Stimpson feeding, ongoing drama

[ShepQLD]

Hi all
Im hoping for some advice or tips to help me get my seven month old Stimpson Python into a better feeding routine. Since I first got her home she refused food for nearly six weeks. The pet shop told me not to worry and to keep offering food every other day. which I did. She did eventually eat but I have noticed that it seems to be the case that she will only eat when I catch her moving around more at night. Im assuming this could be a fairly normal natural behaviour for a hungry snake but if I try to feed her before she is on the prowl she refuses everything. She seems to have fallen into a pattern of eating every three weeks and Im really concerned she isnt getting enough nutrition. I have been told by the pet shop not to worry and that its fine to only eat when she is hungry. (I have however also learnt not to rely on advice from pet shops and always ask here aswell since I have always had such helpful and knowledgable advice here. I would have asked sooner but I have had computer problems) I look forward to hearing any advice people can offer! Thanks for your time!
OH.. the last three times she has eaten I have offered her two feeds at once which she has taken but again Im not to sure if this is a wise approach?

 

[grannieannie]

I have a 2 yr old Stimmie, had for for just over a year....the first year she was a pig, but only ever ate when he was hungry...no matter how active he seemed, if he didn't want it....he'd avoid it like the plague....I don't think you have anything much to worry about, but I'm sure some more experienced snake people will answer you soon. Good luck. Annie

 

[mattyf]

what are you feeding it.

 

[ShepQLD]

Thanks Annie I really want to make sure im doing the right thing by her (or him lol)
She is so very loving and gentle. Its nice to know that it might just be normal though.

Matty, The pet shop still have a couple of hatchlings from the same clutch so everytime I go in I make sure im giving her what they give them. They are feeding fuzzy mice. Shes still quite little and I worry sometimes that even they might be to big for her, but they told me that she wouldnt eat what she couldnt eat and that it doesnt hurt to offer her two because she will refuse it if she doesnt want it? Again I worry about going by the pet shops advice although they do seem quite knowledgable. But I figure theres no such thing as to much information when it comes to her health and well being

 

[Freeloader]

The stimsons that i have are over the 2yo mark and have never been big eaters. What i mean by that is that they will only eat every 10 to 20 days. They don't eat from end of feb to around end of august. Their growth has been ok it's just that feeds are not the norm of other anteresia.

 

[-Matt-]

Firsty what are your temps and what are you keeping it in?

 

[ShepQLD]

shes in a large click clack with a corner placed on a heat mat, the temp sits at about 28 degrees in the corner where the heat mat is. I have had major issues with thermastats and right now need to get a new one. But Ive managed to set it up so she has graduating heat with a hotter spot available. (but if you think the whole click clack should be on the heat mat or have any better ideas I can certainly move it all around and do whatever it takes, I just cant afford to get a new thermastat at the moment and was rather afraid of overheating her. I made the mistake of getting a secondhand thermastat when my first one stopped working which only lasted for a month! I should be able to get a new one in a couple of weeks though) She also has a large rock in her click clack as her hiding hole and a small tree branch going through it aswell oh and her bedding is the alpine snake bedding.

 

[-Matt-]

How large is a large click clack? Bump the heat up to 33 degrees at the hot spot and put about a quarter of the tub on the heatmat.

 

[ShepQLD]

well it was the biggest one I could find at the time, I dont actually have a way of measuring it right now though but my guess would be about 35 x 25 cm approx. Ive just moved it further onto the heat mat so its closer to a quarter on it but I dont have a way of regulating it without the thermastat. I monitored it for days when the first one blew up though and it maintains a regular 28.4 degrees according to my thermometre. it does drop at night though obviously but the lowest it has dropped (which was the coldest night a few nights ago) was to 18 degrees. I ended up bumping up the heating in my shed to compensate lol (I live in a shed)

 

[-Matt-]

That click clack is plenty big enough for that snake (I was actually wondering if your tub was too big). I'd say that your feeding problems are brought on by your snake being kept too cold...seeing the snake isn't even a year old is should have a 24/7 basking spot of 32-34 degrees.

