Hatchling Diamond Python Not Eating

[Kayla017]

Hi Guys,

I got my hatchling Diamond Python 5 months ago. In that time, she has eaten once and regurgitated it (there was a bloody mucus over the Pinkie) and from now on she won't take any food at all. I offer her a Pinkie once a week. She is growing in length but not width. She has alot of hides, the temps are right and I have tried feeding her in her enclosure and in a seperate container. She was born on the 28th Feb 2009. The previous owner said she was a really good eater but she isn't for me...

Any advice would be great

 

[Lewy]

What size enclosure is it in at that age it should only be in something around 8-10 litters you say the temps are good what are they?

How are you heating it ? all this needs to be answered before we can give you advise

 

[Kayla017]

Lewy,

The temps 19.c - 27.c. and the size of the enclosure is about 15cm wide and 25cm long

 

[Lewy]

Turn the heat up to 32, I no people say they don't need it that hot but they are not completely correct Diamond's are often found basking in very hot temp so turn the hot end up and try feeding in a week

 

[Kayla017]

Heat Mat is used for heating

 

[Kayla017]

Thanks Lewy

 

[agradehydro]

I have a similar aged diamond who I keep on around 35 during the day and 28ish at night on the warmest spot, he has been pretty good eating but only when the pinkies (and fuzzies now) are thawed and heated really well. Hope this helps at all

 

[tomcat88]

im no diamond expert but as mentioned some problem feeders might take a mouse/rat if its really really hot, most will take a rodent as long as its thawed and not frozen but some need that little bit extra to get them excited, maybe theyre heat receptor pits dont work as well as others who knows. good luck anyway (also cant remember if you said you'd tried but have u brained the mouse before you offerred it?)

edit: maybe try a fuzzy mouse aswell about the same width as her widest point

 

[bradman]

may-be take it back to where your brought it from and ask them what they where feeding it?
Also their temps in the cages?

 

[JasonL]

Remove the substrate and replace with paper, the thick layer of substrate will buffer the heating. The part that worries me is the bloody mucus regurge, there could possibly be a health issue at play here...

 

[Kayla017]

Did you have a particular health issue in mind JasonL?

 

[JasonL]

Not really, pm sent

 

[brenttin]

i have had two hatchys regurgitated pinkies with mucus on them as well and they both died

 

[Snakes1]

If the temperature is too low after feeding the snake often regugitates food , this is to prevent the food rotting in its stomach.
As said befor turn the temp up a little

 

[Kayla017]

Is it worth taking her to the vet then? How long will she last without having a feed? Would she regurgitate if the food was too big?

 

[thebraddles]

my diamond hatchie took about 4 months to start eating, there abit funny sometimes. i wouldnt worry about it.

 

[Kayla017]

Also, her eyes look bloodshot sometimes and one minute she has wide slits and the next they are really thin. Mean anything?

 

[agradehydro]

btw, it might be really obvious, but make sure you are buying good pinkies and fuzzies. I bought a pack of some random brand that was in a big silver zip lock bag and you couldnt see them at all. They fuzzies were rank and black and I tried to feed the nicest one to my diamond with no success... might help if your pinkies are good quality?

 

[pinkmus]

Have you tried leaving the pinkie in the enclosure overnight? My male usually only eats if I leave the food in his enclosure.

-Will

 

[Kayla017]

Yeah I have tried leaving it overnight and I buy the food from a well known Pet store, they look good. Do you guys have any advice about her eyes?