Feeding Coastal Python

[ken99]

I have recently bought a Coastal Python. He is only a baby at 14" in length.
I have had him for 3 weeks but have been unable to get him to eat. I have tried baby mice (alive and Dead). The dead ones were thawed and warmed first but he did not seem interested. His tank is thermostatically heated and he is very active and likes to be handled.
Should i be concerned or should i persist and just wait.

[infernalis]

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

[Lankyrob]

May be worth running through his enclosure, temperatures, humidity, no of hides etc etc just to make sure it is all where it needs to be to eat. A lot of non eating is due to slightly incorrect husbandry.

Other than that 3 weeks is nothing to worry about, how many times have you tried feeding in that time? Too many feeding attempts will actually turn the snake off food as they associate food with stress. Until he eats there should be no interaction with the snake except providing clean water and spot cleaning. Fedding attempts should be made 7 days apart to allow him to chill out in between attempts.

If you can answer the questions above then there are many carpet experts on here that can offer advice.

[ken99]

Thank you for your advice. I have tried to feed him daily so i will stop doing that and i will not handle him for a while. I will also recheck the humidity and temperature. I seem to keep getting told different temps to keep the tank at. Can i trouble you for some information because you do seem to know what you are talking about. Thanks once again

[Lankyrob]

The "hot spot" of the tank should be 88f giving a 85-88f hot end and a cool end of no lower than 78f. Humidity should be about 50% (in the UK this is relative atmospheric humidity so i do nothing to increase/decrease the humidity in my JCP tank).

He should have plenty of climbing space but also a hide or two at floor level.

[presspirate]

Hello, and welcome aboard! Rob pretty much has you covered as far as advice goes. Offering food daily to a non eating snake is pretty stressful on them. Give him a week in between offerings, and as long as all other conditions are met, he will eat eventually. Additionally, I would stick to f/t as opposed to live. Switching between the 2 could be an added stress factor. Best of luck and enjoy the forums!

[Lankyrob]

Just to add to your relaxation - Shauny on here had a carpet hatch and not eat for nine months straight from the egg - now happy and perfectly healthy. Pretty much every week we hear something about reptiles that amaze us :)