New retic not eating

[Norm66]

I've had my 50% Super Dwarf Tiger retic for over two weeks and he hasn't eaten for me. The conditions are belly heat, 80 cool-90 hot, about 60% humidity,aspen, two hides and a water dish in a 28 qt. tub. Other than two attempted feedings we've left him alone except for daily checks for cleaning, water etc.

I've tried splitting the fuzzie's head, heating it with a hair dryer, doing the zombie rat dance, leaving it in there overnight etc. Not only does he show no interest but he runs away. In fact the only thing he seems to really want to do is escape his tub. Twice now I've had to grab him to prevent escape once while feeding the other while changing water. On the plus side he hasn't shown any interest in biting me either. But at this point I'd gladly trade some baby retic bites for a feeding. ;)

He was fed live rat pinks/fuzzies at the breeder's so I wonder if he's expecting live food. Also I wonder if he's not going to shed soon.

We haven't weighed him since we brought him home but he doesn't appear to be wasting away so we're being patient but it's always worrisome when a new guy (especially since this is my most expensive snake) doesn't eat. The plan is to wait him out unless he starts dropping weight of course.

I've been through this, I know he'll start eating once he chills out. I just want some other folks to tell me it's OK. hehehe

[youngster]

2 weeks is nothing.

That's all ;)

[Kingsnakechris]

It's ok norm. :D

[Lankyrob]

He will be fine :)

[Norm66]

Thanks! :D:laugh:

[MoreliAddict]

Yea 2 weeks is nothing for a snake. Just curious, is it a male?

If I had any tips to offer it would be to use hot water to and serve up the f/t prey super hot right out of the water.

[Norm66]

Yes, he's a boy. And the prey was heated in hot water, dried in a paper towel, head split and then heated with a blow dryer 10 seconds before being offered. He just wasn't interested. Thanks again everyone.

[alessia55]

If you've only had him for 2 weeks, I assume you've only tried to feed him twice...right? You mentioned a lot of techniques, so IDK...
As I'm sure you know, you should only offer food every 7-10 days. Offering food any more often than that can stress him out and make him less likely to eat for you. Don't worry about it for now, though. Two weeks is nothing. Just let him be, and offer every 7-10 days. The best is probably f/t, warm, dry, do the "nom nom" dance, and leave it overnight. He's probably still adjusting to his new home and environment with new sights and smells. He'll eat for you soon :)

[shaunyboy]

sounds like he's nervous Norm

try bulking his tank out with fake plants,to give him a sense of security mate

i know nothing of retics,but with a nervous feeding carpet.....

i downsize the tank

cover 3 sides with paper,leaving only the front

i've even had to paper the front over,leaving a small 4 or 5 inch square uncovered for natural light to get in

the carpet hatchling that wouldn't eat until it was 10 months old,eventually fed in a plastic box sized 11 inch length,6inch width,4 and a half inch high

i had to blank off all the sides,leaving just a 4 inch square window in the front of the tub

the box was placed in a 2x2x2ft vivarium,changing the type of heat source from a heat mat,to a ceramic bulb

imo the ceramic is a different type of heat,more ambient air temperatures,as opposed to ground heat with a mat

hope he settles in and feeds for you soon

i would NOT offer on tongs or jiggle the prey around,due to him ALREADY being nervous of it

i would just as it gets dark,as quietly as possible,lay the prey item in his tank and leave him in peace till the next morning

then if he don't eat remove prey and try a week or two later mate

i wouldn't worry mate as the carpet i'm talking about is my copper coloured jag,she has NOT missed a feed since,she was the slowest starter i've ever kept

cheers shaun

[Norm66]

Yea Alessia, just twice. Once he refused the first time I pulled out all the stops the 2nd time. LOL.

[Norm66]

Shaun, I have some plastic plants I can put in, good idea! I had wondered if he wasn't just nervous because the tub was maybe too big. It's covered on three sides, top and bottom already and in an out of the way spot (due to quarantine).

I'll definitely put some of the plants in and maybe that'll make him feel more secure. Though he never uses the hides, maybe he doesn't really understand what they're for.

[MoreliAddict]

I get the best results from Spot when offering the rat HOT, literally right out of the water, soaking wet. All snakes are different though, good luck!

[shaunyboy]

Shaun, I have some plastic plants I can put in, good idea! I had wondered if he wasn't just nervous because the tub was maybe too big. It's covered on three sides, top and bottom already and in an out of the way spot (due to quarantine).

I'll definitely put some of the plants in and maybe that'll make him feel more secure. Though he never uses the hides, maybe he doesn't really understand what they're for.

i've found nervous feeders do well in smaller tanks Norm

as said the copper coloured jag ended up in,an 11 inch x 6 inch x 4 and a half inch,plastic tub,before she felt SECURE enough to feed

re hides
if they are too big he may not use them,i've found nervous snakes like nice tight fitting hides,where they can touch ALL the sides of the hide,at the same time mate

imo,usually once the feeding response kicks in they feed all the time

cheers shaun

[marvelfreak]

I got a couple that are hard to get to eat. So the last couple times i fed, after thawing the rats out i dipped their heads in boiling water for about 20 to 30 second. As soon as they pick up on the heat signature they nail the rats. Just don't put the whole body in the boiling water.

