ATB problems

[BOA68]

Well over the past month i have gone through a lot with my newest ATB. It started with an RI that i believe she had when i got her. We just got that under control about a week ago and she is all better now. She has been refusing food since i got her, even though she was supposed to be eating when i got her. I just thought it was because of the RI and decided to wait it out. Now she is all better, but still not eating. The vet put her on parasite medication 3 days ago because he said that is usually the cause of the refusal of food. i was just wondering if anybody has any tricks to try to get her to eat. (i have tried using tongs to dangle the mouse in front of her and left the mouse in there with her for house(prekilled of course). She wants no part of it.

ooh yea i forgot, temps and humidity is good. Low 80's during the day with 90-92 degree basking spot. Mid 70's at night. Humidty between 65-70.

[CARLiTO_]

try heating up the prey by dipping it in hot water for a few seconds and then offer. If that doesn't work, try cutting the head open a little and then offer. If that also doesnt work, try live but supervise.

[Linds]

Was a fecal done to determine if the snake actually has a parasite infestation or was it just assumed and treated as such? Dewormers have the potential to make matters worse, especially in situations where a snake has been weakened from sickness and/or medication, and should only be used if absolutely necessary - after all, it IS poison and like all medications, does have SOME side effects :/

[BOA68]

There was no fecal done because there is no feces to test the snake hasn't eaten in 2 and a half months. I am sure the snake is in no dnager from the medicines that were prescribed or my vet wouldn't have prescribed them. My vet is a reptile specialist and one of the best around where i live so i doubt he would give me unnecessary medications. Plus at this point i would be willing to try anything, if she doesn't eat she is going to die anyway so thats the worst that can happen in either case.

[augerdvm]

BOA:

was any bloodwork done ??? making sure there isnt a liver/kidney issue?

I have used flagyl in the past ..its an antibiotic but has appetite stimulating properties as well...one dose only

You might need to have her force fed in the near future or there are liquid tube feeding preparations your vt can use to tube feed her ( Critical Care for carnivores by Oxbow).....it'll give her energy while her body is still recupperating for the RI.

Depending in the dewormer............ it was likely "Panacur" (fenbndazole) which is extremely safe even at 50x the label dose....so no concerns ther likely

hope this helps

[BOA68]

Panacur is the med that the vet prescribed. He said that this med also shows some appetite stimulation in reptiles so i am hoping it works. She has a couple more doses before she is done with it so hopefully she will take food for me within the next week. I have to check in with the vet next week to let him know how things are going and to see wut actions he wants to take if she still isn't eating.

He told me that the meds he gave her for both the RI and the parasites would not harm the liver or kidneys. He said a lot of them do, but he was trying to stay with safer ones if possible.

[ravensgait]

Man that little snakes has been having a hard time of it. Hope things turn around with her sure seems like your giving it your all to get her going. Good luck and keep us posted. Randy

[ATBlover]

My ATB wouldnt eat when i got her either.....when they dont eat, i wouldnt assume its because of parasites...my ATB was fussy at first but live works relly well ....but make sure you watch the snake at all times when they have live....once my ATB started eating live i moved to fresh thawed mice.....she still refused that but sometimes she would strike, grab the mouse and let go....thats when you shake the mouse around pretty roughly so the ATB constricts and believes its alive...that worked all the time for me...hope it works for you...Good luck...Connor

[tHeGiNo]

Have you tried offering a live feeder item?

[JonD]

The other thing you have to keep in mind, if they are adult males you are trying to feed, I have found they'll go off feed for a while during the breeding season... All my males havn't eatin hardly anything for the past few months..;)

[BOA68]

Well even though i just got her a few months ago she isn't a baby so it isn't about her being fussy. She is about 4 years old and never had feeding problems before. I believe it probably started with the RI and now she just won't go back on. I havn't offered her live yet because i am worried that she might be too weak to kill it, but i am willing to try just about anything now so i'll see. And its a female so i doubt its the breeding season thing.

[BOA68]

I tried feeding her live yesterday and she seemed interested at first but then wouldn't take it. Whenever the mouse got too close to her she would strike at it, but not wrap it just strike and let go. She is going back to the vet tomorrow to be tube fed and to have some blood taken. So hopefully all goes well.

[ATBlover]

tahts exactly what my ATB does...he grabs onto the mouse..pulls back a bit then lets go...It's really common for ATB's to do that...what i do when my guy does that..is I shake the mouse around quite hard until he constricts it and finnaly has it in a good grasp...don't give up after the first few tries...It takes me about 5 tries each time i feed him and he eats for me every time..

[BOA68]

She doesn't even grab it and just not wrap it. it is a split second affair. Like if the snake were to strike at you. Just an aggressive outburst with no intention of eating it. Thats not the problem anyway. The problem is why she isn't eating and hopefully these next tests will tell me.