Help needed (western diamond backs)

[Graziano]

Hi Everyone.
I am new to this forum and would really appreciate some advice.
I have two western diamond backs, male and a female.
they are both in seperate enclosures but identical conditions.
Both are juveniles (5 month old).
The male is eating two to three pinkies a week, whislt the female has not eaten in over a month. The started out the same size, but the male is now at least twice the size of the female.
She was force fed for the first two months and I was then advised not to force feed.
I am worried that if she does not eat soon she will die.
They both shed 6 weeks ago and they both seem active, although the female is far more agressive than the male.
Can you help with some advice? Change in diet? anything hat will get her eating please.

[infernalis]

http://www.thamfriends.com/mat.jpg

I wish I knew about this species, Hope someone here can help.

I just posted your question across the net, I will relay any information back to you here.

[gonesnakee]

Though I am not experinced with the species I will state the same thing as per all other snake species.
1 month is NOTHING until the snake is becoming thin & lethargic it is not an issue.
Force Feeding should be an absolute LAST RESORT as its very stressfull on the snake & more often than not turns the snake right off food for even longer.
Likely the issue here. Had the snake ever fed on its own prior?
If so it should be offered the same prey in the same method & only once every week or 2.
Snakes that fed on their own & then were FF is a HUGE mistake, if they had fed on their own they will again.
Of course check all husbandry etc. as you already have to ensure it is not an issue.
Zero handling until feeding & in your case zero handling period anyways.
Even if it had never fed on its own it should have been left until it did prior any FF going on. Baby snakes will go literally months sometimes prior their first meals & then start right up & keep going. I have babies of a few species that go 3-4 months every single year I produce them prior them feeding at all & then off they go.
Folks fail to realize that before they hatched or were "born" they did nothing BUT feed their entire lives & quite often live off their yolk guts for not just their first shed right after they come out but until the next shed as well a couple months later sometimes.
I would be contacting the source of the animlas for advice if you have not already, Mark

[infernalis]

Good point! my baby milks went 36 days before eating the first meal, then took off eating like champs.

[infernalis]

OK, I got one reply already.....

Have you brumated them yet??

Western diamond backs brumate right after birth.

Try cooling the snake for a week or two, then re-attempt feeding.

[gonesnakee]

OK, I got one reply already.....

Have you brumated them yet??

Western diamond backs brumate right after birth.

Try cooling the snake for a week or two, then re-attempt feeding.

So there ya go they do not even feed for likely a couple or 3 months after birth.
I know my GBKs go 2-4 months every year prior feeding.
My Diamond Pythons go 2-4 months every year as well.
I find the best method to get them to feed is to leave them alone, only offer prey every week or 2, no pestering them with it & waiting them out.
They tend to eat when they are ready & forcing them to do so prior does nothing to help them in the long run & can be more detrimental than anything. Mark

[infernalis]

Another reply I just got, WD will eat fuzzy hopper mice right away, He said pink mice may not be the best choice.

[gonesnakee]

Another reply I just got, WD will eat fuzzy hopper mice right away, He said pink mice may not be the best choice.

Another valid point likely.
I know quite often Carpet Pythons for example will not touch a pinky say but would pound something with some hair on it.
Hope that doesn't come across too perverted LOL Mark

[infernalis]

it does now......

http://www.reptard.info/laser/hamster.gif