ETB's still not feeding

[Shad0w]

Good Day all,

AS I posted last week, my ETB's have gone now 3 weeks without eating... temps are good at 82 during the day and 78 in the eve, hours of light are from 7am to 7pm, humidity is around 80%...they took a rat the first night i got them.. since then they just not interested in food... btw.. they are a 1.1 pair, housed seperately in vision cages...

Ive tried FT, Ive tried live, Ive tried mice and rats....

When is it time to worry?
They strike at the food in defence... and just leave it alone...

[Kimo]

leave them be 3 weeks isnt anything to cry home about with this species of snake, have the defecated yet? do they look well hydrated? try the pinch test, pinch the skin by their spine lightly, if it snaps back into place, it generally means they are well hydrated, patience is a virtue! give them another week or two, and when they do defecate, bring it to a vet right away to have tests done, to make sure no parasites are involved, other than that...someone else can give more info, but my male has gone 2 months without food before, and showed no signs of weightloss, before he took a meal, so dont worry to to much at this point...

Best of luck!

Josh

[Shad0w]

Kimo,

Thanks for the advice.. I guess I just have to get used to the species :)

They both appear well hydrated, one defecated and the other looks close to defecating...

I just noticed too that the female appears to be in a shed...

How long before the eyes clear do these snakes actually shed?

[Shad0w]

BTW... I do give them baths once a week... to make sure they drink...

[Shad0w]

Welp.... the male just passed urate...

[Kimo]

dont worry about the baths, its unnecesary, and potentially stressful for them, only bathe them when they seem constipated ie. having problems defecating, if you mist them twice a day, and also prvide a fresh bowl of water every day, this should be plenty, these snakes will actully suck the water droplets right off their bodies, or hang down from a branch, and get a drink from the bowl, make sure you have more than one perch in their cages, as this gives them somthing to clinb over, and helps keep them from getting constipated, if you want more info just reply to the post with what you want to know, and ill be more than happy to help you out with what i can!

P.s. post some pics of their enclosures all set up, and of the animals in them if you can, love to see this species!

Josh

[Shad0w]

Yea, Ive got multiple perches in their enclosures.. along with natural plants.... Ill post some pics later today and will let ya know :)

[Shad0w]

OKay Kimo, the pics are posted in my gallery... take a gander :)

Right now I have them in a corner of my unfinished basement, for privacy ...

BTW.. is there any way to link a pic from the gallery to a post?

[Shad0w]

Update:

The female has now shed, and both the male/female have defecated...

The female is starting to cruise at night.. I think she is gettn ready for a feed.. Ill try in a couple of days.

The male is still playing more shy..

I have a feeling this is all because of their new enclosures... previously they were kept in rubbermaids.. and now they are in vision type cages...

[Shad0w]

Ho Hummm... broke down and tried to feed them... No go... both struck at the food defensively...

Guess this is just a waiting game...

BTW... how long before one worries?

[leoncurrie]

If they have good weight and are well hydrated, leave them alone for a month. A whole month. Give them some time to get comfortable with there surroundings. Do your regular maintanance, but that's it. Do not take them out of there cage. misting everyday will keep them hydrated enough.

Then try and feed them. A warm rat pup of mouse with the lights out. You should have no problems.

BTW... I'm not sure where you keep them but keep all traffic in front of there cages down to a minumum.

[Shad0w]

Good advice Leoncurrie,

but tonight.. for some darned reason, both decided to feed...

the male ate a med rat and the female ate two rat pups :)

[Kimo]

keep in mind Shadow these bad boys have super slow digestive systems, dont feed to much, or you'll have a HUGE problem on your hands..namely Regurgitation, and once an emerald starts regurging...its EXTREMELY hard to get them to keep a meal down there after, instead of feeding two, feed one thats only SLIGHTLY thicker than their thickest part...and i mean slightly! you dont want to strees these snakes with to much food in their belly!

Josh

[Shad0w]

Kimo, good advice....

both food items i fed the male/female are barely thicker than the snakes body.. so we cool :)