after the normal colors return.

im going to handle him all week, then offer him a live meal on friday again.
If he's hiding out it would probably be less stressful to just let him do that. Some snakes really dislike being handled when blue/cloudy (about to shed) while others don't mind. I personally don't offer food to problem feeders while they're in a shed cycle. Some snakes who normally feed well refuse food during a shed. In order to avoid setting up and/or reinforcing a pattern of refusal I just wait until after the shed happens. Additionally, some animals regurge if they eat while blue, and you don't want that to happen when one has feeding issues already.
Caryl. I've recently seen your thread of your snake. How many weeks was your non-feeder, not feeding for? Also, did you snake show interest the previous meals and just protest to eat. or did he have 100% no interest in the food until he ate?
thanks for being a huge help.

I've taken on a number of nonfeeders and every one has a different situation. If you've been checking out that particular thread, you've seen Ninette. She was hatched in May, had a post-hatch shed and ate a f/t pinky on June 4. She consistently refused feedings after that point. She arrived at my house 9/14. I gave her two days to settle in and offered here a nice, fat f/t gecko tail. She ate voluntarily without wasting any time. That's 3 1/2 months without her accepting any food, only water. I worked her up to larger meals, the first pinky being offered 10/4. That one was slightly scented with gecko. She went into a shed cycle, during which time I didn't offer food. She shed 10/12. I offered an unscented f/t pinky 10/13 and she ate happily. She's gonna make it.:cheers:

wondering if you guys can help me outt too ..
i got a 5 year old ghost corn snake ... i got it begining of september
i unno if its where i moved to another locatioin that she wont eat anymore or not
Moving to a new location - even in the same room - feels to the animal like moving to a new territory. Corns are territorial in that they have areas in nature where they live, hunt, hide out, and feel safe. When they end up in a new territory they often go off feed until they learn the area because a full belly = a slow snake = maybe a dead snake.
first week i had her - she ate (live) -thats what the guy i got her off her feed her, he said she'll eat 1 a week or every two weeks

then 10 days after that i fed her again
Sounds normal. Feeding live isn't the best idea, but that's another thread. She can be converted to f/t; not the issue at the moment.
i moved out of that place sept 28th and mvoed back in home and brought her qwith me
In your snake's mind, every move means she's in an unknown territory with unknown risks. Not a huge deal, but can put one off food for a while. Again, natural and not a problem for a healthy snake.
some point this month i tried feeding her two different times and she wouldn't eat (found out after it was due to blue stage and then shedding
(times of feeding are the closest im guessing)

she shed last week .. so i tired feednig her and she wouldn't eat .. i dunno what to do she;s gone three maybe four weeks without eating ..

tips ? im a bit concerned ..

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about your girl at all. It's virtually unheard of for an adult to quit eating to a point where it causes problems. Three weeks isn't anything to cause concern, though I know it feels like forever, especially if this is your first snake. Remember that her metabolism runs about 1/5 of yours. There are a lot of threads dealing with feeding tips, but most of these are about babies who are difficult feeders. That's because an adult animal has this stuff figured out or s/he wouldn't be adult sized.

Don't worry about food refusals during a shed. Just offer her a prey item every 5-7 seven days. Don't move her viv unless you must, and don't handle her more than she was accustomed to being handled by her former owner. You'll have years together. No need to rush.

*Whew!* That was lengthy, and I apologize if it was too much info. I was trying to be thorough. Hope some of it helps.

 

[bambam1313]

Don't worry about food refusals during a shed. Just offer her a prey item every 5-7 seven days. Don't move her viv unless you must, and don't handle her more than she was accustomed to being handled by her former owner. You'll have years together. No need to rush.

Well she shed like 5 days ago now i think it was didn't keep track ( gonig to start tho) Her viv has only been moved a few times .. once when i first got her and then when i moved back home outta my own place.

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about your girl at all. It's virtually unheard of for an adult to quit eating to a point where it causes problems. Three weeks isn't anything to cause concern, though I know it feels like forever, especially if this is your first snake. Remember that her metabolism runs about 1/5 of yours. There are a lot of threads dealing with feeding tips, but most of these are about babies who are difficult feeders. That's because an adult animal has this stuff figured out or s/he wouldn't be adult sized.

Yeah, I know what you mean ..i put out a post called "questions about my 5 year old ghost corn snake" and nobody will reply to it which sucks cause i have a few main questions on there from me and my boyfriend about the snake.. Its hard to get answers about Her .. mostly i see all baby corns nothing older then 2 years !

ounds normal. Feeding live isn't the best idea, but that's another thread. She can be converted to f/t; not the issue at the moment.

Only been feeding her live is due to the guy told me thats all she will eat but im thinking im gonna try her with a thawed one tomorrow but i have a feeling she'll still not going to eat

Buddy i got her off of told me she loves to be handled and everything which she took to my boyfriend a few days after i got her.. she took a bit longer to take to me but now she rather be curled up on my bed.. she's been a lot more active when i have her out latley .. but when shes in her tank she will roam around for a little bit like circle the viv once or twice (shes in a 20gallon, which is what she came in) then go straight to her cave on the heat side which seems unnormal for her due to since i had her she usually stays in the container under her waterdish on the cool side .

