When should I start to worry about my non-feeders?

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Posted by Mike_S on May 04, 2003 at 19:35:33:

In Reply to: When should I start to worry about my non-feeders? posted by JM on May 02, 2003 at 12:23:37:

I would try hamsters or gerbils with the LTC female, if you haven't already. Dead or alive is fine. I'd probably throw em in alive. I do know how you feel though one of my males is a pain, every year. But he breeds em up every year too.

The '02 normal female shouldn't even have gone off food. I would suspect something as far as your set-up to be the cause. My suggestion would be to spray the cage daily or twice daily for a week and make sure the right temps are there. Then, like said feed at night. But don't let the cage get too soggy, just a light spray twice a day keeps the vet away.

About the '03 babies, they MIGHT have been fed before, but it would have to have been small feeders. I definitly wouldn't force feed em. I've never had to force feed baby balls. I actually look forward to feeding babies rather than the adults because the babies are usually always good feeders unless they have parasites. I don't know what kinda cage you got em in but try putting them in a closet where it's dark 24/7. Feed at night (I never leave prey in the cage for more than an hour) and make sure you got plenty of heat (a good gradient too) and humidity. Above all else try not to stress them out. Don't hold em for a couple weeks til they become good eaters. Putting them in a low traffic zone might help too.

Well that's about all the advise I got to give. Hope it helps.

:And will it do any good to worry about the non-feeders?

:Most of my snakes are feeding, but I have few hold outs, and it's practically summer.....so should I start to worry?

:I've got an 02 normal female that fed last on 1-31-03. I'm not sure exactly how much weight she has lost, approx 40 grams from almost 300 grams to 250 grams.

:I have a LTC female that I purchased in Febuary of 03, she has never fed for me. She has lost approx 60 grams from 1830 grams down to 1770 grams.

:I have two tiny 03 babies I purchased last week. I purchased them as "Feeding" but I suspect they have never fed. They were in shed when I recieved them last Saturday and weigh 61 grams and the other is 72 grams. Little guys. I've left them overnight with mouse fuzzies and with rat pinks....no feeding yet.

:When should I start to worry? What should I do when I do start to worry?

:Thanks!

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