Stressed snake questions

[kawasakirider]

Hey everyone, it was feeding day yesterday and I missed out, so I had a go today and none of the snakes ate. It's really cold here so that would be the reason why, but I accidentally stressed one out. I'm worried she'll be turned off food like my last one, so I have a few questions.

This is one of my good feeders, and she struck and coiled 3 times, only to let go about 5 minutes later each time. On the 4th attempt I had another go, and how I usually get her to attack something is to tap her with the rat. I did this and she seemed to back away from it like she was scared. I persisted for about 30 seconds, because she's done this before, but she didn't strike this time.

I'm worried that I've stressed her so much that she won't eat next time. Is there anything I can do to ensure she eats next time?

I'm thinking about skipping them all for about 2 weeks, only opening the enclosure to clean/refill water and then only feeding if it's a hot day.

I really hope I haven't messed her up

Has anyone else accidentally scared a snake trying to get them to eat?

 

[Pinoy]

When my snakes don't eat after striking and coiling, I take the rat and reheat it.
That normally gets them interested again. My jungle does it a bit and my diamond does it most of the time (he just can't seem to find the head with out help). I don't think it would have stressed them too much.

Not much help in regards to what you were asking but may help next time

 

[Wookie]

A few of mine have been a bit standoffish with their food lately. Gotten to the point where I only thaw a rat at a time so if they turn it down I just throw it to another one. Three just shy away as yours did, and one just strikes. Give them a week and try again. Are your enclosure temps constant?

 

[kawasakirider]

Yeah mate, enclosure temps are about 33. I moved the probe away from the light so the heat lamp is on 24/7 though. Ipswich has just gotten to the point where it's freezing. This old house I live in mustn't have insulation.

I'm just worried because I pestered her for about a minute with the rubbing it on her head and her neck if I could have scared her off for good. I don't want her to associate food with fear She is usually a great feeder, if I've sent her backwards I'll hate myself for it.

 

[cement]

Won't make any difference. If they don't want to eat, don't feed them.
Think of it like this..... They know what they want, when they want it.
There is nothing wrong with giving your snakes a break over winter. Its natural.

 

[kawasakirider]

Cheers mate, it's just that I'm not fussed about her not eating for a while over winter (even though they're only hatchlings) I'm worried that I might have stressed her to the point she won't want to eat in the future out of fear?

 

[timantula]

well with feeding time at my house.... they get 10seconds to decide if they want to eat or not.. if no.. then they miss out for another 12 days. im in a cold house too and they dont refuse very often.

 

[kawasakirider]

Everyone thanks for the replies, but you're really not giving me the answer I'm looking for....

I harassed her too much, I'm wondering if it's possible that she'll associate food with fear from now on..

 

[FAY]

Probably not.I think it would take a good eater a lot more than that to turn her off. Just do what you said you were going to and leave her alone for a couple of weeks. I am sure she will get over it, if there was something that she needed to get over.

 

[kawasakirider]

Thank you, I appreciate it

 

[cement]

Cheers mate, it's just that I'm not fussed about her not eating for a while over winter (even though they're only hatchlings) I'm worried that I might have stressed her to the point she won't want to eat in the future out of fear?

its a snake! They don't suffer mental anguish like us. They can handle a bit of harassment.
Trust me, when she is hungry enough, and you put a food source that she previously ate in front of her nose, instinct will take care of the rest. They get back on the bike quicker then you realize.
In the wild they fight hard to take down and kill their prey. They also have to defend themselves from attack from other animals, and get over wounds caused from their prey fighting for its life! The instincts are there, you have done nothing wrong!!

 

[kawasakirider]

Thanks mate, I was just worried. The last one I had was petrified of food.

 

[Bluetongue1]

Despite consistent heating it is not unusual for even hatchies to go off their food over winter. I personally reckon they pick up on the changing day lengths. Some will refuse food completely from April to September, some intermittently refuse and other won’t stop at all.

Sounds to me like she was not interested in eating and she only struck because of the annoyance factor. Eventually she got jack of that and retreated. Like others have said, that is not going to put off a good eater. She may continue to refuse food for a while but that is related to the seasons and not something you have done. When she is ready, she will doubt get stuck in with a vengeance.