If you could, could you check out my thread "Questions about my 5 year old ghost corn snake" it would be greatly appercatied .. since i can't get anybody to reply to it for me!
..

Thanks !
amanda,xo* (bambam1313)

 

[greenman]

My responses are in red. Seemed the quickest way as I'm having typing issues tonight. oke:

I've taken on a number of nonfeeders and every one has a different situation. If you've been checking out that particular thread, you've seen Ninette. She was hatched in May, had a post-hatch shed and ate a f/t pinky on June 4. She consistently refused feedings after that point. She arrived at my house 9/14. I gave her two days to settle in and offered here a nice, fat f/t gecko tail. She ate voluntarily without wasting any time. That's 3 1/2 months without her accepting any food, only water. I worked her up to larger meals, the first pinky being offered 10/4. That one was slightly scented with gecko. She went into a shed cycle, during which time I didn't offer food. She shed 10/12. I offered an unscented f/t pinky 10/13 and she ate happily. She's gonna make it.:cheers:



Honestly, I wouldn't worry about your girl at all. It's virtually unheard of for an adult to quit eating to a point where it causes problems. Three weeks isn't anything to cause concern, though I know it feels like forever, especially if this is your first snake. Remember that her metabolism runs about 1/5 of yours. There are a lot of threads dealing with feeding tips, but most of these are about babies who are difficult feeders. That's because an adult animal has this stuff figured out or s/he wouldn't be adult sized.

Don't worry about food refusals during a shed. Just offer her a prey item every 5-7 seven days. Don't move her viv unless you must, and don't handle her more than she was accustomed to being handled by her former owner. You'll have years together. No need to rush.

*Whew!* That was lengthy, and I apologize if it was too much info. I was trying to be thorough. Hope some of it helps.

Im very grateful for your help! I'm going to wait after the shed and try another live or f/t mouse. Im interested in the Gecko Tails. Where did you get it from? im going to try live for 2 more weeks but i feel as though it will be a waste. Of courses after his iminent shed!

cant wait to see his colours!

 

[bambam1313]

Im very grateful for your help! I'm going to wait after the shed and try another live or f/t mouse. Im interested in the Gecko Tails. Where did you get it from? im going to try live for 2 more weeks but i feel as though it will be a waste. Of courses after his iminent shed!

cant wait to see his colours!

Greenman, i feel the same way of trying my girl with live mouse im after having 3 or 4 that were a waste ! im hopeing my girl will eat soon mines older though (5years)

 

[bambam1313]

also added

"" my girl has been eating live from she was a year old (the guy i got her off of had her since she was like a baby) .. and now she won't eat for me like she did when i first got her .. ""

 

[Caryl]

Im very grateful for your help! I'm going to wait after the shed and try another live or f/t mouse. Im interested in the Gecko Tails. Where did you get it from? im going to try live for 2 more weeks but i feel as though it will be a waste. Of courses after his iminent shed!

cant wait to see his colours!

You're quite welcome. I know how frustating some of these situations can be. I thought I'd go mad with my first nonfeeder. I got a lot of support here, and I'm just trying to provide the same.

I actually get the geckos/gecko tails from my house and garage. Mediterranean/house geckos are an invasive species in the US, and they're here in abundance. I'm unaware of anybody selling this particular kind of lizard, but you can purchase others. You might also be able to get some sheds from a lizard if you have a friend with lizards, know a local herp club, or have a friend in a pet store. I've read of these working, also.

We'll all look forward to a bright pretty picture of your snake with its new skin. Hopefully new skin = new appetite!

 

[Caryl]

If you could, could you check out my thread "Questions about my 5 year old ghost corn snake" it would be greatly appercatied .. since i can't get anybody to reply to it for me!
..

Thanks !
amanda,xo* (bambam1313)[/QUOTE]

Headed there now, then gotta head for bed. :boring::boring::boring:

 

[Nanci]

Wait- now your guy is going into shed? I wouldn't feed until he sheds. I wouldn't handle him while he's blue. Then, the day he sheds, or the day after, I'd go back to FT pink, super-hot, slit, in a covered deli cup in the evening. Check after one hour, reheat if he hasn't eaten.

 

[greenman]

Wait- now your guy is going into shed? I wouldn't feed until he sheds. I wouldn't handle him while he's blue. Then, the day he sheds, or the day after, I'd go back to FT pink, super-hot, slit, in a covered deli cup in the evening. Check after one hour, reheat if he hasn't eaten.

Waiting for the shed
thanks! I'll try the F/T after the shed for sure!
(fingers crossed!)

 

[GSDlover]

Update about my guy.
I got his pinkie realllly hot.
and even took it from my hand when I was putting it in and showing him - sucess!

Good luck again Greenman!