My Snake Isn't Eating ...

[ErikBush97]

I follow one rule with new snakes: Do Not hold your new snake, Do Not feed your new snake, Do Not Move anything in your new snakes enclosure, until he comes out and explores. Why? Because once they feel comfortable enough to stop hiding, they're probably comfy enough to eat or be handled, etc. Snakes will go months without eating without being unhealthy, and it's fine. Do not let your brain worry you. If you follow that one rule, you'll ensure that you aren't trying to feed him to early, or hold him to early, etc

[smy_749]

Originally Posted by ErikBush97

I follow one rule with new snakes: Do Not hold your new snake, Do Not feed your new snake, Do Not Move anything in your new snakes enclosure, until he comes out and explores. Why? Because once they feel comfortable enough to stop hiding, they're probably comfy enough to eat or be handled, etc. Snakes will go months without eating without being unhealthy, and it's fine. Do not let your brain worry you. If you follow that one rule, you'll ensure that you aren't trying to feed him to early, or hold him to early, etc

When did you start following that one rule, which is actually a list of 3 rules....?

I also want to add, that the whole 'your snake can go months, don't worry about it' isn't necessarily true. If the conditions are all correct, husbandry is spot on, the animal is in good health, and chooses not to eat, then yes its true. If the conditions aren't being met, the animal has some sort of illness, is stressed, than no, its not "fine" and you can simply have a dead snake in a matter of days/weeks.

[Caprisaurus]

Originally Posted by smy_749

When did you start following that one rule, which is actually a list of 3 rules....?

I also want to add, that the whole 'your snake can go months, don't worry about it' isn't necessarily true. If the conditions are all correct, husbandry is spot on, the animal is in good health, and chooses not to eat, then yes its true. If the conditions aren't being met, the animal has some sort of illness, is stressed, than no, its not "fine" and you can simply have a dead snake in a matter of days/weeks.

Well hopefully everything is fine. He seems really alert and active so I assume that he is healthy. They said they fed him a few days before he was shipped on last Wednesday so it hasn't been too long I guess. I have an empty paper towel tube on the cool and warm sides and an empty toilet paper roll in the middle. I have a thermostat controlling the heat mat and it's fluctuating between 83 and 85ish on the glass under the paper towels. He is hiding most of the time but he was out a lot last night but it looked like he was just trying really hard to escape. I haven't handled him at all either.

When it comes time for the next feeding if he's still hiding in the paper towel tube, how should I try to get him out?

[smy_749]

Originally Posted by Caprisaurus

Well hopefully everything is fine. He seems really alert and active so I assume that he is healthy. They said they fed him a few days before he was shipped on last Wednesday so it hasn't been too long I guess. I have an empty paper towel tube on the cool and warm sides and an empty toilet paper roll in the middle. I have a thermostat controlling the heat mat and it's fluctuating between 83 and 85ish on the glass under the paper towels. He is hiding most of the time but he was out a lot last night but it looked like he was just trying really hard to escape. I haven't handled him at all either.

When it comes time for the next feeding if he's still hiding in the paper towel tube, how should I try to get him out?

Don't try to get him out, he will come out on his own. Just leave the prey item and he will come out and find it when he's comfortable. Just don't leave it longer than the duration of the night.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by Caprisaurus

Well hopefully everything is fine. He seems really alert and active so I assume that he is healthy. They said they fed him a few days before he was shipped on last Wednesday so it hasn't been too long I guess. I have an empty paper towel tube on the cool and warm sides and an empty toilet paper roll in the middle. I have a thermostat controlling the heat mat and it's fluctuating between 83 and 85ish on the glass under the paper towels. He is hiding most of the time but he was out a lot last night but it looked like he was just trying really hard to escape. I haven't handled him at all either.

When it comes time for the next feeding if he's still hiding in the paper towel tube, how should I try to get him out?

Don't get him out. I never get my snakes out for feeding. I just dangle the prey item I front of the hide, make some noise to get their attention and they will strike the prey. For my shyer snakes I will dangle the prey item to get their attention and it in the cage overnight. Either way, let the snake eat, don't make it eat.

[drumcrush]

Originally Posted by Caprisaurus

it comes time for the next feeding if he's still hiding in the paper towel tube, how should I try to get him out?

When he isnt hiding in it, take it out and cut the roll in half horizontally so you can just lift it off of him

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by drumcrush

When he isnt hiding in it, take it out and cut the roll in half horizontally so you can just lift it off of him

Good advice. Not only is it good for this reason, but it will be a better warm hide, as the corn can lay under the half roll, on top of the paper towel being heated instead of being in a full roll where some heat is lost from having to be transferred through the cardboard.

It may not seem like a little cardboard will make a big difference but when your warm side is only 83-85 the temps inside a full roll may be a few degrees cooler which would defeat the purpose of a warm hide.

[ErikBush97]

Originally Posted by smy_749

When did you start following that one rule, which is actually a list of 3 rules....?

I also want to add, that the whole 'your snake can go months, don't worry about it' isn't necessarily true. If the conditions are all correct, husbandry is spot on, the animal is in good health, and chooses not to eat, then yes its true. If the conditions aren't being met, the animal has some sort of illness, is stressed, than no, its not "fine" and you can simply have a dead snake in a matter of days/weeks.

I'm saying that if worst comes to worst, The OP doesn't have to try and solve a feeding error after one failed attempt.

[Caprisaurus]

Thanks for all of the replies. I'm just worried that he won't eat again because I did what you guys are saying to do yesterday and he didn't eat. The problem with cutting the paper towel tubes is that he's always hiding in them! As soon as I come near the tank he immediately runs and goes in there. I'll have to really hurry and beat him to it before he hides or something.

[drumcrush]

can you post a pic of the set up?

[Caprisaurus]

Originally Posted by drumcrush

can you post a pic of the set up?

I'll do that soon but I already have on another thread of mine. Check out my other threads. I think it actually has setup in the title.

[ErikBush97]

Originally Posted by Caprisaurus

I'll do that soon but I already have on another thread of mine. Check out my other threads. I think it actually has setup in the title.

Nope. Can't find it.

[Caprisaurus]

It looks like that, minus the container he was shipped in and I replaced the cool side toilet paper tube with a paper towel tube.

[Lankyrob]

Personally i would privde MUCH more cover for the snake to move around in without being seen.

I put my hatchling corns into four foot long by two foot wide vivs straight away, BUT i provide cover over approximately 90% of the floor space and the vivs only have glass at the front. This means that the snake can move from hot to cold without having to expose itself to possible predators.

[smy_749]

Get a bag of aspen and he will feel much more secure. He probably feels super exposed on the papertowel with hides that have 2 open ends.