BP Won't eat - Page 5

Chu'Wuti · 04-13-09, 01:23 AM

You can buy stronger heat lamps. There are ceramic heat emitters that are 150 watts. However, a UTH would be better. You use a thermostat by plugging the UTH or other heat source (or both) into it and programming the temps you want into it, then it maintains the temps for you. There are reptile thermostats.

On another thread, Mykee said this:

Quote:

Check out Spyder Robotics Herpstat
The Herpstats are the standard for reptile thermostats with a few different options for different set-ups. I currently have a pair of Herpstat II's and five Herpstat Pro's in use.

The Herpstats are pretty expensive, though. If you want something less expensive, ZooMed makes thermostats that work well for a single enclosure: Entry Detail

Search around for prices at various places. Good luck!

BTW, I should add that if the window feels cooler at all to your hand, then it's probably a bigger difference than you think and it's sucking heat from your snake's enclosure. To be sure, you could put a thermometer in the window. The insulation should help some, but as the ambient temp in the room is lower than the enclosure and you have one glass wall with no insulation, you're still always losing heat. Getting a UTH & maybe also a stronger lamp with a thermostat should help a lot.

Wolfus_305 · 04-13-09, 08:11 AM

Thanks so much!
I will look into that immediately!
Kenn

citysnakes · 04-13-09, 03:54 PM

kendra, if you could raise the temperature a few degrees by upping to a 100w heat bulb then that should be fine.

Wolfus_305 · 04-13-09, 03:58 PM

Hey Julian,
Ok, I will try that and see how it works. If it doesn't work I will research and invest in a UTH and thermostat.
Kendra

newby · 04-15-09, 07:07 PM

Also winter/spring is breeding season for BP's so if he isnt losing weight hes ok. Just keep and eye on him and make sure he is hydrated and all that good stuff. He could also be getting ready to shed here soon as well. so keep and eye for that and if he isnt losing weight like i said he will be fine.

Chu'Wuti · 04-15-09, 08:17 PM

Newby, just in case you haven't read through the entire thread, Kenny is concerned because her BP hasn't eaten since last September, about 7 months. You have a good point about weight loss, though . . . Kendra? Has your BP lost weight since September?

Sandy

newby · 04-15-09, 08:52 PM

no i didnt get a chance to get to read all the way through. i was in a hurry and i read the first few posts. umm my vet told me once that balls have been known in rare cases to go up to a year without eating and be ok. he said to just make sure you do regular vet visits when they are in this fasting stage to make sure there is no parasites or other underlying problems. i just got off the phone with him about it. so as long as the snake is a healthy weight and the vet cant see anything wrong with the snake there isnt much more you can do but keep an eye on him and hope he resumes eating. also he said that sometimes the snake can become gender specific with their prey. he said sometimes they will only eat males or females. he doesnt know why that happens all he knows is that it isnt uncommon for a snake to do that. i hope this helps a little.

Chu'Wuti · 04-16-09, 04:47 AM

Wow--that's really interesting information! I have never heard of that happening, but I can easily imagine it, as I'm sure the males & females smell quite different.

It's also good to know they can fast so long without great harm, but it's weird. Like Kendra, I'm on my first BP, so learning this kind of info is really good. I've been feeling pretty fortunate, as my BP doesn't seem to be as sensitive or picky as some BPs I've heard about here!

Wolfus_305 · 04-16-09, 05:35 AM

*sigh* yes, wolfus is a picky fella.
I have been trying not to handle him because "they tolerate it, they don't like it" and i didn't want to stress him out. I am working tonight but if i don't get home too late I could weigh him. Just from appearance though (sometimes i'm up late enough to see him) he doesn't look sickly and thin.
Kendra

newby · 04-16-09, 01:54 PM

he should be fine i have had many reptiles and i have a really good vet that i go to so i get a lot of help. i mean my snake went a couple of months without eating and i just monitored his weight and made sure his temps and stuff were good. they will eat when they are hungry enough. there slow metabolism is what keeps them alive through a fasting period like that. umm they will lose a litlle weight during that period but it shouldnt be dramatic. just make sure you take him to the vet regularly when you can to make sure he is ok. good luck and i hope i have been of some help.

newby · 04-16-09, 01:56 PM

also i forgot to mention try a different color mouse/rat different gender as well. i know i told you the gender thing but try color too. and try to handle the prey as little as possible because it gets ur smell on there and then he will think its you. also it can have a reverse effect and make your hand smell like the prey and he can attack you. so just be careful when doing all that.

Chu'Wuti · 04-16-09, 02:01 PM

Quote:

they will eat when they are hungry enough.

Maybe, but we can't guarantee that--some refuse until they die. I don't think you're there yet, Kendra--not by a long shot--so don't panic.

Newby has a good point about color--some snakes will only eat one color, it seems.

newby · 04-16-09, 03:28 PM

yeah srry if i made it sound like it was gauranteed that he will eat when he is hungry. it is true that some will not and starve to death. im srry i didnt make that clearer thanks Chu for clearing that up

Wolfus_305 · 04-16-09, 07:24 PM

Hi there,
ok, So far I have been using white rats, i haven't checked the gender though. His previous owner used white rats as well. I handle the rat as little as possible because i don't want it to smell like me and I don't want to smell like it. =P I have tried thawing the rat in a bag so that it stays dry and i have also had the bag leak so he's had the option of dry and slightly damp rats.

I was sort of worried about it at first but now that it's been seven months i am just sort of shrugging it off. It's not that i don't care it's just that it's sort of what i'm expecting now. My mum is the one worrying about Wolfus.

I don't have a herp vet. I haven't been able to find a "good" one in my area. I am still looking around though but for now it's this forum.

Thanks again! you guys are my heroes!
Kendra

citysnakes · 04-16-09, 10:43 PM

hey Kendra, i wouldnt add uneccessary stress by taking a healthy, fasting snake to a vet. just keep the handling to a minimum like you are doing, get those temps slightly raised and make sure the snake has at least one tight fitting hide on each end of the enclosure.

try feeding attempts once a week and only at night and be sure to prescent the area before feeding. i would stick to white rats and keep them on the smaller side. at this point keep your options open and if you need to try a live feeding or even a different type of feeder, such as a f/t or live mouse, then do it.

trust me i know how much this sucks. i am going through the same thing with an extremely picky female that has refused every feeding attempt for eight months now. im starting to hate her...

good luck