ATB hangin on by a thread (any advice??)

BOA68 · 07-18-05, 09:25 PM

Well i posted about my sick ATB a month or two ago and said that she was doing better. Well that is not the case anymore. After we got rid or her RI we had a bout with mites less than two weeks later. It only took a few days to get rid of them, but she didn't get better. She has been to the vet more times in the past 4 months than any of my snakes have been in their lives. After many blood tests the vet determined that she had a rare blood parasite and put her on more meds. We have now run out of options. She has been on every med possible for wut they found to be wrong with her and even a couple extras as broad spectrums, but she still refuses to eat. She has been going in for tube feedings just to keep nutrition in her because she hasn't had a real meal in over 6 months. Has anyone ever experience an ATB going on a hunger strike because this is wut it seems like to me. She has no physical ailments that the vet can find and she still won't eat. Any tricks i can try to get her to eat or a special food other than item other than a mouse that may get her eating again. Any advice is greatly appreciated. I don't think she can hang on much longer without eating.

ravensgait · 07-18-05, 11:25 PM

Sorry to hear she's still not doing well.

You mentioned a blood parasite what was the name of the parasite?
It's hard to say what you could try next, if you know someone near by who has some real experience with ATBs you could see if they would take her in and try to get her going. Can you post pics of what your keeping her in ? I believe you've already done this but post the temps and humidity you have her setup at. Hoping for the best. Randy

BOA68 · 07-18-05, 11:57 PM

I posted pics afew months ago. I don't have the pics on my comp anymore, but its a custom 2'x2'x2' enclosure with lots of climbing perches and i am using paper towels on the floor. The humidity is between 65-75 depending on time of day/night and temp. Day temps are a gradient of 78-85 with a 90 basking spot and night is a gradient of 70-77. The vet i use specializes in reptiles and he even consulted another specialist about my snake but the treatments haven't gotten her to eat. Over the past months she seems physically better and is acting more like herself, just not eating. The vet is out of ideas because there is nothing physically wrong with her. I didnt get the name of the parasite he just said it was rare, but that the meds he gave me would get rid of the problem. That was a month and a half ago. I'm lost as to wut i should do.

SerpentLust · 07-19-05, 10:18 AM

One of my two baby amazons were like that. Unfortunately he died. However I did get him eating on his own. I had to resort to live. What I did was put him in a small kritter keeper with a blanket over it so he didn't have much room, with a live pinky gerbil in it and the ammy ate it, i think, out of frustration at wanting more space.

I'm very sorry to hear about your ammy, I'm sure you love them as much as I do...it's heartbreaking when you feel helpless...

Jenn

BOA68 · 07-19-05, 02:47 PM

Yea its rough. Its basically up to her now if she wants to eat or not. I have tried live but still won't eat it. She seems interested at first and gets very close and smells it, but the leaves it alone. Last night she tried to get me while i was refilling her water and she hasn't done that in a while so maybe she is feeling a little more energetic for some reason. i am going to try to feed her tonight after her lights go off and c wut happens. And just for those who may not know she isn't a baby snake that is giving me feeding problems she is about 5 years old. So this is very uncharacteristic.

The Gawd · 08-03-05, 03:00 AM

I have only kept 1 of these about 6 years ago, but i have delt with apx 15 of them or so, I work in a petstore, you see the thing with these guys is that most of them are imported, and therfore have never eaten a rodent, well possobly, any ways any troubled eater that i have delt with almost always take green treefrogs, or small lizards, but then theres always the risk of parasites, so..... but this is there more natural food, they also love birds and bats, and have been known to catch them in mid air while sleeping, which i think is really cool... one other thing that i have done that has worked was making a mouse smell like a frog or lizard, either by rubbing or by the phermone scent drops, i cant remember the brand right now, im pretty tired, possibly zoomed lizardmaker or somthing like that.... ill look into it tommorow when im awake..... then just dangle it with long tongs.... how long have u had the snake? has he eatin before? and have you tried different items? they will almost always eat a frog that jumps accross their terrium and it is so cool when it grabs it!!!!
I love these guys i plan on getting a trio soon... and man iv been bitten by these guys more than any other snake, i love their attitude..... i hope everything works out for you

cristine · 08-03-05, 09:58 AM

I hope she is doing better, is the room dark enough, how about a black mouse put in a BLENDER, and maybe using a syringe?