[alessia55]

Norm its ok. You've got NOS. New Owner Syndrome. ;)

[millertime89]

Crank that humidity bud! 80%+ for hatchlings up to a year old, 70% after that.

[millertime89]

Ok, I have a few other things to contribute. Baby retics can be super nervous as they seem to know they're gonna get big, but they also KNOW they're not right now. My girl is a nervous eater, I have to just crack her tub, get her to strike and coil, then I have to drop the blanket over or she won't eat it. As a result she's the LAST to eat when I feed.
What size enclosure do you have him in? Babies can be kept in smaller enclosures than you would think to help them feel secure. I would definitely give him a pair of hides if you don't have them. What substrate do you keep him on? I will catch my girl burrowing from time to time, generally more than I see her in her actual hide.
Watch out for pushing, my girl just started. Trying to figure out how to stop it.

[Norm66]

Thanks Kyle. I just saw these posts. I had done some reading and had bumped the humidity up to 80% already. He's in a 28 qt. tub with only the front open, on aspen, has two hides and two plastic plants/vines. He seems to really like hanging around on the vines. He's been in them every time I've checked on him since I put them in. Tomorrow is feeding day again so we'll try once more. Heated with a hair dryer, head split etc.

Becky confirmed that the breeder said he started them on mouse hoppers so it's possible he doesn't recognize rat smell as food. I know Harry on FB said no mice, but didn't elaborate. Is there a danger of a retic imprinting on mice?

[Squirtle]

My retic didn't eat after 3 days of him being home. I let him settle for a week and he took his second meal with no problem, took a bit long to take it but he took it!

[millertime89]

that's just stupid. Even the smallest SD retics can take rats pinks out of the egg... Grr...
I was talking with Travis when I was up there and he also said he sees his SDs perched frequently (in his case on the lip of the water bowls) and I've seen my girl perched on the climbing thing I built for her every so often as well. He speculated that because of their size and build they're more arboreal in nature, similar to carpet pythons. Its been noted in smaller mainland retics as well that they can often be found in trees, using them for cover. I personally love it.

[Norm66]

One of the things I read said that young retics are often founding trees. Makes sense and I agree, it's cool. The little guy made another break for it when I checked on him tonight. I know it's not true but it seems as if he wants to be held. He calms right down in my hands but fights like crazy when I try to put him back. Shrug.

[millertime89]

SDs are notoriously flighty and nervous, typically not too bight-y which is a bit surprising. My girl behaves in a similar fashion. Lately when I see her cruising around as if saying "can I come out please?" I'll open the tub and give her the option. I know when she's ready to go back in when she stops exploring and takes up the wrist band or hand cuff position and just hangs out. Very interesting species. I'm looking forward to getting a few more in the next month or two.

[Norm66]

He ate! We fed him after all the night's action was over and everybody was on their way to bed so there wouldn't be any distractions. We heated the fuzzy and split its head. Left it on top of one of his hides (he was in the vines right by it) and left him til this morning. When Becky checked on him this AM the fuzzy was gone and he had this look on his face:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-utca6mg924Y/T6EpoWqGP5I/AAAAAAAABOY/TWQPVRajoGI/s512/Untitled.jpg

Obviously we're very pleased. LOL

I don't think I posted it yet, but our little retic has a name. We're calling him Tyrion after the Peter Dinklage character on HBO's 'Game of Thrones'. Tyrion is a dwarf and far away mine and Becky's favorite character both in the series and the books so it seemed fitting. Our cat is named after Gimli from 'Lord of the Rings' so it's in our naming continuum.

[Becky Goings]

HE ATE!!!! :) *happy dance* Fed him very last, opened the tub, laid the fuzzy on the hide in the cool end, and this morning when I checked him, he was laying beside that hide, looking content. Didn't even try to escape, just looked at me. Made my morning!!! And he definitely seems to love the vines. He's in them nearly every time we check him!

[Norm66]

HE ATE!!!! :) *happy dance* Fed him very last, opened the tub, laid the fuzzy on the hide in the cool end, and this morning when I checked him, he was laying beside that hide, looking content. Didn't even try to escape, just looked at me. Made my morning!!! And he definitely seems to love the vines. He's in them nearly every time we check him!

Haha, I beat you! LOL. And with your picture even. :laugh:

[shaunyboy]

thats great news that he ate for you,imo,gives you peace of mind:)

cheers shaun

[millertime89]

Congrats you guys! I usually do the "zombie dance" with my snake's food so I know they've at least stuck and constricted, at which point I leave them alone for a while.

[Norm66]

That's our strong preference. But we figured leaving him alone as much as possible was the best route. Every other snake strike fed last night though. That's a first for a couple of our royals.

[Norm66]

After skipping last week he ate again this week for us. He also shed so maybe that's why he didn't eat last week. Again we had to leave it as he showed no interest in striking and he only ate one fuzzy but at least he ate. I really can't wait til the reavenous retic feeding response kicks in. Funny that Rob has an overzealous eater and I have a shy one. ;)

[shaunyboy]

now he's shed,he may start pouinding the prey down Norm

cheers shaun

[Norm66]

I hope so. I really want to be able to start handling him a little to get him used to us. Not that he's ever struck or anything when we've had to.

[millertime89]

He might never become one of the ravenous ones. There was a recent discussion about it on one of the fb groups, don't remember which.