Finally! I am so relieved.

[Greebo]

About a year ago, I swapped my 6ft+ Male Darwin for a 8ft Diamond female. I was reluctant to do it as he has always been the pride of my collection but it seemed like I was getting the better end of the deal.
About 6 months ago, I gave the guy a call and bought him back. I am glad I did because this guy didn't have a clue. He had been feeding the Darwin on live mice because he said that was all he could get him to eat.
The snake had always been a good feeder for me, they don't get that big with out eating but when I got him back he would not eat. I tried everything and eventually ended up trying live prey but he wouldn't even eat them. I force fed him 3 times in 6 months which is stressful for the snake as well as myself.
I noticed he was very active today, so I offered him a weaner rat and I was very, very patient. He eventually grabbed the rat in a very tentative manner. He has done this a couple of times and then just left the rat after loosing interest. Something must of clicked today as he suddenly constricted it! Woo Hoo!
He finally ate! I have given him 2 more wearners straight away which he wolfed down. Words can not relay how relieved I am. Hopefully I can get him feeding regularly again now.

 

[Bryony]

yay greebs!

 

[soulweaver]

good luck with it greebs!! I know its not quite the same, but it was a food feeling when we finally got our juvie coastal to eat, even if it was with the help of skink smell

 

[Gerry]

I have to ask, how do you force feed a 6ft python?

 

[snake6p]

good 1.

 

[Greebo]

You get a mouse or small rat, coat it with vegetable oil to help it go down smoother.You have to open the snakes mouth as gently as possible and then ever so slowly push the mouse down the throat of the snake, I use a big pair of plastic tweesers. I had a vet show me how to do it properly. Once the mouse is almost completely into the throat, you have to massage it down a little further so the snake doesn't just regurgitate it.
It is not pleasant.

 

[Gerry]

no, doesnt sound pleasent. well done all the same

 

[Guest]

What was the guy doing with an 8ft Diamond if he couldn't even take care of something smaller easily? did u swap back? or what did i miss?

 

[Mr.K]

Well Done mate. It is stressful when your snake wont eat, let alone having to force feed. I have had to do this in the past and its not an easy task with a larger animal. sounds like you have ended up with a good deal anyway. 8)

 

[Greebo]

What was the guy doing with an 8ft Diamond if he couldn't even take care of something smaller easily? did u swap back? or what did i miss?

I still have the Diamond female. He swapped it because he said that it would only eat live. Pfffffft. It took de-frosted rats the first time I tried. This was one reason I followed up on my Darwin and brought it back off him. I dunno what this bloke did to him but hopefully he will be fine now.
He ended up eating 5 weaners today which is great as I want to put a bit more weight back on him.

 

[Slateman]

I know exactly how you feel Grebs. Some of my snakes go off food for longer period some times and it is always releave to see them start feed again.

 

[dobermanmick]

Good to hear greebo !

 

[hugsta]

Great to hear Greebo, I know how you feel, I have a simliar problem with a coastal but he is in far worse condition. He is over 6ft and weighed just under a kilo when I took him off a mate. He should never have had it in the first place.

 

[africancichlidau]

Congratulations Mr. Greebs well done

 

[indicus]

'Phew', i bet you feel better considering he was a good feeder while in care in the past, would have freaked you out when you got him back and he wasnt the snake you remembered........the nightmares over, onya mate. No supprise i got the same problem with a blackhead, i know it will eat, hopefully sooner rather than later.

 

[Greebo]

Maybe he finally wised up and realised, "Hey, if I don't eat this bloody rat he's going to shove it down my throat again!"

 

[Greebo]

"Good news everybody!"
I offered him a full grown rat tonight and he took it almost straight away. It was the laziest strike I have ever seen, he just opened his mouth and slowly grabbed it. Looks like he is back to feeding regularly again and I will be feeding him up to put the weight back on him.

 

[hey_im_sam]

fantastic news greebo... I had a boa once that just stopped eating for about 7 months... when it finally started up again the relief I felt was indescribable. Good onya for following up, and buying him back off this guy... sounds to me as if you've imroved his life heaps, as well as gaining back the pride of your collection

 

[Magpie]

I had some coastals do a similar thing after freighting them.
Near on 12 months later they suddenly became active as you say and 2 of 3 took food that night and never looked back.

 

[africancichlidau]

Good onya Greebs, Champion News!

Maggie, what happened with the third one?