Retic (Esmeralda) not Feeding

guyabano · 05-19-13, 12:52 AM

Hey guys, what do you usually do when a snake goes off feed? Last time she fed was about a month ago, right before she went pre-shed blue. She shed on a Saturday so I tried feeding the next evening. She didn't take it after an hour, so I took the rat out and went to bed. I tried again three days after and I observed the most peculiar behavior.
Usually, I open up the enclosure and she goes for one of her hides but leaves her head out. She sees the rat, stalks it and takes it. This time, she stalked it, direct movement, quick tongue flickering but then she just froze 3 inches away. Didn't move for a couple of minutes and she just turned around and went to the other side of the enclosure. Tried it again the next Sunday, same thing.

Since then, I've left her alone and skipped the Sunday after that. I plan to try again tomorrow. What do you guys think?

She seems to have lost some weight, but I keep her hydrated.

Lankyrob · 05-19-13, 03:43 AM

Personally if a snake misses a feed i just leave it be until the next scheduled feed. If it misses two i then double check all temps and humidity and then leave it be.

I had a GTP not feed from October last year til April this year, he then ate once and has missed all feeds since. As long as they arent losing condition it isnt an issue, if they start to lose condition then a vet visit is in ordre.

Hillsberry · 05-19-13, 07:23 AM

Weird for a Retic. How long have you had her? Is she a Wild Caught? How old is she? Please tells us the temps in the cage.

guyabano · 05-20-13, 08:37 PM

Thanks for the replies. She is a wild caught. Not quite sure how old, but she is 4'5" long. Temps are no cooler than 28C no hotter than 32C. Last night, I tried a smaller rat, she still didn't take it. I'm starting to get a little worried ._.

Hillsberry · 05-21-13, 12:27 PM

How long have you had her? You need to let her settle, only bother her when you have to clean water/cage. I am heard rubbing chicken down feathers helps get them to feed. Don't offer door for at least a week. I am guess she may be stress. Lower the cool side of the enclosure to about 78F.

**millertime89** · 05-21-13, 10:04 PM

pics of her enclosure?
Let the temp drop a little bit, go 25-30C
What's your humidity at?
Are you 100% positive she is a she?

guyabano · 05-22-13, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hillsberry

How long have you had her? You need to let her settle, only bother her when you have to clean water/cage. I am heard rubbing chicken down feathers helps get them to feed. Don't offer door for at least a week. I am guess she may be stress. Lower the cool side of the enclosure to about 78F.

I've had her for about 6 months now and she has been a shy eater, but prior to this has never missed a feeding. I was slowly getting her used to my presence around her enclosure while she fed so that I could eventually get her to take pre-killed. I tell ya, of all the retics to get back into the hobby with, I've never had this much trouble with a specimen. Even the poo smearers.

I live in a tropical country, so dropping the thermostat isn't an option I am lucky to have. Will a large tub that she can soak in suffice?

guyabano · 05-22-13, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millertime89

pics of her enclosure?
Let the temp drop a little bit, go 25-30C
What's your humidity at?
Are you 100% positive she is a she?

This is what she's currently housed in. I don't have any current pictures, but imagine it with a branch in the middle, a shallow water dish about 5in in diameter and two half terra cotta pots on either side as hides.

Humidity is whatever is outside. I live in a country naturally populated by retics so it shouldn't be an issue. I do mist the enclosure when she is shedding though. I'm about 80% sure that "it's" a female. Either that or a fat male with a relatively short tail.

If you don't mind me asking, what does the gender have to do with it?

**millertime89** · 05-22-13, 08:56 PM

A male at that size is sexually mature, they will sometimes go off food when they want to breed. Tail length isn't the best indicator of gender in retics IMO. I've seen plenty of long tail females and short tail males. Best to probe or pop. Try covering half the cage door in something dark to provide a little extra security for the snake. What size is the cage? Looks good sized.

waf · 05-23-13, 03:45 PM

Hi! if you have it since 6 months ago, and she (or he) was feeding well, this behavior is unnormal. I think it could be one of two things: 1) if its an adult, they get off food getting ready to mate. 2) some disease is occuring. In general, Esmeraldas are pretty picky, I had that behavior with one of my BCC and she was diseased with stomatitis. Friend, my suggestion is to take her to the vet ASAP.
Regads.........

guyabano · 05-24-13, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millertime89

A male at that size is sexually mature, they will sometimes go off food when they want to breed. Tail length isn't the best indicator of gender in retics IMO. I've seen plenty of long tail females and short tail males. Best to probe or pop. Try covering half the cage door in something dark to provide a little extra security for the snake. What size is the cage? Looks good sized.

Oh wow. All this time, I thought they were sexually mature at around 7ft. I don't have access to a probing kit right now. Would it still be safe to pop at this size? I might have to hold him/her down. Might not help with her trust issues.
The enclosure is a 4x2.

Quick update, looks like Esme is shedding again. Didn't feed once between the last time and this one. Odd.

guyabano · 05-24-13, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waf

Hi! if you have it since 6 months ago, and she (or he) was feeding well, this behavior is unnormal. I think it could be one of two things: 1) if its an adult, they get off food getting ready to mate. 2) some disease is occuring. In general, Esmeraldas are pretty picky, I had that behavior with one of my BCC and she was diseased with stomatitis. Friend, my suggestion is to take her to the vet ASAP.
Regads.........

Best case scenario I'm hoping for is that it is indeed a sexually mature snake and this is normal. So far, she looks okay. Slimmer than I'm used to, but not unhealthy looking.

**millertime89** · 05-25-13, 12:43 AM

Females generally don't go off feed when they reach sexual maturity unless they're gravid or sitting on a clutch. Yes its still safe to pop at 6 ft, I helped a friend do it on his 12 ft male. Its a little more difficult at that size as they like to fight you every step of the way but its definitely doable. He put them most of the way in the cage and closed the door so only the vent and tail tip were sticking out to keep the snake from whipping around and biting in case it decided it wanted to. Males can definitely still reach sexual maturity at 6 ft, every snake is different, some will go even smaller.

guyabano · 05-26-13, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millertime89

Females generally don't go off feed when they reach sexual maturity unless they're gravid or sitting on a clutch. Yes its still safe to pop at 6 ft, I helped a friend do it on his 12 ft male. Its a little more difficult at that size as they like to fight you every step of the way but its definitely doable. He put them most of the way in the cage and closed the door so only the vent and tail tip were sticking out to keep the snake from whipping around and biting in case it decided it wanted to. Males can definitely still reach sexual maturity at 6 ft, every snake is different, some will go even smaller.

Awesome. The more I think about it, the more it would make sense that she is in fact a he. I'll wait 'til after the shed to pop just to be sure. I'll keep you all posted.

In case Esme is indeed a he, what should I call him instead? I need ideas.

guyabano · 05-28-13, 07:36 AM

"E" shed yesterday, got her out of the enclosure and she came out fighting. I popped and didn't quite see two phalluses sticking up at me, but I did see two red bumps that may have been musking me at the time.

I'm leaning towards her being a female, but experts please chime in. Can a male also just show those two bumps? Maybe he(?) had some performance/shrinkage issues being restrained and all. Guys, y'all know what I mean. . some dudes like being restrained though. This is going off on a really weird tangent, yet I can't stop typing.

Thoughts?