Spotted Pain...

[Sarah11]

Im not sure why people recommend spotted pythons as first snakes other than their size. Mine might be different but she is the most difficult of all my snakes. The problem is that she is a terrible feeder and always has been. She is two years old and only the size of probably the average 6month old. I feel really terrible about this and have taken her to the vet many, many times and the vet says she is fine..no parasites or anything physically wrong. My problem atm is that she hasnt fed since march. I have tried dipping in egg, rats, mice, cockatiel feathers in boths mouths, smaller feeds, fresh killed, frozen and reheated, wiggling, leaving in tub overnight. I just dont know what else to do? Normally i wouldnt worry but she is starting to lose condition. Can anyone offer any suggestion?

 

[sagara_cp_2006]

I have two spotted pythons, one is a really good feeder and easy to hold (5 years old) and a second spotted (17 months) who is a pain to feed(sometimes) and hard to handle at first. I took my oldest snake to the vets when she was refusing to eat. [deleted] . If you are concerned take it to the vet, however I firmly beleive that in the end I would do anything for my snake.

 

[dickyknee]

What is it kept it and what are the temps in the hot end ?
Are you handling it at all ?

 

[ShaunMorelia]

To further the questions from Dickyknee,
When dipping the prey item in egg how were you doing that?

I personally seperate the yolk from the white and dip the prey item in the yolk.

 

[notechistiger]

Many snakes will stop feeding over the cooler months. You will get trouble feeders in every species, but that's you don't buy non-feeders. Answering dickyknee's questions and even providing a photo of the enclosure will give us a better idea.

Have you tried braining the mouse and dropping it in and leaving it over night without actually offering it to the snake?

 

[Sarah11]

Hey i cant take photos unfortunately as my camera isnt working but the warm end is on a heat mat at 33 degrees on a thermostat and the cool end is room temperature. She has a hide at both ends and a water dish that is shallow but big enough for her to get into if she wants. I handle her approximately once a week for about 10 to 15minutes.
I am willing to do anything for her but i dont want to take her back to the vet and pay 40 odd dollars if there is something i can do first and especially since everytime i go there isnt anything going on.
When i dipped in egg it was just the yolk. I tried both just a little bit and a lot on the mouse and rat but neither worked.
I have tried braining and offering but she wont take it so i leave it in overnight but by the next afternoon it smells so bad i take it out
notechistiger do you think if i dont offer it to her and just leave it in she might take it? Maybe im scaring her...

She's so shy If i pull her out of her hide to feed her she curls up and tucks her head under herself.

 

[Gnome73]

have u checked the temps with a thermometer, ur thermostat might not be calibrate right

 

[Sarah11]

yeh i check them each week. Id hate to lose one of my babies to a broken thermo

 

[Pythoninfinite]

Antaresias are known for this, and it should cause you no concern if you are familiar with the genus. It's quite likely that they have only a few meals a year in the wild, and fast for as long as 9 months of the year. If they are off food during this time, you should keep handling to a minimum to reduce energy use.

Jamie

 

[Sarah11]

I'm familiar lol. Ok thanks Jamie, I havent heard not to handle them before and that makes heaps of sense. Should i be worried though?

 

[Ewan]

I doubt that it is a scenting issue. Especially after 2 years and I'm guessing it has had numerous feeds on unscented rodents. Sarah I think that you should slow down offering food to this snake. Often offering food too frequently can exacerbate the problem, not to mention stress you out. If you are concerned that your snake is in good enough health then I would seek a second opinion by another reptile vet.

I believe your spotted will eat again when it is ready. I think you should only offer food once every 2 or 3 weeks from now and avoid handling until feeding again.

I had a jungle go off food this year in March. It accepted it's first feed since then about 10 days ago.

 

[Pythoninfinite]

I wouldn't worry Sarah, Ewan's suggestion is a good one (re offering food) but I'd go one step further and just wait until the first nights when he comes out and is clearly prowling and hungry, and that could really be any time from now on. Even though we keep them in controlled environments, they have a built-in awareness of the conditions outside, so I'd be very surprised if the first really warm late spring evenings don't elicit a response to hunger.

Jamie

 

[Sarah11]

Thanks for all your replies guys I took her to a different vet this afternoon just for a check as id rather be safe than sorry. The vet is a reptile specialist and was a little concerned by her losing condition. She is going to stay there for a week to see if they can get her feeding and maybe even try live feeding (something i wasnt looking forward too).

Sarah

 

[jas468]

Have you tried garden skinks? Scenting a pinky with one or even offer the skink itself.

 

[Sarah11]

no i havent jas468 but i havent seen any around my yard or area..unfortunately i think our ducks and dog might scare them off however im sure the vet will make recommendations about what to feed.

Just out of curiosity..Does anyone feed quail? Has that been successful with fussy eaters?

 

[jas468]

I offer my daughter $1 a skink. She'll come back with 10. I just use one and scent a defrosted pinky/fuzzy with it then let the skinks go.

I've just started to feed my adult spotteds 1 week old quails. They seem to like them.

 

[joanna_maryanna]

I offer my daughter $1 a skink. She'll come back with 10. I just use one and scent a defrosted pinky/fuzzy with it then let the skinks go.

I've just started to feed my adult spotteds 1 week old quails. They seem to like them.

I do the same thing with my kids - 10c per cricket (Condition is that crickets must still have all their legs. My son was pulling them off so they couldn't get away!!). Then I feed the crickets to my Green Tree Frogs.

 

[Bluetonguesblack]

I have owned my 3yro girl for a few months now and was concerned about the lack of interest in food as well. She is in quite good condition and is a good handler too. Temps are ok as well by the way. I figured that due to her excellent appearing body condition that i`m not gonna worry yet. I will be concerned if she loses cond and wont eat after the weather warms up though !. Ross.

 

[Sarah11]

hey sorry i know you cant leave a live mouse or rat in with your snake unsupervised but how bout a little skink lizard? U know thetype u find in your average backyard. I was reccommended to give one to my spotted but she isnt interested yet. Wondering if its the same? Sorry if this is a dumb question

 

[notechistiger]

I definitely wouldn't be scenting with a skink when the snake is this old and has fed on unscented rodents in the past. You may end up making more trouble than actually helping the situation. I think you should give her a break and stop trying to get her to feed (for now). The advice given to you by Pythoninfinite and Ewan is sound. She's eat when she's ready.