 

[ShepQLD]

oh bugger! how bad do I feel! Well I shall sort that out ASAP then. Thank you so much Matt, your time and help is much appreciated!!

 

[monster]

hey dont stress too much as long as your keeping him or her warm enough, snakes are very versatile creatures! I have a 6 mnth old childrens spotted and she is doing fine and feeds once every 3 weeks. I demand feed her because if i try forcing her to eat she gets angry and gives me attitude for a while after. You just have to trust that he or she will eat when he or she is ready

 

[Slats]

hey dont stress too much as long as your keeping him or her warm enough, snakes are very versatile creatures! I have a 6 mnth old childrens spotted and she is doing fine and feeds once every 3 weeks. I demand feed her because if i try forcing her to eat she gets angry and gives me attitude for a while after. You just have to trust that he or she will eat when he or she is ready

Is it a childrens or a spotted, sorry just curious. Could you explain demand feeding to me? I'm don't know this term.

 

[JAS101]

Is it a childrens or a spotted, sorry just curious. Could you explain demand feeding to me? I'm don't know this term.

your not the only one who is curious .

 

[FAY]

Try rats....I have a stimmi that would not feed..told eating mice...tried rats and dived on them.

 

[Snakewoman]

My Proserpine python is a shy eater, so I leave her food in the tub with her before I go to bed. She only eats when it's dark and nobody's moving around. You could try leaving food with the snake overnight and see if it will eat more then.

 

[ShepQLD]

oh how I adore this site! Thank you all so much for your help. I thought the same thing about rats Faye Infact I tried to get some last 'stock up' but the pet shop only had mice. I may have more luck this time. Ive also heard they are better for them then mice? anyone know if thats true or not?
To Slats and ZooJas... she is a Stimpson Python lol not a childrens or a spotted
Im going to go into the pet shop today and either put a new thermastat on layby or get her a heated rock or something. I appreciate what your saying aswell Monster, if the prices are through the roof I wont panic to much about it right this moment but I do want her to have the best life she can have
Thanks all!!

 

[IgotFrogs]

rather than buy a heatrock ..... get her a decent thermostat ..... heatrocks can be bad they can over heart and burn your snake and should never ever be used without being attached to a thermostat

 

[beeman]

oh how I adore this site! Thank you all so much for your help. I thought the same thing about rats Faye Infact I tried to get some last 'stock up' but the pet shop only had mice. I may have more luck this time. Ive also heard they are better for them then mice? anyone know if thats true or not?
To Slats and ZooJas... she is a Stimpson Python lol not a childrens or a spotted
Im going to go into the pet shop today and either put a new thermastat on layby or get her a heated rock or something. I appreciate what your saying aswell Monster, if the prices are through the roof I wont panic to much about it right this moment but I do want her to have the best life she can have
Thanks all!!

Slats and Zoojas were refering to the post that Monster made saying she had a "childrens spotted python".
By the way you have a "STIMSON" there has never been a "P"
in the name!
There is very little difference between mice and rats as far as one being better over the other.

 

[zuesowns]

From my experience with my stimpson who is also a fussy eater and has problems feeding.

My snake will only, only eat Mice - I have tried a whole 7 pack of Rats and as soon as I offered him mice he takes it straight away.

only offer food after the snake has fully past through previous feed.

Preparing the mouse for feeding - offering it hot/warm and fully thawed out.

UV light during the day time.

temps 31 degrees in hot end as my stimpson likes the heat. my stimpson also likes to hide and I have 2 hides in his enclosure 1 small and 1 big, always, always will choose the small one as they like to be in small spaces.

stimulate your snake, imitate a mouse to stimulate the snake.

Note: I am still having trouble with my snake being a regular feeder. once a week etc.