Refused feed.

SnakeyJay · 05-04-11, 11:40 PM

Hey everyone.... So I went to go and feed my corn last nite and he wouldnt take it... I teased him with it n he was interested but he kept backing off.. So I popped it on a plate n put it in with him over night... Still not taken it.. I havnt changed anything im doing or the food item.. and hes never refused a feed before. Anyone know what could be the issue?.

stephanbakir · 05-04-11, 11:44 PM

Could be he just isn't hungry, snakes can go literally months without eating.

sickvenom · 05-04-11, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakey-Jay-BRB

Hey everyone.... So I went to go and feed my corn last nite and he wouldnt take it... I teased him with it n he was interested but he kept backing off.. So I popped it on a plate n put it in with him over night... Still not taken it.. I havnt changed anything im doing or the food item.. and hes never refused a feed before. Anyone know what could be the issue?.

the answer is very simple - he's not hungry. assuming there are no health issues, and that nothing has changed with the temps in his cage, i'm just guessing he's not hungry. it happens. no need to be alarmed...... yet.

SnakeyJay · 05-04-11, 11:48 PM

Lol I thought he might not be hungry and im aware their slow motabolism allows them to go without eating so im not overly worried.. Im just curios as hes never missed a feed and usually hes an aggressive eater for such a little guy.

sickvenom · 05-04-11, 11:51 PM

hope you tossed that mouse. probably not re-freezable since it was in the cage all night. try a fresh one next week.

SnakeyJay · 05-05-11, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sickvenom

hope you tossed that mouse. probably not re-freezable since it was in the cage all night. try a fresh one next week.

Lol I never refreeze the mice or rats... But yeah I threw it out.

Lankyrob · 05-05-11, 03:16 AM

Our two yearlings both refused feed yesterday too, they both normally eat even in blue but just werent interested. Checked on them both this morning and they are both in blue, could just be that feed day has never fallen on this specific part of the shed process before or that they just arent hungry, either way they just have to wait til next feed day now!

SnakeyJay · 05-05-11, 03:26 AM

So I shouldnt try again in a day or so? Leave it the 10 days to next feed x

Lankyrob · 05-05-11, 03:28 AM

I always wait til the next scheduled feed, hassling them wihth daily attempts is more likely to stress them than to help. As we all know they van go months without food and still be healthy, as long as there are no other issues they just have to wait.

SnakeyJay · 05-05-11, 03:32 AM

Ah cool... Ill leave it for abit then and see if he goes into blue or anything.

infernalis · 05-05-11, 04:07 AM

Surprised no one brought this up.... Your snake may be due for a shed soon. Many snakes refuse to eat for around a week before a shed cycle is expected.

SnakeyJay · 05-05-11, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

Surprised no one brought this up.... Your snake may be due for a shed soon. Many snakes refuse to eat for around a week before a shed cycle is expected.

Tut tut wayne.... Rob already suggested that one.. But yeah im hoping thats whats happening.

mykee · 05-05-11, 10:40 AM

I'll add that by putting the dead rodent of a plate overnight and not on the heat, you are cooling down that animal to the point that it is no longer either locateable or palitable to your snake.
Snakes find food by movement, heat and smell. Since it can't move anymore, you need to depend on smell (increased by heat) and heat alone.
Lose the plate next time, you may have better luck.

sickvenom · 05-05-11, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykee

I'll add that by putting the dead rodent of a plate overnight and not on the heat, you are cooling down that animal to the point that it is no longer either locateable or palitable to your snake.
Snakes find food by movement, heat and smell. Since it can't move anymore, you need to depend on smell (increased by heat) and heat alone.
Lose the plate next time, you may have better luck.

Exactly. I don't know why people use the plate method. Pretty silly. I feed all my rodents straight from the fridge and xangle with feeding tongs. 100% success rate.

Lankyrob · 05-05-11, 11:02 AM

I use a plate to tease feed teh snake onto - then when they eat it drastically reduces the risk of substrate getting stuck to the prey. If they wont tease feed for whatever reason i leave the prey on the plate overnight but under the heat bulb (or at least at the warm end of the viv). For a long time my BP would NOT strike feed no matter how we tried but would always eat the prey item if left on a plate - lately he has started to tease feed with no problems.