Males being picky!

marisa · 10-30-04, 11:46 PM

All my adult male colubrids are now refusing to eat. Those brats. I think they want to go to sleep? I wasn't planning on putting them into brumation until december 1st.

Do your males have "other plans" like mine do this time of year?

Marisa

Stockwell · 10-31-04, 12:34 AM

No, all of mine are still eating.
Sometimes the natural night drops that can occur in the house will also occur in the tank, unless you have a totally contained and thermostatically heated herp room.
My room never drops below 82 unless I change the controller setpoint, which I haven't yet done.

Colubrids and temperate Boids, like Rosy's will stop feeding once they detect cooler than normal temperatures especially night drops.
This is also likely whats behind complaints of "non feeding" after herps are shipped and exposed to cooler temps during transport, especially late in the year.

marisa · 10-31-04, 12:54 AM

Well my room normally stays above 70 degrees at night in the winter. Far cooler than yours, but I don't have pythons or boas without night heat, only the colubrids. In the summer its obviously much warmer at night, so you are right on that account, they notice it.

I guess next year I'll make more of an attempt to keep night temps up longer. They also have a large window in the room with no blinds so they are totally cued by these shorter days I guess.

Marisa

DragnDrop · 10-31-04, 09:16 AM

Not that I have much to offer here since I've only got one snake, a male Ruthven's Kingsnake. He is still eating, showing no signs of passing up a meal. He's got a UTH going 24/7, the room temperature is around 68-70 F, ambient room light only. I just fed him yesterday even though he's going to shed. He came out of his hidebox as soon as I approached and headed for the feeding area, tongue flicking like crazy, looking up at me, begging me to hurry up. I'm sure I saw him drooling

He had the hopper in his mouth the second I let go of it.

CamHanna · 10-31-04, 09:59 AM

My guys are still feeding just fine. Room temp is 85 and most colubrids have no other heating. The light is whatever comes through the window.

vanderkm · 10-31-04, 01:14 PM

I have dropped off feeding frequency for adults now, but both male and female corns and hondos are still crazy for food!

Only our old female cal king is no longer interested - and she is much more active - looking for a place to dig down I think, she seems to really try and bury herself in bedding but doesn't want to be in her regular hide. I definitely think she is ready for winter - but she is the only one here so far! Can't blame her since outdoor temps haven't gone much above zero for weeks now and there is still tons of snow outside!

mary v.

Simon Sansom · 11-01-04, 05:59 AM

My male Western Hognose has only just STARTED feeding within the last month or so - he went off food in early spring, after only a couple of meals!
All of my other male colubrids are still feeding just fine, though.

Room thermostatically controlled - 82 - 84 degrees F with no supplemtental heating.

Cheers!

Simon R. Sansom