problem feeder!?

[Matt]

first off, let me say that i know this isnt a big deal, Im not worried, but i am a little frusterated.

My small Southern Copperhead has refused her last 4 meals...before this she was a great feeder, but about a month ago, she refused every meal since.

Just wondering, if anyone has had any good experiences getting these guys to eat. Ive tried mice and rats, live and dead, she is still really active, but doesnt seem to persue any food.

I also know she could be naturally going off food for the winter, but it is pretty late in the season for that

Anyways, any previous experiences would help!
thanks

[LdyDrgn]

This job calls for Superman..errr, I mean.. BWSmith ;)

Good luck with your Coppers!

[BWSmith]

Jeez LdyDrgn, no pressure ;) I guess I have the spotlight.

There are several methods to get a stubborn copper to feed. The easiest way is to change the enclosure. Leave a little basking spot, but other than that, fill it with as much leafy crap as you have. And unfortunately, live food is probably the best bet. Leave it in the mass of leaves cage for about a week, then throw in a P/K or F/T mouse. With any luck, it will take it. If that fails, try a live mouse. Withone of mine, I STILL have to use live! I put the mouse in there, sit down and wait for it to give a good evenomation. Once the mouse is dead, i slowly leave the room and check a couple hours later. Worked for me.

If you can get it to take a live, then as soon as the first dies, throw in a smaller P/K or F/T mouse. This may intice it to change over.

Other than that, try scenting with frog, bird and of course, Chicken Broth.

How big is it? What kind of copper? How is the enclosure set up?

These are just quick tips off the top of my head late at night, more to possibly follow tomorrow. :D Good luck bro.

[Matt]

thanks for all the info BW, i appriciate it
she is only about 8" and is a southern!
She is on cypress mulch with a hide and water dish, in a 10g aquarium. Some plastic plants as well. Heat lamp on one side of the enclosure.

The frusterating thing, is that she was eating just fine and then decided to stop....i mean, if it wasnt eating right off the bat, i would understand....oh well

thanks again for the info! feel free to post more if ya think of it :)

[Gregg M]

What you also need to keep in mind is that it is winter time...... Even though it is kept indoors and is heated they still have that little biological clock in them that tells them to slow down...... I am sure he will be fine in a couple of weeks...... Some times it takes some time for them to snap out of it.......

[Matt]

oh, i forgot to mention, the very same night i posted this thread, I got her to eat...figures:)

i just bugged her enough with the mouse to get her to envemonate and then, i guess she just decided to eat it.

Ive had the same experience with Malayan Pit vipers (<i>Calloselasma rhodostoma</i>) I found if I bugged them enough to make them bite out of anger, they would usually eat the mouse afterward anyways.......
anyone else had that work with hots??

thanks for the help guys!

[BWSmith]

That has worked int he past for me with Agkistrodons. Problem is so many coppers except for the young ones are so reluctant to bite . Of course I am sure that I could tease with a rodent for an hour and nothing, but I put my hand in range I would be in the hospital. :0

[ETET]

That works for me for neonate deinakistrondon acutus. Mostly, more than 50% of them very reluctant to eat. For those which require a defensive responsive to eat, I found stumulate latter one third of the body or tip of the tail works well. Once they strike, any movement will scarce them to drop the food item. But believe me, very time consuming, takes 3-4 hrs for around 5 snakes. Eventually, some of them still need force feeding once or twice before they start eating by themselves. My own experience, don't know if this can helpyou Matt.


ETET