Still Baffled

kojak81184 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-30-2006, 06:35 AM

Ok I have already asked about this before but here we go again. My red tail wont eat. I have gotten a new enclosure, a 30 long. The temps are at, hot side 88-93 day time, cool side 79-84 day time. Humidity stays from 58-68. Water bowl on each side, hide box on each side. Tried to feed pinky mice getting ready to try fuzzys. Tried the hampster shavings deal cause seller said she ate two fuzzy hampsters 4-5 days prior to me buying. the only things I havent tried is braining, fresh kill, live, force feeding. Now guess what. The seller guarentees his snakes to eat, but now I can't get a hold of him, to ask him what I need to do, but I guess thats what I get for trying to get a deal and buying from a guy at the flea market. So I despritly need help cause it's been at least 7 or 8 weeks since she ate last. Oh by the way my aunt bought a BP from the same guy the day before I did and she came home from camping thursday and the snake was ackting wierd, bitting it self toward the tail, then died eigther friday or saturday, so sad.

PythonGuy24 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-30-2006, 07:26 AM

Wow sounds bad. Try feeding at night. I do fresh killed and they never skip a meal. Also if you haven't tryed to feed in a seperate tote do that. A small word of advice is that you shouldn't buy lesser quality animals to save 20 bucks. Good Luck

zsanorah · #3 (**permalink**) 07-30-2006, 10:10 AM

My redtail was at first some what a pain to feed. For me I jsut got frusterated and left him in his feeding enclosure inside his regular cage with the mouse, his lights turned on and went to bed.....Woke up in the morning and Poof the mouse was gone! Might work for you too?

muzixman · #4 (**permalink**) 07-30-2006, 04:00 PM

He was eating two fuzzy hamsters and now your trying fuzzy mice quiet the size difference there. You need to try fuzzy rats at least. How big are his hides? they really should have a hide that isn't to big, they like a tight hide to feel secure in. and are you handling this snake if so just leave him alone until he starts feeding. What are you using for substrate? I would use paper and right before you go to bed jiggle the warm f/t rat in front of his hide and if he don’t' take it leave it there and turn out the lights and hit the hay and check in the morning. Alot of times they don't want to be watched.

dhonaker · #5 (**permalink**) 07-30-2006, 05:02 PM

a long time ago i fed a boa a hampster cous that was all i gould get at the time i hard a very hard time geting it to eat a bouse or rat again but with pachiants he finaly took it

softkiss · #6 (**permalink**) 07-30-2006, 05:13 PM

Biting near the tail would more than likely indicate that the snake had a parasite which is quite common when they are kept in a habitat that other snakes have been in prior. Also, snakes sometimes get skin mites and fungus infections, but with biting the rear I would almost wager the snake had a parasite. Some rats and mice carry them and when the snake eats them they can get infested. I would be more cautious abouot who and the condiitions at the store or shop that you buy your feeders from. I myself raise and breed my own rats and degus for my snakes for feeders and this way I know they stay clean and to date I've never had problems with my snakes.
Hope it helps
SoftKiss

softkiss · #7 (**permalink**) 07-30-2006, 05:15 PM

My boas would much rather eat a Degu than a rat. I breed them primarily for my Boas in as my Ball Python will only eat full grown rats so I raise those too.
SoftKiss

Adrya · #8 (**permalink**) 07-30-2006, 05:23 PM

softkiss, you're fricken nuts. Enough said.

Kojak, you might try putting more hides and places for him to snuggle up in so he may feel more secure. If you haven't taken him to a vet yet to have him tested for parasites or illnesses of any kind, you may want to do that. Also, a 30L tank seems big for a little baby boa, depending on how big/small it is... but I could be wrong there. Also, if the guy was feeding the snakes baby hamsters, little hamsters can be addictive to snakes.. its like candy to them..... so you may want to try rat pinks or fuzzies as suggested earlier.

Most likely the deal with the ball python biting itself is due to IBD or some similiar neurological issues. Ball pythons don't just bite themselves like that if they have parasites.

dhonaker · #9 (**permalink**) 07-30-2006, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrya_Webb

softkiss, you're fricken nuts. Enough said.

lol

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