Your one stop reptile community - Green anaconda fasting time?..... Updated!!!

Hibidyjibidy · #1 (**permalink**) 08-02-2002, 08:58 AM

I know this is probably nothing, but i have had my greenie for just over a week now and am curious in finding out how long until she accepts food offerings. She is three foot in length, looks great with good size and captive bred. The closest she has come to eating something was an adult mouse but all she did to that was nudge it a few times then turn away. I owned a small redtail boa before-hand and seen nothing like this before. Like i say again, i guess this is a little early to worry yet, but anything for me to read on about this is better than twidlin' my thumbs. Also, anyone know of a good size feeder box for a three foot green anaconda (measurements would be great)?

_________________
To observe a chook scratch at the dirt...
Behold...
I give you the human thermometer

#2 (**permalink**) 08-02-2002, 09:06 AM

Well you already know it, BUT it really hasn't been long enough that you need to start worrying about non feeds yet with your snake at all. Also you do realize that this snake is basically an aquatic type ss and prolly would prefer to eat in the water possibly ? Try that and see if it doesn't make a difference maybe.
[addsig]

Seany · #3 (**permalink**) 08-02-2002, 01:52 PM

Also, my guess would be that a 3 foot anaconda needs more than a mouse. Maybe try a small rat?
[addsig]

Hibidyjibidy · #4 (**permalink**) 08-02-2002, 06:35 PM

The first time i tried to get her to eat (pinkie rat) was when she was in her water container. I read they drown their food so figured this will work well... Nup. Next i tried placing her in an 11 litre feeder box for a day then offered a small rat, again nothing. I then tried a live adult mouse in her cage. It was looking good at the start coz she was partially out of her water bowl, flicking her tongue at the sleeping rodent, but then decided she would ignore it again. I took it out and tried f/k mouse another day later in her feed box with nothing but a nudge to end that dream. I guess now i will leave her in her cage for a week without contact and try again. I am open for any suggestions.
[addsig]

Ed_r · #5 (**permalink**) 08-02-2002, 07:12 PM

There has been recorded cases of adult greens going up to 2 years without eating.
Welcome to RTB. Also Where in Illinois are you?
[addsig]

CreepingDeath · #6 (**permalink**) 08-02-2002, 09:00 PM

it also just need a little more time to relax from the move if you got it recently
it may take a week or two before it wants to eat. so do worry when i first got
my bp when i was little if went ten months without eating and he was fine. so
give a little more time to cool down.
[addsig]

Hibidyjibidy · #7 (**permalink**) 08-02-2002, 09:59 PM

Cheers Ed.. Off route 64 St.Charles. Yeah i too have read that they can also go into a type of ignorance feed by just upseting their owners. Not something i want to be on the end of for too long...
Also another reason i suppose she isn't interested in food is the amount of handling right? I read that annies need to be jumped on from the word go in regards to taming/conditioning/aggression so i have been holding her everyday for 1-2 hours. I have stopped now though only to give her some peace but am concerned that too long a break could be unwise? Again, open for suggestions...
[addsig]

Biermag11 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-04-2002, 12:46 AM

Ya, i would say stop handling her until she starts eating, but im only a newbie [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] . Also try putting her in a very low traffic area of the house and don't even go in to look at her for another week or two. Thats what i had to do to get my Ball python to eat. He was only 2 feet long and went for over three weeks b 4 he ate the first time, so u have nothing to worry about. Good Luck!
[addsig]

Hibidyjibidy · #9 (**permalink**) 08-04-2002, 01:46 AM

Thanks to all that have shared advice and experience. I will leave her be for a week then try again with something besides, i gave in and bought a new friend to keep me company in the meantime.

[addsig]

#10 (**permalink**) 08-04-2002, 01:59 AM

HEY..What is your husbandry all around for this snake anyway? EXACTLY what is the caging set up like that you provided it ? And ALL that other "stuff" also...
[addsig]

Hibidyjibidy · #11 (**permalink**) 08-04-2002, 05:04 AM

First of all i spot clean as soon as i see a mess. I strip the tank and clean it every week with VIROSAN. Temp is 89 hot and 84 cool. I use carpet for the substrate (i have a spare so the soiled piece can sit and air out). Being a 'water boa' (green anaconda) there is a water bowl large enough for her to completely submerge herself underwater and if need be... drown her prey. I have foam board underneath and ontop of the viv with a spot lamp as the themostated source of heat and a strip heater underneath as the consistent heat. There was a half tree hollow that i had in there as a hide but noticed that she clearly wasn't interested in it due to the large fake plastic tree stump i have in the tank also. I removed the tree holow coz it was cluttering with the tree branch i have in there also used for climbing. Oh, and i change the water as soon as i see it has been delt in or even sat in for too long.
Thanks for asking...
[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]
[addsig]

Kohm · #12 (**permalink**) 08-04-2002, 06:44 PM

Small green anacondas sometimes take aquatic prey so maybe you can try fish or frogs, which I heard works. My friend had a 5m green that took almost a year before she would take f/k rabbits. Or course she was force-fed in the meantime.
[addsig]

Hibidyjibidy · #13 (**permalink**) 08-04-2002, 07:53 PM

I will try another adult mouse in a week or so and perhaps a frog? I was thinking... if she still hasn't eaten in a couple of months from now, could anyone give me some tips on force feeding?
If i do try this (i really don't like the sound of this by the way) then it would be when she is looking close to deaths door.
Is there also some kind of vitamin that promotes appetite which can be added with the meal?
[addsig]

Hibidyjibidy · #14 (**permalink**) 08-19-2002, 11:00 PM

Update!!!

She finally ate yesterday as i left her in her feeder box overnight with a live rat pup. I opened the box this morning to see a slight bulge in her body and then offered her another live. That was gone after an hour i left it in there.
I then put her in her cage and offered another one to see if she would take it also. Yep... This time i watched as she drowned and devoured it in front of me. I can't explain the relief that has bestowed upon me.
I will try feeding her a thawed adult mouse in a weeks time and see if i get the same results seeing as she basically threw it at me last time
Sorry for offending anybody by my feeding method but i was desperate.
Thanks for any help and comments from all that have contributed.
[addsig]

Shibby · #15 (**permalink**) 08-22-2002, 06:00 AM

Your snake might be more intrigued by a slightly larger prey item. When my boa was 3 feet, it was eating small rats. Then, you wouldn't have to feed as many food items. Just a thought.
[addsig]

Hibidyjibidy · #16 (**permalink**) 08-22-2002, 08:16 AM

I would have offered her a live adult mouse though i got worried about my annie getting bit. She wouldn't take a f/t or f/k. I just wanted her to eat so i gave her the rat pups out of desperateness. Next feed i will try a f/t large mouse and see how she goes. I will just work up from there.
They say to get a steady growth in an animal you need to feed them less more often. How often is often?
[addsig]

Advertisement