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Stash
04-23-05, 03:26 PM
I have an ATB i have had him for a little over a month and he has never fed on his own; i have been hand feeding him ever since i got him but for the last 2 and a half weeks he hasnt eatin at all, I think now he has started a shed but im worried he is now too weak to eat or shed. a zoologist friend of mine recommended to me to crack an egg and feed that to him until he is nurished enough to regain normal appearance. (he is skinny and shows skin folds.) does any one have an suggestions, i love my snake and i want to help him live through what ever is affecting his eating issues.:confused:

ravensgait
04-23-05, 05:25 PM
Well it could be a lot of things but I'd look at husbandry first, what are the temps in the cage? humidity? is the cage in a high traffic area that might be causing stress? Is there a water bowl handy for it to drink from? what are you useing to heat the cage? Usually when there is a feeding problem it is most likely caused by one or all of these things.

You said you have been hand feeding, could you explain just how you are doing that? Also it may just be shedding and if so many wont eat durning shed which can take 10 days more or less. I'd hold off on feeding it egg, also a snake that is healthy can go for some time with out eating.

Where did you get your baby from and did it eat before you got it. Is this your first snake?
Answering the above questions will make it easier to help you out with your problem as we can't see the animal and how it is being kept so can only go by what you tell us.
Randy

thunder
04-23-05, 05:42 PM
since its an atb, my guess is that its a wc with a parasite. vet time. i dont think the egg think will help, and dont try and feed him again til he's done with his shed. the folds in his skin are more suggestive of dehydration that of starvation; make sure he is drinking, and inject his food items with water if you do get him to eat. i lukewarm, heavily supervised (he's weak, you wouldnt want him to drown) soak may encourage him to drink. and im not zoologist, but ive never heard of an atb eating egg.

Stash
04-23-05, 08:35 PM
this is my second snake, i have an aztec corn snake as well. i took good measures to make sure his cage is what he needed. The temp is about 82 and i mist the cage twice a day and let it dry through the night its about 80% in the mid day and drys to 50-60% at night. there are live plants for hiding which he seems to enjoy and branches to climb on. there is a very large water area in the cage (i thought it would help with humidity) and i have never seen him drink from it or soak. i dont know why. no he never ate on his own at the pet store they were force feeding. when i got him i would hold him and put the prey item to his nose and he would open his mouth and i would let him take it to the branches in the cage. i tried that for the last almost three weeks and he wouldnt take it. i even tried puting a tree frog in there cause i heard baby atbs are particular to tree frogs. no luck.

Stash
04-23-05, 08:36 PM
by the way what is a wc with a parasite?

thunder
04-24-05, 01:19 AM
it means a wild caught animal that has some sort of bug living inside of it that is making it sick. if this is the case, its a very serious situation, and only a vet can give you the meds that will help.

Stash
04-24-05, 06:47 PM
ok well with all my worries i have taken my little baby to the vet today. he is too little for blood work and she said the soaking i was doing was working because he is no longer dehydrated. he was a little compacted (mostly due to dehydration) so she got that out of him ( he seemed to feel better) she also said it was necessary to give him antibiotics and a anti parasite medication so she mixed it with a creamed food and fed it to him. so he has a full meal in his stomach and the antibiotic is supposed to increase his appotite. AND when i got him home he stayed out in his branches and he shed!!!!!!!! i was soo excited he seems to feel much better. it was the best 90$ i ever spent! hopefully he will be much healthier and happier! thanks for all the suggestions!

galad
04-24-05, 07:04 PM
Thats awsome!!!!
always good to hear of a strong recovery.
good luck with him hope he starts eating on his own after that shed.

peace
ws

ravensgait
04-24-05, 09:22 PM
Stash, it is common to feed Arboreal snakes by holding the food for them to take. As an example we have baby Emeralds now, when feeding the first time I always offer them a live Pinky mouse by placing it under where they are hanging. Some will take it most wont because baby rodents don't move much or give off much heat. When I pick the pinky up with long tweezers and move it in front of them they often take it though some have to be pestered a bit before they will strike and take it. These guys can get you worried but when you get them set up right and learn a few tricks to feed you'll find they are pretty neat animals.
Glad to hear it's doing better keep us posted.
Randy