problems with White Lipped Python feeding

[siz]

Hey all,

I purchased a female northern White Lipped Python, supposedly CBB, from an expo a few weeks back (Nov 28th to be exact). I was told that she was eating F/T pinkies and had been fed the previous Wednesday to the show. I've yet to have her take food from me. I'm looking for suggestions or tips to improve my husbandry to make this girl eat!

She is about 3 months old, and she is in a 10g tank with an UTH in my reptile room. Her hot spot is 95-100f and the cool side is high 70's. She has a humid hide over her heat pad, and one on the cool side. She has a humid hide over her UTH and a toilet paper roll hide on her cool side. There is a large water dish on the cool side, with plenty of branches for her to use, which she does. Paper towel substrate.

Now, I've tried feeding her 4 times by tong. She has struck at the pink, but I don't really think it was a feeding response. Once I tried braining the pink a little bit, and she was a bit more interested but still didn't eat. Each time, I leave the pinky in overnight, but no interest. I would like to try live but I don't have access to any live pinkies near me at this time...I've seen her out of her hide plenty, she loves to come out and chill on the branches after I raise her humidity, and I've seen her touring around at night, nothing that, to me, really looks like hunting behaviour though...I realize this species is frequently WC but I do have reason to believe that she is (she didn't come from the actual breeder however).

Any constructive suggestions are appreciated! I'm more of a gecko/lizard person ;)

[pythonman]

Hey all,

I purchased a female northern White Lipped Python, supposedly CBB, from an expo a few weeks back (Nov 28th to be exact). I was told that she was eating F/T pinkies and had been fed the previous Wednesday to the show. I've yet to have her take food from me. I'm looking for suggestions or tips to improve my husbandry to make this girl eat!

She is about 3 months old, and she is in a 10g tank with an UTH in my reptile room. Her hot spot is 95-100f and the cool side is high 70's. She has a humid hide over her heat pad, and one on the cool side. She has a humid hide over her UTH and a toilet paper roll hide on her cool side. There is a large water dish on the cool side, with plenty of branches for her to use, which she does. Paper towel substrate.
Now, I've tried feeding her 4 times by tong. She has struck at the pink, but I don't really think it was a feeding response. Once I tried braining the pink a little bit, and she was a bit more interested but still didn't eat. Each time, I leave the pinky in overnight, but no interest. I would like to try live but I don't have access to any live pinkies near me at this time...I've seen her out of her hide plenty, she loves to come out and chill on the branches after I raise her humidity, and I've seen her touring around at night, nothing that, to me, really looks like hunting behaviour though...I realize this species is frequently WC but I do have reason to believe that she is (she didn't come from the actual breeder however).

Any constructive suggestions are appreciated! I'm more of a gecko/lizard person ;)Hello siz, i sadly have limited contact with this species, but what i do have i will relay here.
I picked up three neonates for a friend who was going to pick them up in 4 weeks(turned into 8) These animals were very eager to strike, and were maintained at 85 degrees during the day dropping to 78 at night, a water/dog bowl was provided(big enough for the snake to immerse if it wished) and three hides scattered around its encosure(all 3 animals were maintained identically) with lightly dampened sphagnam moss in two of them. None of the animals had accepted a meal, and all refused my initial offerings of warmed pink mice, which like yours they struck at(they would strike at anything that moved.After one week and with no pinkies available, all 3 were offered fuzzie/furried mice, the usual striking took place(the animals had been completly undisturbed for 4 days and nights)but all 3 seemed unable to eject the pray item from their mouths, and as i remained completely still, for what seemed ages for all 3,eventually preceeded to swallow the prey item.After this first meal i upped the nightime tempreture to 80 degrees to aid digestion. I repeated this feed with one 5 days later again with warmed furried/fuzzie mice, again they seemed reluctant but unable to eject the food item. The next feed 8 days later with the animals been completely undisturbed resulted in two successes and one fail as i dropped my tongs into the last animals enclosure causing the poor animal to bang its head on its log as it took flight dislodging the mouse from its grip. 7 days later i tried all 3 again and i managed to stay still and all 3 ate. Two now went into slough, including the one that missed a meal, the other ate again and went into slough.
If your animal has eaten it may deposit a small fecal sample as proof and may just require more time to adjust, all you can do is keep trying, and keep very still. Observe the animals without disturbing them, are they spending too much time in the water, at the hot end or at the cool end, and adjust conditions as is acceptable to the species. I removed the larger water bowls as i prefered lightly sprayed sphagnam moss is their hides, and gave them a smaller bowl for drinking.Good luck:)

[marvelfreak]

Wish i could help. I do know Kim (Willow) as one. I believe that over a year old so she might be able to help you.

