Feeding Problems...

[jakesmommy]

Hi all,

I am having some issues feeding my snake. Since I got her I have used a separate tank to feed her in then the one she is housed in permanently.

The temp is 75 and humidity is around 50% in both her feeding tank and her permanent tank.

I have never had any issues feeding her, but I have tried feeding her twice in the last week and she won't eat. What's worse is she's acting fairly aggressive whenever I try to handle her. It is possible that she may be getting ready to shed, she has grown a lot in the past little while (though I'm not sure why? I have not been feeding more then usual and she's not a baby?). However, I have not noticed her colours dulling, or her eyes getting milky.

I am starting to get a little concerned as this has never really happened before. The aggression is what is really concerning. I've noticed her hideout has become pretty small for her and she spends more time out of it then inside it lately - maybe she's stressed out because of that?

Hmm I'm just trying to consider all the options. Okay, fact recap: 4 1/2 years old, almost 5ft long (biggest corn snake I've ever had), temp 75, humidity around 50%, fed F/T rat pups, last ate 2 1/2 - 3 weeks ago (usually eats every 2 weeks).

If I missed any details that would benefit all of you corn snake experts please let me know. Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Sweetseraph]

My first thought when you said she's growing (I'm assuming you mean in weight?) is that she may be gravid (aka pregnant). Even if she has had no access to a male, she could lay eggs, they just won't be fertile.

Next, are you sure she's female? Males often go on feeding strikes in the spring, but that wouldn't explain weight gain. Has she always been on rat pups? They are more fattening than mice.

Shedding could explain not eating and even a little of the aggression, since she can't see very well, but you would see the blue eyes...if she's a normal. Some colours show shedding differently. My amel gets whitish eyes instead.

Does the snake have a heating pad with a temp of around 85? They need that to help with digestion. On another note, it's a good idea to only offer food no more than once every 5-7 days. For my big guys, I go every 10 days if they refuse.

 

[bitsy]

Yup, the temp at the warm end needs to be about 10 degrees higher - 75 is fine for the cool end but she needs a warm zone of around 85 degrees (that's when the temp is taken at floor level).

She needs at least two hides - one at the warm end and one at the cool end. That's so she can be at her preferred temp and still stay hidden. If she's avoiding her existing hide, then just try adding a couple more. They can just be cardboard boxes like old cereal packets - they don't have to be anything fancy.

She could well be going into shed, but getting temps and hides right will help her with that and might help her chill out a bit.

 

[jakesmommy]

Thank you both for your responses. I will take your advice and fix some of the potential problems you brought to my attention. I will keep you posted on how things go over the next few days. I have a friend who is an exotic animal vet; she has some time on Wednesday to pop over and take a look if things are still not going well.
Thanks again!