Whats wrong with my snake?

[lumpdog]

Well Im back again with a problem ive never seen before. the same new dum that I got from the pet store last week that was a rescue. I said in my other thread how under weight the snake was. she is 3 & 1/2 foot long and 2 years old as they told me. Ok so today is feeding day for all of my snakes & also the first time to feed the dumeril. She cant hit the target how hard she tries. I mean she misses like 2 to 4 inches from the small rat. Is she ********? Its no wonder she is so thin she cant eat. I called the pet store and the dumb kid on the phone told me thats cuz she will only eat a mouse. I went off on him & told him it dont matter what you put in front of her she has no aim. I think I got scammed and she cost 200 bucks. And they said to bad no returns on any reptiles. PLEASE HELP!!!

[StudentoReptile]

Sounds like a pet store to avoid, that's for sure.

Now, regarding your problem...

Tell us exactly hoe you are feeding. Are you taking the snake out and feeding in a separate container? Are you feeding live, prekilled or frozen/thawed? If the latter, are you just leaving it in there, or dangling it in front of her?

[SnakeyJay]

I've never had this happen so I can't say much apart from get it to a vet for a check over, just incase it's a neuro problem. It's a shame the shop are refusing refunds but from the sounds of it they wouldn't be taking it to a vet either so it will be better off with you.

Goodluck and hopefully someone who's experienced this will reply soon. :)

[Kavyrie]

I just got a dum from a petstore too, just brought her to the vet today and feeding her for the first time tomorrow. I hope all goes well for your new addition, call again and say you need to talk to a manager and tell them that you need to take it to the vet. They should have to cover the vet bills.

[lumpdog]

First i tried live in a diff box i never feed where they live. No strikes at all running around the box then i grabbed the rat by its tail and got struck on my finger. Next i got out the tongs and it was striking the box and tongs over & over never hitting the rat. So next I let one of my ball pythons kill the rat and the same strike & miss outcome. Im lost here

[lumpdog]

I asked for the boss & the boy told me he is out of town & hed give him the message but dont think hed take the snake back

[Kavyrie]

I would try leaving it for a few hours/overnight in the tank (dead only) and let him do his thing that way.

[StudentoReptile]

i never feed where they live.

Why? There is no reason to do this. Taking the snake out of its familiar living environment and putting it in a separate container just stresses it out more, and does absolutely NOTHING to alter its temperament. This is just some silly nonsense someone started based on nothing, and just makes more work for you, the keeper. In 20 yrs of working with snakes, it has not improved the feeding responses of finicky eaters. Likewise, all "aggressive" snakes have remained aggressive no matter where they were fed, and all docile snakes remained docile.

First i tried live in a diff box No strikes at all running around the box

This could be psrt of the problem. Dumerils are ambush predators. They're kinda like sand boas; they like to sit underneath the substrate and will strike from below. This is how I allowed my dumerils to eat. Once established, they may get better, but young/new arrival Dums may not like being "out in the open" and definitely not want to feed in such a situation.

Next i got out the tongs and it was striking the box and tongs over & over never hitting the rat.

It was stressed. See my comments above. It probably didn't like being in a separate environment, and just kept getting more irritated. I had a society member have the same thing happen with his blood python this week, trying to get it on F/T.

So next I let one of my ball pythons kill the rat and the same strike & miss outcome.

LOL...maybe this rat has a force-field or something!

[lumpdog]

The main reason I move my snakes is because of the aspen bedding and the jungle mix for the bloods. All the books ive read and people ive talked to say to move them out of that bedding while feeding so they dont ingest it. Maybe ur right and this snake has always ate in its own cage. Ill give it a shot when I get a new rat.

[Kavyrie]

As long as its humidity and temperatures are correct there shouldn't be any problem if it ingests some substrate. They can digest fur and bones and teeth, they can easily digest a little piece of aspen and be fine.

[lumpdog]

I understand what ur saying that they can digest a lot so why is there lots of people saying bedding can compact in a snakes stomach. I had a vet tell me that and ive only ever played it safe. the vet isnt cheap if that was to happen. everyone has an opinion but who is right?

[Kavyrie]

It CAN cause impaction if your husbandry isn't right, where in most cases it unfortunately isn't. Like I said though, if you do have everything the way it should be and your snake is healthy, there is no reason why a snake can't survive a tiny piece of aspen. Think about it, in the wild a snake eats where it finds its meal, whether it be in a burrow or in the grass, whatever. Snakes in the wild constantly eat things that get stuck to their meal, they don't drag it to a spot that's nice and clean.

[shaunyboy]

i have carpet pythons who go into that much of a frenzy at feeding time,they hit the tank,heat guard,me,my tongs,etc

carpets have heat pits,so i found giving the head a really good heat,improoved their aim

i would feed in its enclosure as it will feel less stressed,more secure in there

cheers shaun

[lumpdog]

Well like I said before when I get a new live rat ill try and feed it in its own cage. I thank everyone for their help and imput. Ill let everyone know how it went

[lumpdog]

Well I just couldnt wait till tomorrow so I went & got another rat & put it in her cage. About ten minutes later I heard a squeal & she got the rat. So I thank everyone for your help. But she did get a bunch of big chunks of aspen in her mouth. So I got her out to pick out the big pieces and she wasnt to happy about that. I got musked and peed on LOL.

[StudentoReptile]

You can always 'try" to offer the prey on a paper plate or a flat rock. Sometimes works.

[Jack C]

I sweep all the substrate to the back and sides of the viv, the hides and water tub keep it back so I have a clean area for the snake to coil up, I feed f/t though so its not like the rat is going anywhere but where the snake takes it.

[shaunyboy]

Well I just couldnt wait till tomorrow so I went & got another rat & put it in her cage. About ten minutes later I heard a squeal & she got the rat. So I thank everyone for your help. But she did get a bunch of big chunks of aspen in her mouth. So I got her out to pick out the big pieces and she wasnt to happy about that. I got musked and peed on LOL.

i would have left the snake to deal with the substrate itself mate

you risk a regurge taking the snake out so quickly after it ate

i'm really happy you got it eating :)

cheers shaun

[rmfsnakes32]

Not to mention risk getting bit while its still in feed mode

[DOBERMAN]

My boa strikes faster, harder and more precise when I gently heat the FT rat in front of a convection fan heater. This method gives the food thats offered a different heat signature than the surrounding ambient temp of your tongs, cage etc.. Heat is one of the input variables a snake takes into consideration when taking aim.

[BryanB]

i always thaw while i am at work then set the rat on one of the florescent light fixtures to get to about 95 degrees (i tested it) and it is instant strike every time.

[Skumbo]

Hair dryer works great for a quick heat up as well!

[lumpdog]

Thanx everyone I changed her substrate or bedding to forest mix. Then used a F/T small rat and in the middle of the night laid it in her tank. I shut the lights down sept the tv and watched her from a distance and I seen her craw up slow and just start eating it head first. No strike or wrap up but it worked well so Im gonna stick with it. Dont fix whats not broken right??? LOL thanks again everyone has very nice ideas.

[StudentoReptile]

Congratulations on getting her to eat. Hope the success continues.

[lumpdog]

I have an update. My pretty boa is now eating med thawed rats once a week now without any problems. & she looks to be gaining wait but I cant be sure because I havent weighed her lately.