New and worried!

missconduct5 · 05-26-13, 03:40 AM

I have a 16 month old, 40", male bullsnake. As a rule he's a very chill snake and loves to be handled. He eats a fuzzy every 3-5 days, is currently housed in a 45g tank, alpine shavings for substrate, a feeding mat (so he doesnt eat shavings), his water dish, wood and gradient heat (which is his favorite end to coil up in. His last shed was completed approx. 7 days ago.

So.. I thawed a fuzzy 5 days ago and he wouldn't touch it - he last ate 3-4 days prior to shedding. I had to throw the mouse out the next day when I awoke and it still hadn't been touched. I thawed another this morning and put it on his mat and he wouldn't even go see but, at one point, loosely coiled around it before slithering off again. It's now 3:30am and I woke to get a drink and noticed the mouse was STILL THERE! I opened his cage and he was not in his usual spot and not coiled like he normally rests - he has "folded" himself in half and resting in the front by the glass. I opened it up to check on him and he lost his ever-loving mind! Vincent postured, hissed and refused to back down until I shut his lid but not before I got the second mouse out and chucked it as well.

It's now been 10 days since he's eaten last and I'm worried. I also have to get in there and do my scheduled cleaning but he's too pissed to manage. Any ideas what could be wrong? I bought him as a baby from a pet store so I have guarantee that he was from a healthy clutch - I realize I took a chance but there are no breeders of reptiles where I'm from.

Is it possible he's dying? I'm crushed!

Starbuck · 05-26-13, 06:17 AM

That sounds like a pretty aggressive feeding schedule, i wouldn't be surprised if he just wasn't hungry.
Also, depending on where you are located, he could be getting ready for the breeding season, as he is getting closer to sexual maturity, and has other things on his mind than food lol.

10 days is a blink of an eye in the snake world. As long as he isn't losing weight then you don't have to worry too much if he refuses to eat. It doesn't sound like he is dying

I would switch your feeding schedule to every 7-10 days anyways, and reevaluate the size of the prey you are feeding. Prey should be about as big around as the snake, at his widest point. He will likely calm down after breeding season has passed, or maybe was just having an off day.
Double check your temps, and offer him food again in a week.
Best of luck.

RyanReptile · 05-26-13, 07:18 AM

When your snake refuses to eat a good rule is to wait another 7-10 days to feed again.

missconduct5 · 05-26-13, 09:36 AM

Thanks. He's my very first "baby" and I want to do right by him. I appreciate the quick response.

possum · 05-26-13, 11:14 AM

What is the ambient/overall air temperature in the cage? Does the room where the cage is get daylight (not directly on the cage but to give a normal photoperiod?). What is the coolest and warmest temperature on the substrate (where he is)? You mentioned that he was spending much time on the heated part...I am wondering if he is too cool. A snake that is kept too cool (or if it's in a dark room where the normal daylength seems shorter) may start to kick into hibernation mode. As a rule bullsnakes are pretty forgiving, but I'm assuming your temperatures farther to the north are much colder than here, and many snakes pick up on the overall temperature in your house and refuse to eat thinking it's time to hibernate. (I used to keep & breed bullsnakes, btw...they are great pets IMO.)

Also, a bull snake that is 40" long and a year++ old should NOT be eating fuzzys at all. I can see where you'd have to feed him every few days but that prey is much too small & does not provide adequate nutrition. Snakes jaws stretch quite nicely by design. He should be eating an adult mouse (or baby rat of the same size if you prefer) that is roughly as big around as the snake is, in the midbody. You should be feeding him about every 10 days, give or take his appetite (and don't bother if he is in shed). Snakes that are hungry will often be "cranky" or follow motion they see thru the glass...like a wiggling finger to test it, but don't rile him up enough to hit the glass or he may injure his face. And don't take it personal...he does NOT want to eat YOU, lol....they go after the motion and are picky eaters, truly..