hello recently my 3/4 year old diamond python hasnt eaten for about 3 weeks. This is quite worring because hes a great feeder and feeds every 8-10 days, but for the past 3 weeks he hasnt eaten?? at the moment he is eating small adult rat-1 up from the weaner rat. i need some advise.. if additional info is needed please ask me thank you
HELP with diamond pythons
- Thread starter codysnake
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Serpentess
Very Well-Known Member
You'll need to give us more of an idea on how he's being kept.
Temps, etc?
Temps, etc?
GSXR_Boy
Very Well-Known Member
It's winter.
You should really be cooling your diamond anyway imo.
You should really be cooling your diamond anyway imo.
ok well hes being kept in a 4ft by 2ft wooden vivarium with uv and heat lamp. the temp in the middle is around 24- 26 basking is about 28-30 and the cooler end is around 22-24 so in the vivarium there is a range of temperature so he can go heat up and cool down
So if I understand correctly, your Diamond is only 9 months old and you've been feeding it juvenile rats!(as I'm pretty sure that this is the next size up from weaner rats). Is this correct?
In my opinion this is too big a meal to be feeding a Diamond of this age. If you choose to feed a juvenile python in the winter (which is optional if it's in good condition) I strongly suggest that you reduce the size of the meal. Roughly how long is it? (size is perhaps more important than age to some extent)
Those temps sound O.K to me but what is the temperature range that the room the enclosure is in?
Also what is the number of light hours he is exposed to?
In my opinion this is too big a meal to be feeding a Diamond of this age. If you choose to feed a juvenile python in the winter (which is optional if it's in good condition) I strongly suggest that you reduce the size of the meal. Roughly how long is it? (size is perhaps more important than age to some extent)
Those temps sound O.K to me but what is the temperature range that the room the enclosure is in?
Also what is the number of light hours he is exposed to?
Bez84
Very Well-Known Member
Temps are fine, food size sounds ok if hes taken them before then thats not the issue.
I personally start all my diamond hatchlings on fuzzy rats that most would think are to big.
As long as youve got plenty of hides and your temps are fine it should feed.
Most likely hes just off food a bit due to winter, all my diamonds are cooling at moment and havent eaten since april so i wouldnt be concerned about bein off food for 3 weeks.
Id give it a week to relax then try again as long as snake is in good condition it can go a fair while without food.
I personally start all my diamond hatchlings on fuzzy rats that most would think are to big.
As long as youve got plenty of hides and your temps are fine it should feed.
Most likely hes just off food a bit due to winter, all my diamonds are cooling at moment and havent eaten since april so i wouldnt be concerned about bein off food for 3 weeks.
Id give it a week to relax then try again as long as snake is in good condition it can go a fair while without food.
geeeeez..,,,,,,,,,, i breed diamonds and have done for 30 years - i have 9 month old diamonds and i am still feeding them pink rats .... there is no way a 9 month diamond will eat a juvenile rat which is one up from a weaner.........how old is your snake again ? 3 - 4 years or three quarters of a year ( 9 months )
redbellybite
Almost Legendary
where does he say 9months old ? I read 3to 4 year old ......
GSXR_Boy
Very Well-Known Member
I read it as that too, but i think others are reading it as three quarters of a year old?
driftoz
Well-Known Member
i read it as 3/4 yr old, 3 quater
syeph8
Very Well-Known Member
that would be written 3-4 year old. but it is unnecessarily confusing, why not just write 9 month old?
try downsizing the food, might be intimidating him. My jungle male needed his food downsized as soon as the days started getting shorter. i just started feeding him a bit more often (every 6-8 days instead of 7-10) a bit more expensive, but it works for him and he wasnt eating larger foods anymore
oh and i wouldnt be cooling him either at 9 months (dont know if i need to say that at this point, but figured i would just in case)
redbellybite
Almost Legendary
I think he needs to confirm exactly how old the snake is before he gets given any info ..
Hey my names cody and im 14, first snake i got is a beautiful male diamond python and i want to start breeding him asap..
this was in his profile so am gathering his snake is 3-4 years old otherwise he is gonna be waiting a while yet to breed ...
Hey my names cody and im 14, first snake i got is a beautiful male diamond python and i want to start breeding him asap..
this was in his profile so am gathering his snake is 3-4 years old otherwise he is gonna be waiting a while yet to breed ...
syeph8
Very Well-Known Member
i assume 9 months because all of the responses above his last response said "9 months" when referring to age, and he did not correct them. but very wise. to assume is to make an "***" out of "u" & "me"
python_dan89
Very Well-Known Member
its winter by my understandings snakes slow down and mosted are cooled. just my word.
Thanks for clarifying that. Now we can give you better advice.
Food items of that size should normally be fine then; however it doesn't hurt to reduce the food size in winter if you do decide to keep him warm. If anything it helps to reduce the size, as smaller items are more easily digested, which is advantageous in sub-optimal conditions.
The important thing to consider now though, is whether or not you should actally be brumating a Diamond of that size and age. It's not only good for their health but it's also good for their longevity. Their instinct is to stop feeding during winter, especially males. I recommend that you give him a rest (i.e. let him brumate) if he's in good health and condition.
This will mean gradually reducing the light hours and duration of heating but not the basking temperature.
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