Recoiling from food?

Scubadiver59 · 06-08-17, 08:34 AM

So, my Dumerils hasn't been eating for three weeks now...no worries there for the time being; however, when presented with food, it recoils from the presented food...not just a gentle pull back, but a whiplash inducing recoil back into its cold hide.

Previously, in previous feeding attempts, the snake had struck, but it appeared to strike out in defense, not in an attempt to grab the food and then eat.

I don't see any signs of shed, and I have yet to see the snake in the hot hide, but there are signs that it went in and pushed aside the substrate in the hot hide in an attempt to burrow(?) down.

Hot hide is 80-85F (night/day) and cold hide is 75-77F. Humidity is 60%. Water is available and food has been presented weekly, fuzzies at first (the snake is large enough to take them) and now I'm presenting pinkies (after talking with previous owner). Snake is in a room off the beaten path, and I only look in in the morning and evening checking all seven vivs for water and/or excrement.

Any more suggestions?

dannybgoode · 06-08-17, 11:48 AM

Have you tried drop feeding?

Scubadiver59 · 06-08-17, 12:21 PM

If you're referring to "leaving the warm dead body" in front of the cold hide (where the Dumerils normally is), and then leaving the room in darkness so the snake to do its thing; then yes, I've been doing that most of the time, leaving the pinky overnight only to find it in the morning, cold.

The previous owner was feeding live pinkies, but I don't have a source so that's out of the question.

I'll try again tonight, and this time I won't wave it in front of its nose, but just place it down before it recoils and retreat from the room. I expect the result to be the same.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybgoode

Have you tried drop feeding?

dannybgoode · 06-08-17, 01:22 PM

How often are you offering food?

Scubadiver59 · 06-08-17, 01:55 PM

Once a week. Don't have a weight on the snake, but it's about 18" long, and large enough to take a hopper, based on girth, but it has refused hoppers, fuzzies, and pinkies.

I tried mid-week this week, just to see if there was a change from last weekend, but no dice--left pinky overnight and it was still there this morning.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybgoode

How often are you offering food?

TeamSlitherin · 06-09-17, 01:59 AM

My Dumeril's also recoils from food, as though presenting it is utterly offensive to her.

And that's with f/t prey. Live mice seemed to freak her out even more. I once covered her enclosure with a towel to see if she'd actually go for a mouse without anyone watching....and when I removed the towel, the mouse was still very much alive and my little monster struck at ME through the glass as soon as she saw me, trying everything she could to get away from that rodent. "Mom!!! GET THAT THING AWAY FROM ME!!" That's what she said.

Scubadiver59 · 06-09-17, 03:17 AM

So....what was "your" fix??????

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeamSlitherin

My Dumeril's also recoils from food, as though presenting it is utterly offensive to her.

And that's with f/t prey. Live mice seemed to freak her out even more. I once covered her enclosure with a towel to see if she'd actually go for a mouse without anyone watching....and when I removed the towel, the mouse was still very much alive and my little monster struck at ME through the glass as soon as she saw me, trying everything she could to get away from that rodent. "Mom!!! GET THAT THING AWAY FROM ME!!" That's what she said.

**EL Ziggy** · 06-09-17, 07:47 AM

You could try braining or scenting the prey item. Other than that it's just a matter of time. He won't starve himself. How old is your snake btw? Sometimes raging hormones will suppress their appetite.

TeamSlitherin · 06-09-17, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scubadiver59

So....what was "your" fix??????

I don't have one yet

I leave her a mouse overnight and it probably gets eaten 1 out of 3 times. She's only eaten 5 times in 3.5 months I think. Haven't tried braining or anything, but I figure if she gets hungry enough she'll eat. Switching her to rat fuzzies just to make her infrequent feedings count more. Best of luck!