Difficult Feeder

[Vixen]

I have this holdback port mac that is a very finicky eater - she hatched on the 31 January 09, and has always been like this. She will only eat succesfully once every 3-5 weeks, and is alot smaller than her siblings. She's not completely skinny but I would like her to put on some weight, and it's very frustrating.

The thing is, it's not because she refuses food. Some of the time I have to tease her and this will induce a strike and coil (sometimes she does refuse though but most of the time she takes and coils it), other times she will happily take without the teasing. She then holds it for a minute, sniffs around as if looking for the head, but then abandons it and won't touch it again.

I can pick it up and get her to strike again, but the same thing always happens, she just seems to lose interest and lets it go. I've tried fresh and thawed rats and mice (she only eats mice but im not worried about that yet) haven't tried live yet as I don't see the point when she is already showing interested in dead - at least for the first part of the process.

I've tried leaving it overnight, feeding at different times of the day and night, nothing works. She is in a very quiet area, so won't be getting disturbed or stressed, and as soon as she takes the mouse I quietly sneak away and won't disturb her for half an hour.

Anyone have any ideas, or had a snake similar? As I said, it's not life threatening or anything as she is still active and isn't super skinny, but if there's anything I can do to get her feeding properly would be wonderful. Perhaps it's just her and there's nothing I can do. :x

 

[xxMelissaxx]

I had a Diamond who did the exact same thing - could never figure it out. Eventually, she started taking them when they were left overnight. I had her as a hatchie, and then when she was about two years old, she just eventually started eating well.

Guess she just grew out of it, so hopefully yours does too.

 

[WomaPythons]

the fella i brought my costal off use to pull fluffly bits off day old chicks and put it ova the mouse it workd for him but then i got him to eat without doin it

 

[cement]

There is nothing wrong with your snake. Its only that we think they should eat more often then they do. There is nothing wrong with it being small or a bit on the thin side, they live quite well just like that. Try feeding it every week, if it doesn't nail it, leave it alone, I'm assuming your temps and everything else is right.

If you keep stirring it up with the food it may make it harder.

It will feed when its ready. Its usually the pretty hold backs that are like this!

 

[Vixen]

Thanks guys, yes temps and all that are fine, it's just as I feared then, it's her. :lol:

I usually try her every 2 weeks to see if she eats, other than that I leave her alone.

 

[bfg23]

I have a 2 year old jungle that is the same. He will only eat every few weeks, and only eats mice. I have got him to take a few rats in the past, but mice seem to get a better response than the rats do.

I have a MD that is a not even a year old yet that is near enough the same size as my Jungle.

I have read quite a few members have pythons like this. I think its just individuality between different animals.

 

[Vixen]

I think I worked out the trick to feeding her - since she hasn't been eating, when I DO offer her food I usually offer quite large items to make up some of the meals she has missed (not overly large, but enough to leave a nice lump).

I instead decided trying smaller items, and she seems to love these better even though they are too small for her. She has eaten twice in the last four days, and wasn't even bothered by activity in the herp room! I will keep feeding her like this for a while and see if she will eventually take the bigger food once her condition improves, very happy. =D

 

[ShaunMorelia]

Glad to hear that its feeding more often now.
Our port mac sometimes does the same thing, but I have found that it only happens when he is on the ground. But when he's hanging from a branch or something, there is no problem at all.

 

[redbellybite]

one of my water pythons is like that ..I find that I have to tease her while she is holding onto her feed so she grips harder ..then i totally cover her tub up with a dark blanket and leave her coverd till morning ..any thing can disturb her ...my others dont care but she is very nervous and wont eat till she is convinced no one can see her and vice versa

 

[mysnakesau]

...... I will keep feeding her like this for a while and see if she will eventually take the bigger food once her condition improves, very happy. =D

Thats great news! Its always a worry with hatchlings that don't want to feed properly. But your own advice here is, IMO, the best thing to do. She is eating which is the main thing, and she is happy which is also important. Give her more than one food item each time if she will take it. After a few weeks or so when you're confident with her eating, start her on what she likes and follow through with a larger food. While already in feed mode she may be less likely to turn her nose up at seconds.