Geriatric Yellow anaconda

[culturevirus]

Please forgive the question by way of intorduction, I know that online communities don't like drive-by posting. But I am in a semi-desperate situation. I have a yellow anaconda that is approximately 22 years old. I have had her since she was born and have never had any health or feeding problems with her. She has gone off her food for a few months now and does not seem to have any interest in eating regardless of how I "prepare" her food. What little I know of yellow's lifespans I gather that she is getting near the end of her natural lifespan. I'm not sure whether I should take her to a vet or I should accept that this is the end. Any suggestions for husbandry changes that encourage appetite? Any advice at all?

[Reptile_Reptile]

i think she is fine and all you need to do is wait. maybe the winter has affected her making her want to breed. or somthing along those lines i'd just offer her food every few months ( a snake the size of a 22 yr old anaconda can probably go a a year easy without eating)

[Damion930]

Wow 22yrs that's awesome if she made it this long and u haven't made any big changes lately id not worry yet snakes can go off feed for numerous reasons u can probly keep offering on ur regular schedual for quite sometime before u should worry im sure others will have more for u and welcome to the forum

[Ch^4]

As long as she's not losing weight and appears to be in good health, a few months without feeding shouldn't be a problem. I had a 2 year old BP go without food for about 7 months. It's very stressful for the keeper, but hopefully she'll be back to her usual jumbo rat pounding self soon!

However, with a 22 year old snake, it may not be a bad idea to get her checked out by a vet. Good luck and keep us posted.

[marvelfreak]

Hello and welcome! I wouldn't worry to much, but a trip to the vet might not hurt. Just in case this is a sign of some underline health issue. If she never gone off feeding before at that age i think you should play it safe and get her checked out. We would all love to see pictures of her. And please keep us inform on hows she doing.

[kenchenzo]

if she has never been to a vet i wouldn't stress her out.
wait to see what she does just keep her to her feeding times.

[presspirate]

I commend you on keeping your snake for the long haul! I have thought about your question and I think I have to agree with kenchenzo. If your snake has not had a vet visit, or even a recent vet visit, being that he is up in years, loading him up and hauling him to the vet could prove to be very stressful and debilitating. I guess I can't offer you any other answer, than wait and see, but maybe you can find a vet that will make a house call. I wish you the best of luck.

[culturevirus]

Thank you all for the encouraging words and suggestions. My old girl has nearly always been a quiet part of the house, but this summer she was moved in to the living room. In addition I went from being a born-again bachelor (3 years divorced and living alone) to having a cohabitating girlfriend with two children. I think she has only eaten once since August. Based on some other threads I've read on the board I believe I will try providing privacy for her for a day or so before attempting another feeding to see if she is feeling too vulnerable in the living room to eat comfortably. Gracie is not too big, about 8', so I can transport her to a vet without much trouble if she doesn't eat in the next month or so.

[Damion930]

We would love to see her hope all is well

[Freebody]

got my fingers crossed, sound like a stress thing to me, kids in the house may make her feel like she better not eat incase they attack so she can defend herself, im sure in time she wil realize they are no threat to her and eat fine in the living room. and like everyone else said, we would love to see some pics of your old girl :?

[Reptile_Reptile]

Originally Posted by culturevirus

Thank you all for the encouraging words and suggestions. My old girl has nearly always been a quiet part of the house, but this summer she was moved in to the living room. In addition I went from being a born-again bachelor (3 years divorced and living alone) to having a cohabitating girlfriend with two children. I think she has only eaten once since August. Based on some other threads I've read on the board I believe I will try providing privacy for her for a day or so before attempting another feeding to see if she is feeling too vulnerable in the living room to eat comfortably. Gracie is not too big, about 8', so I can transport her to a vet without much trouble if she doesn't eat in the next month or so.

my snakes live in my living room also. and the way i keep (or try to but it seems to work) the stress levels down is i put a towel on the part of the cage facing the most active runway of the room so they arent constantly looking at random people moving about. hope that helps

[Lankyrob]

All my snakes and lizards are in my living area - we have a four year old and her friends here sometimes too. The animals dont present any stress porblems (all are eating shedding etc fine) but then they have always been in this environment whereas with your old girl this is all new to her.

[culturevirus]

I have good news to report. She ate on Monday and today she shed. I decided to take the sage advice of the board and covered part of her tank for a few weeks to give her a sense of security. I don't if it was the covering or just that she was finally ready to eat, but eat she did. I'll see about sharing a picture of her soon for all to enjoy.

[Reptile_Reptile]

sweet looking forward to it glad to hear everything is fine now too

[marvelfreak]

Good to hear! Now we needs some pics.