Womas on hunger strike

[Christopher]

Hey guys and girls. Two of my three Uluru Womas have refused to eat for quite some time now and I'm starting to get a little worried. I was hoping maybe I could get some advice.

Both snakes are around 2 and half years old. One is a female and started refusing food about 2 months ago. She is still in good condition, however I was hoping to get her weight up prior to breeding. She is currently 1.7kg. The other is a male and he hasnt eaten for the past 2 and a half months. Unlike the female he is very underweight (around 1.3kg).

I am a little confused as the third snake, also a male, never misses a meal. He is pushing 2kg. All animals are kept under the same conditions and so I dont really know what to change. The good eater is also far less inclined to pace around his cage.

The two problem animals, when presented with food, will approach it as if interested and even start caudal luring. However once they are very close they will all of a sudden pull away as if disgusted, and then start pacing around the cage, rubbing their noses etc.

I was thinking it could be a response to the changing seasons coupled with the fact that they are now sexually "mature". However I was under the impression they would be interested in food during the summer months and then become uninterested once it started to cool down (say around now). I also thought this would be more true for males than for females.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Chris

[david63]

Mine normally do the same at this time of year, although not quite as early as yours - whereabouts are you located?

I also find that mine pace their enclosure during the night, trying to find a way out - it's because they're trying to find a mate, the cooler night temps is what triggers them I think.

Last year they commenced mating as soon as I put the male in with the female.



Cheers
david

[Christopher]

Thanks David, that makes me feel a little better.

I'm on the nothern beaches of Sydney and I guess this summer has been a little cooler than normal.

When do you usually put yours together?

[The Devil]

The problem is caused by tiny little things called hormones.....they have other things on their minds rather than eating.....my male usually goes off his food in mid January.

[Christopher]

Cool. I'm fairly new to this so its nice to know things are as they should be.

Cheers,
Chris

[david63]

I begin dropping the night temps at the end March, a bit at a time, but still maintain the day temps until I'm sure they've digested their last meal.

I introduce them once the night temps drop below about 23 degrees or so but keep dropping to about a 18-20 degree minimum.

Hope this helps.


Cheers
David