Children's Python NOT EATING! for a year?

[Ozzie Python]

Actually quite a lot of people have success by placing a thawed/fresh killed rodent into an enclosure and leaving it alone over night. If the snake is not interupted at all and feels secure theres a chance it will eat. Works for some hatchies to get them started feeding, some nervous adult snakes will only eat like this also.

 

[amy5189]

i am leaving thawed fuzzy rats in my coastals enclosure as she is a difficult feeder. if you have to do this, i'd suggest putting it in just before dark, before the snake comes out for a crawl around. then if it hasn't been eaten as soon as you wake up, take it out. this way the icky mouse isn't in the cage for the hottest part of the day to stink everything up.
my coastal has eaten like this twice now, and no problems occurring yet. pooping, exploring and giving her mum kisses as usual!

 

[seumas12345]

Actually quite a lot of people have success by placing a thawed/fresh killed rodent into an enclosure and leaving it alone over night. If the snake is not interupted at all and feels secure theres a chance it will eat. Works for some hatchies to get them started feeding, some nervous adult snakes will only eat like this also.

Oh ok fair enough. I've only ever tried leaving a f/t overnight once... But the carpet wasn't hungry so it was still there in the morning and stank bad. But back to what I originally said, I meant don't leave a live mouse or rat in the cage overnight, or even at all...

 

[dailyskin]

Many people have success with leaving a thawed rodent in the cage overnight.

OP - where are you located? There are many excellent vets who will force or assist feed for you.

 

[Ozzie Python]

dailyskin, they are both the last thing anyone would try, esp force feeding.

Ahhhm, i don't recall saying i had problems at the moment:?

 

[dickyknee]

You wouldn't be. Look on the first page of posts. Someone said to put a mouse in there and leave it overnight. I'm assuming they meant a live one because have you ever smelt a thawed out mouse left in a snake cage overnight?? I wouldn't be eating for a year!

Happens very often , i am doing ti right now with thawed pinkies and hatchlings , even a few of my adults eat that way ...

 

[dailyskin]

dailyskin, they are both the last thing anyone would try, esp force feeding.

Ahhhm, i don't recall saying i had problems at the moment:?

By OP I meant Original Poster.

I imagine, after over a year of not eating, in a very small snake, and after all the other techniques have been tried, that many vets and breeders WOULD try assist feeding.

 

[Ozzie Python]

sorry, i normally get op rather than people typing the whole thing, i'm not up with all the latest lingo.

 

[Dan19]

Thank you all for your suggestions, i picked him up today and here are some pics of him...

Why are you still handling it? IMO it should have more hides, temperatures spot on in the enclosure and left for 1-2 weeks atleast until you think about trying to feed it again. What are the temps in there at the moment? And by the way, i wouldnt go leaving the mouse/rat on that substrate over night because if it is swallawed it could cause impaction.

 

[Ozzie Python]

good advice dan.

dailyskin, you're right it is an option, but an option to be explored when everything is sorted and tried, this snake needs the husbandry issues sorted, get it comfortable and less stressed and then scenting etc can be tried. It may start eating unassited itself.

 

[Gavin]

Why are you still handling it? IMO it should have more hides, temperatures spot on in the enclosure and left for 1-2 weeks atleast until you think about trying to feed it again. What are the temps in there at the moment? And by the way, i wouldnt go leaving the mouse/rat on that substrate over night because if it is swallawed it could cause impaction.

I was just moving him to another click clack, so while i was at it i took some pics of him to show u guys what shape he is in. Hmmm, i thought about that too, perhaps a paper towel on top would do the job? Also, should i feed him fuzzies?

 

[dailyskin]

Also - make sure he likes / uses his hides! Noodle didn't like the TP roll, because it moved underneath him, being curved.

He was also scared of one of the nice rock hides for some reason - he would edge around the opposite side trying to get away from it! Now he is bigger he loves it tho.

Cardboard boxes are great - things like medicine boxes, lightglobe boxes etc... They are safe and non-scary!

 

[amy5189]

yep medicine boxes are good. my mum is a nurse so she brings them home for me. my bigger carpet hated her rock hide and wouldnt touch it, but she loves her shoe box. weird snakes...

 

[cris]

It should have somewhere better to hide, i suggest using newspaper and heating from underneath with a heat cord or mat. What temepratures are you getting at the moment in the hottest and coolest places in the enclosure?

why would you be feeding a live mouse? it's illegal.


Will

No its isnt, the snake hasnt eaten for a year. If they are not able to assist or force feed it, using live food is another option. A live fuzzy rat would be OK to feed to it, although its likely that the python is stressed. Scenting the food with lizard or fish may help too.

 

[stoogeyou]

baby chick

lol throw in a baby chicker you know a 1 or 2 day old. (eat more chicken)

 

[Gavin]

It should have somewhere better to hide, i suggest using newspaper and heating from underneath with a heat cord or mat. What temepratures are you getting at the moment in the hottest and coolest places in the enclosure?




No its isnt, the snake hasnt eaten for a year. If they are not able to assist or force feed it, using live food is another option. A live fuzzy rat would be OK to feed to it, although its likely that the python is stressed. Scenting the food with lizard or fish may help too.

hottest place is around 33*C and coolest is around 24*C. Im not really that keen on live feeding. Scenting with a lizard? ill try that if i can catch one:shock:

 

[dickyknee]

hottest place is around 33*C and coolest is around 24*C. Im not really that keen on live feeding. Scenting with a lizard? ill try that if i can catch one:shock:

Surely live feeding is better than wiping its food with a parasite riddled skink ???

 

[dailyskin]

Someone might have a lizard you can borrow

Live feeding with a pinkie is allowed as a last resort. I love all animals, but I would still try this if I had to. Pinkies aren't really at a highly evolved thinking plane. Their mums eat them quite regularly!

 

[seanjbkorbett]

he doesnt look unhealthy or under weight...id try old skool,n try a very small liive mouse!....(theres alot of debate with this method).its FACT that some snakes will only take liive food,even if bred in captivity..i had this with my 3mtr carpet,he only ate liive(chicks),and a number of snakes i had iv had to do it with!..try that!if he doesnt take to the liive mouse str8 away leave it in there for a few hrs,and move away from teh cage(try not to leave the mouse in there over night or tooo long if he doesnt take to it)...if u whant!

 

[Dan19]

Next time you have to handle it, i would use a hook. A lot less stressful for it. The temps seem alright, but if you are going to leave a mouse in there i would replace the substrate just with newspaper or paper towel. Leave him totally alone for 1-2 weeks+ and then let us know how it goes.