stimsons not eating, help please.

[dan88]

hey guys. both my stimmies arent eating and have refused feeds for the last few feeds. my wheatbelt hasnt eaten in 8 or so weeks and my tennant creek stimmie hasnt eaten in about 4 weeks. is this just because winter is coming on or has someone got another reasonable answer? the wheatbelt has refused since i tried to feed her two hoppers. since then shes hasnt eaten. my tennant creek stimmie has refused since i tried him on a weaner rat. would change of food cause this? any help please would be appreciated.

 

[derekm]

I've had my Stimmo for 10 months since it was 6 months old - 37 feeds with no refusals, so I have no personal experience with this problem. However, I have read a number of threads on this subject where the difference between a max of 30 degrees and a max of 32 - 34 degrees has made a major difference in willingness to feed. I don't know if it's relevant but my Stimmo always has access to a 32-33 degree spot in the main part of the enclosure and a 34-35 degree spot in the hide and he has never refused a feed for me even when moving from mice to rats and then to a mixed rats/mice diet. And he started life as a force-feeder for the first 4 months of his life with the breeder.

 

[theRAVENv1]

How old are they both? Are your temps the same, where are you situated? Guess the nights are getting a bit colder, could be that, some snakes will self brumate I think if they sense a big temp change in the air. Have they both eaten hoppers/weaners before when you offered them...maybe try them with what you were feeding before? Unless you're cooling them they probably shouldn't be going off their food, someone jump in if I'm wrong.

 

[lessilly]

Well, dan....you can try these few options:
1) Raise the temperature of the enclosure.
2) Put the feeder over night in the tank. Make sure its in total darkness
3) Make the feeder bleeds so that the stimson can have a bettter scent.
4) Try live feeder...which i think its illegal in australia?im not quite sure as im new to australia...
5) Tease feeding it....
Hope this few options will be able to help u..

 

[Slats]

4) which i think its illegal in australia?

Spot on

 

[lessilly]

well...although its illegal..instead of having your snake strave till death....mayb at least he can try it out secretly...LOL..