My BPs eat, but my BCI stopped eating!!

slaponte · #1 (**permalink**) 07-23-2002, 10:55 PM

Well, now that I got my BPs eating regularly, I realize my male BCI has stopped eating. Some advice would be appreciated. He hasn't eaten in now almost 4 weeks.

Angus has been eating well until now. He is about 1 Y/O. He is in the same tank, same temps, same humidity, same environment, same place of the house. Alone in his tank, the only external factor is the rats I bring him to eat.

He has been eating a large rat every saturday (or sunday sometimes). Same procedure : I buy them live, kill just before I offer to him. I dangle by the tail and he takes it no problem. The last time he ate he didn't "strike" it, so I left it right by him and about 20 mins later when I looked it was gone. Since then is like this : I offer him the food, he doesn't take it. I leave it with him for about 1 hour, nothing. I remove it and freeze it. 3 or 4 days later, I take it out, defrost, offer it, nothing. After that I throw it away. 3 or 4 days later, start cycle again.

He has "pooped" a couple of times. Not dehydrated. Seems very active inside the tank, checking out the corners like he wants out. Yesterday I found him with some substrate over his head, like he is trying to dig under or bury himself. Strange, I have never seen him do that. Very alert, flicks his tonge, and when I take him out is calm, curious, and strong.

If it is too early to worry, just let me know. Oh, he seems to move away from the rat like he is "scared" of it or something... He is with me since a baby and has NEVER been biten or damaged by mice or rats.

Tomorrow I might get him something slightly smaller (medium rat) just to see if he goes for it.
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eddie · #2 (**permalink**) 07-23-2002, 11:13 PM

Look closely to see if he may be going through a slower than normal shed.

And have you tried to irritate him into a strike?
Bump his sides with it and see if he'll do an annoyance strike and possibly a game of tug-o-war.
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slaponte · #3 (**permalink**) 07-24-2002, 06:54 AM

I tried to irritate him, but he moved away and never struck.

He is darker, which for him is prelude to a shed. He hasn't gone blue yet. I thought of this,'but it would be much slower than usuall.
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RevMojo · #4 (**permalink**) 07-24-2002, 07:03 AM

Is he just getting to the point where he doesnt need to eat as often?
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slaponte · #5 (**permalink**) 07-24-2002, 11:25 PM

You guys tell me. Over at the Help Me forum somebody else has the same problem, similar age/size snake. By the way, Angus is a male.

He is moving around the tank quite a bit, seems to be digging around, I don't know if that is an indication of something. Moves to warm and cold side.

Now that he is getting to be a year old, and remember this is my first year with snakes, does he have a "heat" season (looking for girls)? ANy other seasonal behaviour I might not be aware of?
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SteveP · #6 (**permalink**) 07-25-2002, 01:33 AM

There seems to be a few posts floating around about different snakes going off their feed. My personal opinion about this is that we "spoil" our critters with food! In the wild snakes don't eat regularly every week or two, as a matter of fact they may have to get by with just a few meals, of whatever size they can get their mouth around, during their entire active period in a year. Of course in captivity we give them very regular, "just the right size" portioned meals and I think that after a while the snakes body simply says, "I've had enough for a while", and they go off feed. These animals are ectothermic and simply don't metabolize the same as "warm blooded" creatures, that need constant food to keep the fires burning. And of course each snake is individual, and I've had some that ate as regular as clockwork! I don't mean to imply that if they stop eating you don't pay attention and observe to make sure there isn't a medical reason for their fast...but there may be other alternative answers.

I have absolutely no scientific evidence for this whatsoever, so take it for what it's worth, but I base this on years of keeping and observing reptiles! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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