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Not Eating
- Thread starter lilbug82
- Start date
WestCoast_Redneck
New member
Two weeks is nothing to worry about 
How often are do you feed her?
I've heard temps can be a huge contributor to snakes going on feeding strikes, so double check to make sure everything is correct
You can try feeding her in a separate tub next time and give her privacy for 30min with the mouse, that might to the trick!
How often are do you feed her? I've heard temps can be a huge contributor to snakes going on feeding strikes, so double check to make sure everything is correct
You can try feeding her in a separate tub next time and give her privacy for 30min with the mouse, that might to the trick!
Guruofchem
New member
Bet you've got a male - that sounds like classic mating season behavior to me. There are several methods of sexing snakes:
1) visually, there are differences in tail structure between males and females. If you can get a good pic of the underside of the tail from vent to tip and post it in the breeding forum, I bet you could get some opinions
2) probing, which gives me the creeping horrors and I feel is best done by a pro, uses a rounded metal probe slid into the snake's vent. If it goes in deeply, it's in the hemipene of a male, if it stops quickly you've got a girl.
3) popping, which is only good for hatchlings, so not a method for this snake
4) behavior - since you have a known female (if you are totally sure, that is) you can put them together and see if the possible male tries to mate with the known female. Wouldn't leave them together too long, as your female is too young to be breeding yet.
Honestly, I think I'd go with 1 or 2 if I were you. Some pet stores and/or vets will sex your snake with a probe for a reasonable price (usually around $5), but I bet the folks on here could tell you with reasonable certainty for free if you get a good photo.
1) visually, there are differences in tail structure between males and females. If you can get a good pic of the underside of the tail from vent to tip and post it in the breeding forum, I bet you could get some opinions
2) probing, which gives me the creeping horrors and I feel is best done by a pro, uses a rounded metal probe slid into the snake's vent. If it goes in deeply, it's in the hemipene of a male, if it stops quickly you've got a girl.
3) popping, which is only good for hatchlings, so not a method for this snake
4) behavior - since you have a known female (if you are totally sure, that is) you can put them together and see if the possible male tries to mate with the known female. Wouldn't leave them together too long, as your female is too young to be breeding yet.
Honestly, I think I'd go with 1 or 2 if I were you. Some pet stores and/or vets will sex your snake with a probe for a reasonable price (usually around $5), but I bet the folks on here could tell you with reasonable certainty for free if you get a good photo.
AliCat37
Michelle's Candied Corns!
I would definitely cut WAY back on the feeding a if I were you. Without seeing pictures, I can only assume that your snake is also quite overweight. I only feed my adult males a single mouse every other week, only a few get fed once a week as adults. My females get a single mouse a week.
I will try to get a good picture of its tail and post it. Snow and Toto have been out together but that was a few months ago. My boys have them out at the same time but have never set them down together.
Thanks for your advice but snow is not over weight and is really hungry even agressive when him/her only gets one mouse a week.
I am friends with a breeder who checker snow out when i bought him/her and has agrees with how i am feeding him/her.
Joba
New member
To Wendy666 and the OP: Obviously, make sure temps are good; this can affect snakes desire to eat, and as mentioned by others above, mating season and also just winter months can slow down snakes appetites. One thing I've learned firsthand is not to panic; snakes can go a long time without eating. A few other things you can try:
1. Leave the prey item with the snake in a small container, overnight (if he doesn't eat it, throw it out).
2. Brain the prey (or I just slit open the belly). This works for my very picky dumerils.
3. Some people scent their prey with chicken broth or other things that they know their snake has eaten (like bird feathers or nests)
4. Heat/dry the prey with a hair dryer.
5. I've heard of people having success by dancing the mouse or even bumping the mouse into the nose of the snake to cause a strike response. This did not work for me.
One or more of these may work. They may not. I have to use 1, 2, and 4 all combined to get my dumerils to eat. You may have to find the right combination for your snake. Also important, after a failed attempt, don't attempt to feed again right away; wait another five days to a week. You don't want to add "FOOD" to the list of things that stress him out. Good luck.
1. Leave the prey item with the snake in a small container, overnight (if he doesn't eat it, throw it out).
2. Brain the prey (or I just slit open the belly). This works for my very picky dumerils.
3. Some people scent their prey with chicken broth or other things that they know their snake has eaten (like bird feathers or nests)
4. Heat/dry the prey with a hair dryer.
5. I've heard of people having success by dancing the mouse or even bumping the mouse into the nose of the snake to cause a strike response. This did not work for me.
One or more of these may work. They may not. I have to use 1, 2, and 4 all combined to get my dumerils to eat. You may have to find the right combination for your snake. Also important, after a failed attempt, don't attempt to feed again right away; wait another five days to a week. You don't want to add "FOOD" to the list of things that stress him out. Good luck.