A couple of suggestions. Never tap their head. That will put off fussy eaters. Rub the side of the neck and then hold the prey item in front of it and give it a bit of a wiggle. When this working well, just hold item in front and move it a bit. Gradually you should be able to get to the point where all you need to do is hold the prey item in front and the snake will do the rest. With really shy and nervous snakes that pull away when something is held in front of them, try leaving the food item (warmed up) in the entry to the hide they are in. Check back in half an hour and if not consumed, reheat and replace. If still not eaten after another half hour, ship that meal. I have known hatchies to go 9 months before eating and end up being great feders.

You’ve nothing to worry about.

Blue

 

[Jungle_Freak]

Some good advice comments made by cement and blue BUT ?
This comment from cement .
"its a snake! They can handle a bit of harassment"
Not true when dealing with jungles that can be easily stressed out.

Also Blues comments also.
Did not realise you were allowed to keep jungle carpets in WA .
Both posters should stick to the species they have the facts on , not hyperthetical evaluations.
Jungle Carpet pythons husbandry requires bit more than just words of wisdom that relate to other species etc.

Jungles do stress so easy, jungles will refuse to eat and their health suffers from constant stress.
Less human interaction is best when dealing with jungles with feeding problems.
If you have a jungle refuse to feed or was feeding but then stops, you need to stop stressing them out.
Its that simple.
Roger

 

[Chris1]

when i first brought my darwin home she refused her first 2 feeds, (full feeding history from teh breeder showed she was a great eater!!) cos i'd done what had worked with my other 7 snakes, which was to harrass her a bit with the food if she didnt take it within 30 secs, tap her in the head, run it along her neck etc,.. both times i tried this she fled, i left her mouse in tilll the morning but she wouldnt touch it.

my third attempt (waited another week between) i prepared the room, turned on a red light an hour before so i didnt have to turn any bright lights on to feed her, she was coiled up at the front, i quickly opened her click clack, gently placed the mouse on her coils, closed the click clack and left the room.
20 mins later i snuck in to check on her, mouse was gone, still wont take food from my hand, but is more than happy to scoff anything left in with her,..

 

[FAY]

my third attempt (waited another week between) i prepared the room, turned on a red light an hour before so i didnt have to turn any bright lights on to feed her, she was coiled up at the front, i quickly opened her click clack, gently placed the mouse on her coils, closed the click clack and left the room.
20 mins later i snuck in to check on her, mouse was gone, still wont take food from my hand, but is more than happy to scoff anything left in with her,..

They can all be different at how they like there food presented. I have sold hatchies that only will eat if you push the mouse gently on their face and they then open their mouths. Some like it lying next to them etc etc
This is why you need to know EXACTLY from the breeder how and what it eats.
When I sell a hatchie here , I feed it in front of the prospective buyer, so they know exactly how to thaw out the food and feed it. Keep in mind that most that buy from us have never had a snake before. I atm have had only one that has come back because it wasn't feeding, they told me they had been handling it when I already had told them not to.

 

[solar 17]

Hey check your temps, as long as they have 33-35c available to them...its a winter stoppage (imo) at my place a ten second rule applies, 10 seconds no eat sorry l will be back in 7 days,the only other point is pre-breeding reptiles at my place have access to 34 degrees 24/7....solar 17(Baden)..ps except GTP's and they have 31.5c....

 

[pythonmum]

They all have different personalities. One of my hatchies will strike, but not take, when on shed. Another one will not strike if the mouse is presented belly first - like it back first. Some (like the one Chris 1 got) prefer a bit of privacy and like to have the prey left outside the hide box. Some will take prey any time and any way. Listen to your breeder! The one thing I NEVER do is hit the snake in the face with prey.

 

[FusionMorelia]

im a lucky bugger my MD is a greedy feeder and the 10sec rule is invalid i can only just get the food over the edge of her clicky and shes on the hunt 5 sec tops and its toast
my darwin had an issue 1st feeding cause he had a looooong car trip then adjusting to the ambient cool end change after 2 weeks hes SMASHING food at 1st he looked poop scared of the Weiner but after a couple of weeks adjusting and being left alone he started pounding food
just mellow out and wait they will get hungry again an eat
i dont like trying an trying or hitting the snakes with their food if they dont eat they wait till next week

Nato

P.S nice post Roger

 

[SYNeR]

I attempted to feed my jungle yesterday.. She coiled and I left her. However, when I came back several hours later she hadn't eaten.. I'm not worried, though. The week prior I gave her 2 x small rats when she normally gets 1.