Dumeril still not eating!

[newtosnakes]

We tried to give our dumeril, Kaa, a little fuzzy mouse last night and he still didnt eat it. Its been 2 wks since he's eaten. We're not sure how old he/she is b/c we got it from a pet store. He's in 40gal breeder tank and the substrate we're using is Repti bark. The tank has a backround on it and inside the tank, the snake has a large water bowl, wooden house to hide in and suction plants. As far as lighting goes, we're using 100watt bulbs so its plenty hot in there and he has places where he can hide and cool off so I dont know whats wrong. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Jessica

[ChunkyMunky]

You can try a live mouse to get him going, when i first got my dumerils he would not take any f/t food. One day i gave him a live one, he was very aggressive and pounded it. I slowly switched over to f/t now there are no problems. Hope i helped.

[newtosnakes]

Thanks but we've been trying to give him live mice and he still wont eat. We can stick it in front of him and he ignores it. Could he still be stressed? Its very frustrating! :(

[ChunkyMunky]

If you just got him, let him settle in for another week with out disturbing him, dumerils stress very easily as neonates. Dont offer him a meal this week, but the following week. Mine were not eating for the first 2 months i had them. When they get hungry the time will come.

[newtosnakes]

Wow, 2 months, I didnt know they could go that long. We've had him for about 2 wks now and we dont bother him so we'll just give him time. Should we just try every week? Also, when is it okay to start holding him or are we not supposed to hold him at all?

Thanks for your help! :)

[ChunkyMunky]

Every week should be fine, just as long as you are not offering every day or every other day, that is very stressful for the snake. I would keep the handling minimal now. When he takes his first meal, handling is ok (wait at least 24 hours and do not over handle, you dont want him to regurge his first meal :p ).

[newtosnakes]

Eww, that wouldnt be good if he regurged his food! We do know about the 24 hour thing though! I think we'll just hold off on handling him until he eats! Thanks for your help, I feel better now! :)

I'll be sure to post when he eats for the first time! :)

Jessica

[ChunkyMunky]

thats what we're here for, if you cant find an answer on here, you probably wont find one. Looking foward to the pics, Good Luck !!!

[gbrys122]

I resonded to your cage ???Try observing his behavior after dark,he should be more active.Try a feed then.I notice your in Lansdale,I'm in Montgomeryville.Did you get the snake in Harleyville by any chance?

[newtosnakes]

Yes, we did get him in Harleysville, at Fins, Feathers, Paws and Claws! We get a lot of stuff there, and we're always there! :)

[gbrys122]

That is the best pet store in the area,nice selection of reptiles and supplies.You have to go down to Philly to find one like it.I recently just discovered it,until about 9 mos. ago I was making the trip to the city.I do remember seeing 2 dumerils in the reptile rm. on my 1st visit there one had a sign "not for sale until it eats"it really looked to me like it was in trouble,but it must have eaten cause it was for sale the next time I was there.But it must have been there a while.Very pretty snake,nice colors.What kind is your other snake?I have 2 dumerils 2 "cooks"tree boas 2 durango mt. kings,3 BG greybands,1 ball python, 2leopard geckos,and 1 crested.So I go there alot too. Is your dumeril active at night?Was it active when you handled it?A good idea right now would be to leave it alone until it eats.Has it pooped?If it hasn't since you've had it might not have eaten in a while.One thing that can't hurt to try is eletrolytes,put it in it's drinking water,it will help hydrate it and stimulate appetite.I know it's stressful having a snake that won't eat my female dumeril the last 2 winters went one a hunger strike,all winter.Sorry so long,new at this forum stuff,good luck.

[newtosnakes]

I actually used to work there so I know everyone there! We get all our supplies there and I've gotten a few chinchillas from there as well. I try to get them from a breeder b/c they're more socialized! Anyway, my fiance has always loved snakes but was never able to have one while he lived at home. We've been living together since last October and he just now got a snake. He has a milksnake, which eats once week, we havent had any problems with it. Then he saw the Dumeril and fell in love so we got that one. Just to let you know, the pet store can order things for you. I ordered a banded kingsnake so I'm waiting for that to come in. The owner, Tom, is really nice! They take care of there animals to and most of the employees know what they're doing! I hate going into a pet store where the cages are dirty and the the animals look like crap!

The Dumeril has pooped, once but I think we'll try that electrolytes thing. He's definitely drinking and he's active when we're holding him which we're not doing now b/c we dont want to stress him out. Its amazing how they can go without eating for so long, jeeze! I wish I could do that sometimes, LOL! I honestly dont know if he's active at night. I dont think he is b/c his tank is in our bedrm and we never hear anything, plus we check on him before we turn the light off at night and he's usually in the same spot the following day. Is this bad?

Sorry to ramble! I'll keep you posted on how he's doing!

[Ryan and Katie]

How old/big is your Dumeril? Young Dumerils can be quick to stress out and go off food if they are in too big of a cage..

[newtosnakes]

He's got to be only a few months old. I'd say he's about a foot long. He's in a 40gal breeder tank!

[Ryan and Katie]

I bet if you got him into a rubbermaid (42L or smaller) and you gave him a week or so to settle in he should eat for you...
Best of luck....

[gbrys122]

Ryan and katie's idea is probably a good idea.Another option I've had luck with is to put the snake and a fuzzy in a paper bag,fold the bag so he can't get out,put the bag into it's cage in case he does get out.This gives them a sense of secuity and he might relax and feed.Word of advice,snakes can be addicting!!Especially if you start going to the breeder shows,Hamburg Aug. 7.Don't dive in to fast,learn as much as you can.Talking from experience a little bad luck can be discouraging.You 2 go to la fittnes by any chance?

[newtosnakes]

LOL, we were going to go to the Hamburg show but its probably not a good idea b/c we'll come home with more pets! If we had the space it wouldnt be a big deal but right now, we dont!

We'll have to try something if he doesnt eat soon.

No, we dont go to LA Fitness. Ron goes to the Hatfield gym on 309 and I workout at home! :) We live in Chatham Village, I'm not sure if you know where that is!

[michele.kyle]

try withdrawing water for a day or two. when you return water bowl add reptovite or your equivalent to water wait a couple of days then give f/t fuzzie. if this doesnt work inject a weak solution of water and reptovite into fuzzie under the skin.sounds drastic but its worked everytime for me even for a rescue snake i got that was near having to be force fed. good luck !!!!

[jcgherps]

feed the dumeril's at night in the complete dark....it worked for my 2 plus week old baby....he refused meals untill last night I had me fiancee drop a pup in his cage shut off his light and the room light and leave the room...with in minutes he ate...and was hungry again he took another pup openly with no problems...

[Vv_SoulTaker]

Take it from a 9 year owner of dumerils they are very tempormental I have had Gunther since he was the size of a small worm now OMFG he is 7' + I have gone through ups and downs feasts and famons, in AZ right now he wants to eat every day.. I have had times when he was around 4' that nothing around him changed he just didn't eat for 3 1/2 months nothing! Tryed everthing. .....Don't worrie....
Though I would get him used to dead when he does start eating. Gunther has issues with dead cuz I always thought it was so cool to see him eat live that now I fear for his safety every time I feed him... He isn't taking to dead to well!!!!