why isn't she eating? - Page 2

sapphire_moon · 07-31-03, 02:48 PM

I did that with my first snake, and he was great. Hit 2 of the tongs 2 days after I got him. And hasn't refused a meal since. Now my second bp, refuses to eat. But I'm confident that one day she will! She has a couple of white spots on her sides that has an olive color in the middle.......hmmmm wish I had a camara so I could show you!

daver676 · 08-01-03, 02:58 PM

If it's a baby ball, and it hasn't eaten within 6-8 weeks of getting it, I say take it to the vet. The same thing happened to me. The vet told me I waited a little too long to bring my snake in because he was REALLY skinny. If your snake starts looking "wrinkly" or becomes inactive during his usual active times, IMO it's time to see a vet for professional advice. You could even go so far as to buy a small scale to weight your snake occassionally to make sure it doesn't lose too much weight.

Dave

sapphire_moon · 08-01-03, 11:19 PM

Actually I bought a scale and don't handle her till she eats......WHICH she did tonight! I was so happy I was actually jumping up and down!

daver676 · 08-02-03, 01:27 AM

Congrats!

tHeGiNo · 08-02-03, 02:01 AM

First off congrats Sapphire, what method did you try to get her to eat? Now Jathoma. It is the rule of the thumb not to handle the snake at least a week after getting them. I am sorry to say it but really I am sure you can't tell if the snake is stressed. Think about it. I think it is necessary even simply out of respect for the animal. First off, seen as you got yours in a petstore, the whole period of time living there has probably been a nightmare alone for the snake with hundreds of people walking, yelling, tapping the tank. Now it leaves this enclosure which it has become somewhat accustomed to for a trip in a bumpy car, then into a new home with new smells and what not. This is extremely stressful for the snake. Whether you see it or not, the snake is stressed and should be left alone to acclimate. Some are more picky then others, yes, but that doesn't mean we should put our desire to handle the snake over the snakes well-being.

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Personally, I think it's all in the personality of the snake. What works for me may not work for others, but I bring my tale so that others don't "assume" that you have to do things a certain way right from the start...

Again, maybe it wont do any apparant harm to the snake, and some may tolerate it, but out of respect and through the term 'it is better to be safe then sorry', I feel an acclimation period should be mandatory.

jathoma · 08-02-03, 07:56 AM

so, how can you tell if your snake is stressed?

Also, mine just graduated to small adult pre-frozen mice....and he ate it up like a champ...

sapphire_moon · 08-04-03, 07:15 PM

Well My male bp likes his rats to be microwaved.......First I fed her a live fuzzy mouse. Then the next day I ran a med sized pinkie in a bag under hot tap water until it got warm, and put it infront/to the side of her and she (finally) struck! But the pinkie was WAY to small for her. But seeing as how she had a fuzzy the day before I thought that it was fine. Went got some f/t fuzzies. And can't wait till next week feeding time to see if she will eat!