[Will0W783]

I had a pair of white-lipped pythons for a while. They were extremely finicky eaters. They were supposed to have been taking f/t, but only took live for me for the first year. The last 6 months that I had them I managed to get them onto f/t rats, but it took first live mice, then f/t mice, then f/t rats scented with mice, then finally f/t rats. They were a pain in my butt. I would honestly not worry about it being off feed for a few weeks. I would leave it alone for a solid week- no handling, no offering food, no disturbing other than to fill water dishes, and then offer an item. If it does not take f/t, keep offering once a week, but no more than that. If it goes more than two months, then try offering live. Or if it appears to be losing weight, offer live sooner. Once you've got it eating and established for you, then you can start being picky about what you offer it.

[siz]

Alright, thanks a lot for the replies, appreciate it. To be honest, I'm surprised by the responses. I was under the impression that this species is a voracious eater but it seems you've all had some issues with finicky eaters. Nothing stands out in my husbandry that would indicate I'm doing something wrong then? I understand they are quite sensitive to humidity. When I raise it, she is out and about a lot more. She hasn't defecated and I haven't seen her urinate either but I have seen her drinking. She's been sniffing around them more each time, and I've seen her out in her enclosure a lot more, so hopefully she's getting comfortable and will soon accept food. I'll just leave her alone for now then.
Kim, did you end up selling yours because of this reason?

[Will0W783]

No Siz, I ended up selling mine because I met a lady (friend of another snake-keeper friend of mine) who, to her, white-lippeds were the ultimate python and her dream snake. While I liked them, there were other species I enjoy just as much if not more, so I felt she would enjoy them more than I did. She has been absolutely thrilled with them and tells me all the time how happy she is to have them.

[Aaron_S]

Do you have a pic of the snake Siz? White lips aren't that small of a species so maybe the pinky is too small? Try a rat pink.

[Dumeril daddy]

send a pic off the top my head might hafta force feed for nutrition till they get the taste of tacobell

[Reptile_Reptile]

send a pic off the top my head might hafta force feed for nutrition till they get the taste of tacobell
if your not going to be constructive dude dont post this is a serious site

[NennaMeerkat]

send a pic off the top my head might hafta force feed for nutrition till they get the taste of tacobell

I have to agree Dumeril unless you are going to be serious about things do not post. This is a serious forum with people that generally have true questions and stuff. At least keep posts relevant and on topic. If the person has a true question and is not being funny it is generally a good idea for you to do the same.

[shaunyboy]

send a pic off the top my head might hafta force feed for nutrition till they get the taste of tacobell


force feeding would be the ultimate last resort

assists feeding would be as far as i would personally go

imo if you have to force feed a snake theres something way wrong with the snake anyway

i know somatimes problem feeding young carpet pythons can be startred with lizards or even scenting a rat pup or mouse pink with a lizard

exo terra used to make a product called lizard maker

it was designed to make prey smell like a lizard

used to drop a pinkie in hot water for 5 or 6 seconds take out with tongs put 2 drops of lizard maker on its head then offer to the snake

you may still be able to get the product in the states if someone has old stock in their shop

cheers shaun

[Will0W783]

How are you coming along, Siz? Any updates?

[Dumeril daddy]

I was being serious but tried to end it light hearted ....... Assisted force twist of words ones more gentle sounding end result is the same hoping they get the taste for food maybe they dont have taco bell where u are my bad

[Aaron_S]

Assist feeding and force feeding are actually two different methods. Force feeding you're actually forcing food into the snake. With an assist feed you're more just placing a food item in the mouth of the snake and hoping they'll get the idea and do the rest.

[shaunyboy]

Assist feeding and force feeding are actually two different methods. Force feeding you're actually forcing food into the snake. With an assist feed you're more just placing a food item in the mouth of the snake and hoping they'll get the idea and do the rest.


arron is correct in saying its 2 completely different procedures mate


re force feeding
force feeding usually entails taking the legs off a pinkie and pushing it into the snakes throat with small tweezers or a chop stick then massaging it down to its stomach with your fingers/hands

or

turning a pinkie into pulp and squirting it down the snakes throat with a large purpose bought syringe

re assist feeding
assist feeding is placing the head of a pinkie into the snakes mouth until the snake bites down on it

then with a bit of luck the snake gets the idea and goes on to eating the pinkie on its own

re your sense of humor
i have no problem with your sense of humor mate

lifes too short to not have one:yes:

cheers shaun

[belovedboas]

Agreed guys (shaunny boy & Arron)

[siz]

Sorry for the delayed reply, lots going on this time of year! Happy 2011 everyone.

I actually got her to feed last Friday. I noticed her hunting and while she was cruising in her branches, I placed the pinkie on one of the thicker branches, left her alone for the night, and it was gone in the morning. I've also cleaned up poop since then, and a shed. This week however she wouldn't eat again, although I dropped the mouse accidentally so I suspect that's the reason. I'm going to try again in a couple of days, she looks like she is hungry again.
I'll try to get a good picture of her to reference size.
Force feeding is my absolute last option. I'd like to avoid mouse smoothies if possible, hahaha. :D