Help, i think my snake might die, did i do something wrong?

[seksyjinke]

Hi AP.... im so scared that my 17 month old spotted python is going to die.

I have been away for 2 and 1/2 weeks and no one has fed her as no one in my family like snakes..and she scares the crap out of everyone, not to mention the mice

recently i have changed the newspaper to kitty litter in the enclosure..as kitty litter is much easier to clean...

She feeds perfectly... ever since the first week i got her, this is the first time ever she is not eating.

I think the problem was that i had changed food from mice to rats.... she was getting bigger so i thought upgrading from small mice to a little bigger rat.

i have tried these but she just wont eat them:

1) Weiner Rats
2) Scenting the rat with mouse
3) Giving the mouse i used to scent the rat to her
4) Brand new mouse in new container for thawing (so no rat scent from the first container)
5) Re-did the kitty litter and cleaned the enclosure to rid the rat smell, repeated steps

Still not eating...

she is just not interested in the mice.... she looks at them then just slithers away....

i am really worried as she hasnt eaten in 3 weeks...

Please help... i really don't know what to do...

 

[seksyjinke]

i forgot to mention she just shed 4-5 days ago, so she should be hungry

 

[WomaPythons]

i wudnt stress my spotted always goes off its food.....wat are ur temps....my spotted has gone 3 1/2 months wid out food

 

[Slats]

Its getting cooler, I wouldnt worry too much.
It will eat if it needs to, so if you want to you can present it with food every week or so.

 

[seksyjinke]

THank you all for your swift replies.

31 degrees....

its 17 month old... how long can she survive without food....shes is very active.........sltihering around......

at the moment the 2 mices are just sitting there... im going to throw them away in another 30min....

 

[Slats]

mice* lol

 

[WomaPythons]

i wudnt stress when it goes ova a few months then start gettin worried

 

[seksyjinke]

hehe... mice

 

[seksyjinke]

how old is ur spotted? would it be safe to leave it for that long?

lastly.... should i just try weekly and just throw the mouse away if she doesnt eat them? wont be able to refreeze the mice?

 

[WomaPythons]

no dont refreeze them mice and my spotted is just ova 2 yrs

 

[WomaPythons]

and yes try weekly

 

[seksyjinke]

ok.. hopefully in a weeks time i wont have to result back here and cry again

thanks

 

[WomaPythons]

i wudnt cry bout it

 

[seksyjinke]

not to be rude... but can i have some more comfirmations please... ^_^ thank you

 

[WomaPythons]

i dont think there will be many ppl on 2night r u usin a heat mat or a globe

 

[seksyjinke]

im using a heatmat still...

 

[Jungletrans]

l have had snakes go 7 months or more without eating then just start again . Dont stress about it , but l would get rid of the kitty litter , it can suck all the humidity out of the enclosure and cause shedding problems . Newspaper is best .

 

[Snake_Whisperer]

Yes, it's that time of year, not at all un-common for snakes to go off their food at this time. My spotted has started refusing as well as one of my jungles. 3 weeks is nothing, as many have stated, it's not uncommon for snakes to quit eating for 6 months (also perfectly normal for a snake) or more so no need to stress at this point.

If you want to use "Breeder's Choice" kitty litter as a substrate, make sure you give it a good misting when you put it the enclosure. As Jungletrans said, it will suck the moisture out of the air and this can create dramas at shedding time.

Cheers!

 

[Tayla152girl]

Maybe try feeding her in a diff enclosure or click clack if you feed her in her enclosure already? i dunno she just might take it if shes somewhere new and all there is, is her a hide rock and mouse. try putting a heat mat under her too, now that its getting a bit cooler the heat will help her digest better and faster. good luck

 

[J-A-X]

just try offering one mouse at a time, that way if she doesn't take it you've only wasted one, if she takes it you can thaw another one if you feel inclined, as for how long can they survive, ? i've heard stories of 6 months or more, but that was a coastal, as has been said, it could be that its getting cooler and she may be thinking of brumating,
if she is healthy then she won't starve herself,
do the rats you are feeding have fur... i know that sounds silly but i tried switching my darwin to rat pups and got little interest, went back to mice for a while, when i offered furry rats, i had no issue...