Slim refused yet again

knads06 · 12-20-04, 11:14 PM

Ok well its now snowing here in CT and slim has refused yet another rat and is going on about 4-5 weeks without eating. My only concern is that he has only had about 10-15 solid meals since i got him back in april. Some of you might remember the trouble i had just getting him to start eating. Ive waited the two weeks in between meals like everyone suggested and yet nothing has works. Could moving up to medium size rats about 100grams each be too big for him causing him to lose interest. Im almost tempted to go buy a live mouse or something and just throw it in there and see what he does. Ive been lucky enough to have him eat F/T rats but his lack of interest has me worried. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated..........

marisa · 12-20-04, 11:21 PM

You can't really do anything. 'Tis the season unfortuantly.

Marisa

Slannesh · 12-20-04, 11:47 PM

Do you have a scale? If so weigh the little guy and keep records of that... I wouldn't worry unless he starts losing a signifigant amount of weight.

I'm in the middle of a fast myself with my ball. He's refused his last 3 meals so in a few days we'll see if he's going for 4. It's unusual for him since in the 9 years i've had him he's never refused more than 3 in a row and that was only one other winter, i've been lucky in that regard.

Best of luck with him!

lucky8926 · 12-21-04, 01:01 AM

Well since he has eaten before I don't know. The only suggestion I can think of is make sure the f/t is hot enough. I know my bp won't even touch prey if it isn't around 100 degrees (I read somewhere that is the normal body temp for a mouse/rat) I thaw it out then heat it up under a heat lamp until it's the right temp (checking it with a temp gun)
Good luck and hopefully he eats soon!

RepTylE · 12-21-04, 02:48 AM

Not sure if this is the widely accepted view but a BP that is off feed I don't handle much to keep them as stress free as possible.
He got quite a few meals in him before his fast so there is no reason to panic yet. Mine are still eating so far. You could try a little smaller rat but I doubt the situation is grave enough to try feeding live at this point.
Again don't panic.......

snakehunter · 12-21-04, 08:49 AM

Well it inst the stress that is causing the strike, its just that time of the year, But not handling is a good way to keep everyone as happy as possible. My biggest female just gets excited but doesnt take (I think she does this on purpose) and my smallest female I tried last night, she was definitely interested, struk 3 times missed each time. The third time she smacked her head on the rubbermaid wall; paused as if to say #@$%! that hurt; then curled into her hide. So just keep tryin some one will take eventually.
-Jacob

RepTylE · 12-21-04, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by snakehunter
Well it inst the stress that is causing the strike, its just that time of the year, But not handling is a good way to keep everyone as happy as possible.
-Jacob

I didn't mean to imply that it was stress causing the problem but keeping him as stress free as possible is still a good idea in my view. I'd still consider a smaller meal though it couldn't hurt.

nita · 12-21-04, 11:50 AM

I agree I rarely handle Osiris, he is my pickiest eater and I choose to leave him completely alone in hopes that his eating will improve. As long as they arent' losing weight though I wouldnt' be concerned. Slow weight gain is better than weight loss.

mykee · 12-21-04, 11:52 AM

I had 6 of my 34 balls eat last week, and most have not eaten for weeks. As Marisa said; 'tis the season. Don't cave and offer a mouse, just wait it out.

marisa · 12-21-04, 01:23 PM

I totally agree with Mykee who agreed with me. LOL

You'll end up wasting rodents, or end up with a mouse eater. 10-15 meals on any snake is enough to get them through a seasonal fast IMHO. I would simply offer food every couple/few weeks and not worry.

Marisa

honduranfreekk · 12-21-04, 01:35 PM

I have to agrea with mykee and marisa here its that time of year

MOST of my females are VERYYYY picky eaters this time of year.

I have a couple of het girls here that did not eat for months yes MONTHS one was off food for 6 months and IS now eating like a pig and at one time she WAS a MOUSE eater.
Even tho she would most likely have taken mice I just held out lol.

She is a RAT hound now

Kelvin@Brigitte