Childrens python not eating

Stormyva · #1 (**permalink**) 08-29-2002, 02:53 AM

My childrens python will still not eat. The second week I had it it ate a pinkie mouse and regurged after two days. I have now waited 14 days and tried to feed again and it will not take the pinkie.
I have tried to wiggle the prey and annoy the heck out of it by rubbing the pinkie all over the python as well. It has no interest in the food. This is going on four weeks without a good meal, i am starting to get worried. I would take it to the vet to check for parasites but I have not had a poop sample to take in and have checked.

The cage temps are around 90 on the warm side and 80-85 on the cool side. I allow the temps to drop approx 5-10 degrees at night. The humidity stays around 55-60%. I am at a loss on this one. The python does spend most of it's time underneath the repti-rock water bowl which is on the hot side of the tank.

I am tyring something a little different tonight, I am leaving the plastic "show box" that I feed it in inside the cage with the uneaten pinkie still in it. Maybe it will eat it later tonight.

Does anyone have any ideas on this??????
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Karen · #2 (**permalink**) 08-29-2002, 04:30 AM

Until you've tried everything it's really hard to pinpoint the problem. I say give the #$%^&#$%^&#$%^&#$%^& thing a live pinky or small fuzzy (dont know how big your snake is) and turn out the light and leave him alone for about an hour. If he doesnt eat it then I would start trying to figure whats wrong with him. good luck!
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Stormyva · #3 (**permalink**) 08-29-2002, 02:12 PM

I left a pinkie in the python's cage last night, all night, then checked this morning and it did not eat.

I have no idea how to get it to eat!

On a positive note our new ball python, the one we got on Saturday, ate without any hesitation what so ever last night. I no sooner got the adult f/t mouse in it's cage and it snapped it up!
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Stormyva · #4 (**permalink**) 08-29-2002, 04:30 PM

Are there any opinions on trying to feed it live pinkies to get it started?
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bensnacks · #5 (**permalink**) 08-29-2002, 05:23 PM

In Oz we would try feeding it gecko tails or skink tails, scenting the
pinkie w/ either of the above or frog.

Sorry Stormy but the regurge after two days would have me worried [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]

I've had no experience w/ that occurence .Have you been handling much
anything else that may have stressed it ???

good luck.
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Stormyva · #6 (**permalink**) 08-29-2002, 06:46 PM

I gave about four or five days when I first got it to acclimate to the new home.
Since then I have been handling it for about ten to fifteen minutes every other day.

The regurg did have me worried and I figured if I gave it the two weeks and tried to feed it again all would be ok. Seeing as it refused food this week I am starting to get worried.
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bensnacks · #7 (**permalink**) 08-30-2002, 03:23 AM

Maybe cut the handling back a bit, if you do get a feed
in resist handling him for a good three days.
Was the regurge after handling??

Try a different food item like a goldfish. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]
Or pluck the tail off your favourite Leo [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]

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telefrag · #8 (**permalink**) 08-30-2002, 03:40 AM

I would drop the temps a bit, it sounds like he may be a bit warm.
Give him about a 70-75 degree variance on the cool side,
and bring his warm side to about 85.

Definately slow down on the handling, until he is feeding well.
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Stormyva · #9 (**permalink**) 08-30-2002, 03:03 PM

Thank you for all of the information!

I will skip the handling all this week and drop the temps.... then when I feed next week I will wait until late at night to feed i. Hopefully it'll eat next week!!!

Thank you!
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bensnacks · #10 (**permalink**) 09-14-2002, 09:29 AM

How did it go Stormy.??
[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]
Did you manage to get a feed into this fella???
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Stormyva · #11 (**permalink**) 09-15-2002, 05:22 PM

Sorry... I guess I should have posted a follow up.

After no handling for a wek it snatched up a pinkie without hesitation and kept it down. Then the following week.... continuing the minimal handling and keeping everything else the same it passed up the pinkie again. It still seems healthy though so I am watching it but am not too worried..... I am starting to hear that the baby Childrens Pythons are notoriously picky eaters.

I am hoping that it will eat this week.
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