She didn't eat :(

OSMDEATHOWNER · 01-30-12, 06:53 PM

So I tried last nite to feed Ice f/t and she didn't want to eat it. She seemed interested at first, then she just went pass it. I left it there over nite. Her tank was rearranged as usual but the rat was still there. I threw it out but I feel bad she hasn't ate in two weeks

alessia55 · 01-30-12, 06:59 PM

That's perfectly normal for a new snake in a new environment

Wait another 10 days before trying again, and leave her alone until then. She probably just needs more time.

Did you do the "zombie rat" dance to entice her?

Wolfus_305 · 01-30-12, 06:59 PM

She's a ball python?

I have a ball python, I got him when he was 6 years old. He ate the week before I brought him home with his previous owner, then he didn't eat for 11 months.

And now every year he stops eating between January and September

I do not know your exact circumstances but I would say that as long as the snake isn't losing weight and as long as all your husbandry is correct I wouldn't be worried yet.

Sometimes I found it helpful to hold off feeding my snake for a long time so that when I tried to feed him he miiight take it (but of course he didn't because he's picky)

Swany · 01-30-12, 07:04 PM

The truth is, that it's going to bother you way more than the snake. lol The little critters can go months without food, stresses us to the max, don't bother them one bit. Alessia knows her stuff man, listen to her and you wont go wrong ;-)

Freebody · 01-30-12, 07:09 PM

i wish my snakes would take some time off eatting, would really be nice on the pocket book lol. No but really as long as its still healthy weight, he should be fine, i got an adult male upstairs that has refused the last 4 feeding at 2 weeks apart. but hes still active and same weight so im not concerned with him either. gl.

DavethePython · 01-30-12, 07:26 PM

It is winter breed time ,and from what I have been reading and hearing it is not unusual for a male to give up food for a few months even. As hard as it is to think they are hungry , they will eat when it is time. Dave our young male stopped eating for 2 weeks. I gave him a bath in nice warm water yesterday , he had a rather large poop and then after a few hours I thought he may want to eat so I offered him and he took it with such ferocity it scared the bejeezus out of me. never seen him do that before .Took it right out of the tongs before I could get it to him.

OSMDEATHOWNER · 01-30-12, 09:06 PM

She a female tho, but yes Alessia I tried the dance. I don't bother her, but sometimes I reach in the tank to fix the thermometers that she knocks down. And everynite all she's ever tryna do is look for a way out. I'm beginning to feel like she doesn't like me lol

it's stressful. I his want her to live a long wonderful life, was thinking bout dumping like 200 more dollas into the tank this weekend jus too upgrade some of the stuff in there. She got me losing sleep man

Terranaut · 01-30-12, 09:09 PM

Seriously shes fine. Wait a week or so and try again. Worse for you than her.

alessia55 · 01-30-12, 09:10 PM

If trying to get out of the cage is a sign that your snake doesn't like you, I'm sure a lot of people will tell you the same

Relax! It's all normal behavior. She'll come around in her own time. Some snakes just take a little longer to get used to the new smells and sights in their new home. For right now, don't change her tank anymore if you don't have to. You can make it prettier later. Right now you need to give her time to adjust, settle in, and get comfortable. Wait another 10 days and then try again.

You said that sometimes you "reach in the tank to fix the thermometers that she knocks down." Are these the type that stick to the side of the tank on the inside? If so, throw them out. Not only are they not accurate, but they can also fall and then she could slither over it and it'll get stuck to her body. Removing those from a snake's body can be awful and can even pull off some scales in the process. You're much better off using a temperature probe.

Do you have a thermostat? All thermostats come with a heat probe and you can put that in your cage and not worry about your snake knocking anything over.

OSMDEATHOWNER · 01-30-12, 09:29 PM

I don't have one, and they are them ones. Imma throw them away in the morning. Or now?

alessia55 · 01-30-12, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OSMDEATHOWNER

I don't have one, and they are them ones. Imma throw them away in the morning. Or now?

Yes- throw it away ASAP. Those things can be dangerous.
This is a ball python with one of them stuck to its head:

The owner had a really rough time getting it off. She managed to soak him long enough that it eventually peeled off slowly, but she risked peeling off scales in the process and it could've been much worse.

More importantly, get a thermostat ASAP. You need to hook up your heat pad to it so that it doesn't get too hot. Also, thermostats come with a temperature probe that you can put inside your enclosure or on the heat pad to accurately measure the temperatures and monitor/regulate them. Heat pads that are not on a thermostat can easily get way too hot and can cause belly burns. It's a really good idea to get one as soon as you can to keep Ice safe

OSMDEATHOWNER · 01-30-12, 09:42 PM

Ok imma try to get them guages off the glass asap, I jus don't want her to climbed out while I'm doin it. And I got the stupid snake starter kit months before I got ice and I was using the heat pad from dere, I doubt it gets too hot but imma get a thermostats and a digital hygrometer and thermometer Asap like Thursday. Should I get new substrate to or continue using reptile carpet

alessia55 · 01-30-12, 09:46 PM

Reptile carpet is fine. It may not feel too hot to the touch, but the heat pad might be getting hotter than you imagine. You can get a temperature gun for about $10 off amazon.com to test temperatures too if you want. But essentially you need a thermostat to regulate the heat pad to keep it at a safe, constant temp.

OSMDEATHOWNER · 01-30-12, 10:11 PM

Ok imma look some stuff up now, I sent you a pick of ma enclosure too.

alessia55 · 01-30-12, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OSMDEATHOWNER

Ok imma look some stuff up now, I sent you a pick of ma enclosure too.

Ok I will post the photo tomorrow for you. I can't right now because I'm using my Nintendo 3DS to access the internet from my bed