Having troubles getting my jungle to feed.

[razeunit]

Last week both my jungles passed up there food. My boy ate today but my girl who usually doesn't require any help with her thawed frozen meals wont take it. Normally I just put hers in her enclosure and shes on it. I gave her a couple of hours to have a go at it and forced her to strike it a couple of times but that was it. I just tried warming it up again and getting her to strike it but she isn't interested. She smells it but doesn't seem overly interested. I'm no expert but she seems lively and alert and appears in good health. Is it normal for them to go off there food for a couple of weeks? She is around 7 months old and feeding on full size mice and rats of similar size to a full size mouse (dont know name).

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Ewan]

Matt I would stress just now. Leave her for a week or two and try again. It is not uncommon for a python to go off its food during the cooler months. It seems as though they are established feeders and if in good health they will survive until they resume feeding again. Personally I have a jungle that hadn't eaten since early may until last night when it took an adult mouse.

 

[raycarpetpython]

yeah mate must be a bit of a jungle thing, mine is about 6-7 months old and is still feeding, but takes a few strikes,etc for him to actually strike and coil it. Yet my coastal is kept at the same temps n everything and still feeds like its going out of fashion

 

[razeunit]

Thanks guys. I just tried feeding her again as she shed last night and thought that may have been the reason but i swear shes just a big sook! Its like she wasn't a born killer and was meant to a dog or a cat. I torment her with the mouse and she only hits a few times! I'll leave it in there overnight and see if she eats.

 

[razeunit]

I got lilith to finally strike and coil. Popped her lid back on, went to bed and its lying in her enclosure this morning. I am wondering if its because up until now I have only fed her one rat and the rest have been mice. I wonder if she believes it too large to eat but I fed her a mouse of almost exact size a month a go or she just isn't liking the taste of rats. Any thoughts guys on why she struck, coiled and didn't eat?

 

[clubby05]

I wouldn't be to concerned if it doesn't eat over the cooler months it is only natural for them to go off their food this time of year. 2-3 months without eating would be acceptable if the snake has been eating ok prior to this and is healthy.

Cheers

 

[The Devil]

I got lilith to finally strike and coil. Popped her lid back on, went to bed and its lying in her enclosure this morning. I am wondering if its because up until now I have only fed her one rat and the rest have been mice. I wonder if she believes it too large to eat but I fed her a mouse of almost exact size a month a go or she just isn't liking the taste of rats. Any thoughts guys on why she struck, coiled and didn't eat?

Ya got it in one.....generally jungles prefer to eat mice and it can be a real pain converting them to rats.
With my babies I put the time in and start them off on rats only and they get nothing other then rats.

It's a case of eat rats or die.....yet to have one die

 

[razeunit]

Thanks for the responses guys. I might have to adopt your attitude devil but for the next couple of feeds i'm going to try a small mice followed by a small rat for the next two feeds hoping if it is the taste then she will get used to it. I'll let ya know how it goes.

Cheers