consider this ...

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Posted by patricia sherman on October 14, 2001 at 16:08:52:

In Reply to: Re: My rat snake wont eat. posted by Nick on October 08, 2001 at 18:12:07:

It is a normal-sized hatchling, on the lower end of the size scale. It has probably never yet fed, and it may need to shed before it does so. Wait for a few weeks (three or four), before you get too worried about it. By then, it *should* shed. Just make sure that it has fresh water, and try offering food about once every two days.

Don't leave it with the food item for hours; if it doesn't take it within 15-20 minutes, then it won't voluntarily feed at that time. Just make sure that when you offer the item, that the snake and prey are in a small, unfurnished, feeding container, not in its normal living-space. This ensures that it has nowhere to hide, and nothing to distract it from the prescence of the prey. If it doesn't feed, re-freeze the prey for later use.

If it still hasn't fed by after a few weeks, you'll have to consider alternatives (assisted feeding, or force-feeding).

Aside from the possible legal ramifications of keeping a w/c animal, you may want to consider the possibility that this w/c baby is harbouring internal parasites. If you do plan to keep it, then a visit to the vet, for testing, is in order. By the time you pay for vet inspection, you'd likely be better-off costwise, to purchase a c/b baby.

Patricia

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: It is a normal-sized hatchling, on the lower end of the size scale. It has probably never yet fed, and it may need to shed before it does so. Wait for a few weeks (three or four), before you get too worried about it. By then, it *should* shed. Just make sure that it has fresh water, and try offering food about once every two days. : Don't leave it with the food item for hours; if it doesn't take it within 15-20 minutes, then it won't voluntarily feed at that time. Just make sure that when you offer the item, that the snake and prey are in a small, unfurnished, feeding container, not in its normal living-space. This ensures that it has nowhere to hide, and nothing to distract it from the prescence of the prey. If it doesn't feed, re-freeze the prey for later use. : If it still hasn't fed by after a few weeks, you'll have to consider alternatives (assisted feeding, or force-feeding). : Aside from the possible legal ramifications of keeping a w/c animal, you may want to consider the possibility that this w/c baby is harbouring internal parasites. If you do plan to keep it, then a visit to the vet, for testing, is in order. By the time you pay for vet inspection, you'd likely be better-off costwise, to purchase a c/b baby. : Patricia

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