i'm being told its my fault my spotted python isn't eatting

spottedpython · 06-01-04, 01:30 AM

my spotted python hasn't eatten in 3 months she hasn't lost any weight shes happy and heathy shes kept at 86f by a thermostat fresh water every 2nd day doesn't really get handled that much maybe once a week if lucky i've tryed everything to get her to eat she won't take dead only live food i have left the food in there for a couple of hours with me watching she just goes under the newspaper and stays there its coming into winter here and i've even done this it might be mean but i killed the mouse after wards i even made the mouse bleed and run around the enclosure it still didn't tigger her to eat my vet said she has just gone off food for a while like some female snakes do and she is maturity and i've been told there known to go off food shes 2 and half to 3 and half years old my neigbour he owns snakes and crocodiles said not to worry shes either preparing to shed or just gone off food i doubt shes shedding its been 3 months since her last meal i have 7 layers of newspaper a water bowl a hide and a rock. and as most of yous know i've got a female diamond python on the way and i hope my diamond isn't going to be like this spotted python i'm having some doubts to where i brought her from i've been talking on a australian python site all there spotted pythons arn't really feeding either, and i've told them the way i've kept my spotted and they think its not my fault she also has an light fixed to her enclosure for heat. what am i mean't to do stuff a mouse down her mouth that will cause more problems then what it is worth they say get a stool sample i can't get one if she isn't doing like they say it might be sick but its true you don't eat you don't do business and that is exactlly what my spotted isn't doing.

Jeff_Favelle · 06-01-04, 01:49 AM

Try a thermal gradient instead of just "86F". There isn't one temperature in your Australian outdoors where maculosa live, so there shouldn't be on temperature in its cage. 90F warm "end", 78-80F cool "end" for starters.

You may have to lizard-scent a mouse if the snake is wild-caught.

spottedpython · 06-01-04, 02:06 AM

shes not wild caught shes captive bred and i got told 90f is to hot for her

Jeff_Favelle · 06-01-04, 02:57 AM

Yeah, a constant 90F is too hot for ANY reptile. But reptiles like to thermoregulate, seeing as they are not mammals and can't metabolize without external (environmental) heat sources. They need access to a CHOICE of temperatures, just like they do in the wild. And after they eat, before they eat, during cycling, during breeding, during egg-laying, during gravidity, they choose DIFFERENT temperatures to accomplish DIFFERENT life activities. Its up to you to give them this choice. Well, if you want a healthy snake that eats.

Best of luck.

spottedpython · 06-01-04, 03:04 AM

she has got and basking side and cool side the cool side is 40f

Invictus · 06-01-04, 10:32 AM

40F??????? PLEASE tell me that is a typo!!!! That's only slightly above freezing! Are you trying to KILL your snake?

Jeff_Favelle · 06-01-04, 10:32 AM

The cool side is 40F?? 8 DEREES above freezing? LOL, yeahhhh.....that's your problem right there.

I do hope you're kidding about 40F.....

spottedpython · 06-01-04, 08:25 PM

i don't know the actuall temp on the cool side but she likes it shes at the cool end most of the time and she finally came out from under the newspaper last night fast time in 3 months

likeal0stchild · 06-01-04, 08:39 PM

you need to figure out the temp of the cool side and keep the warm side at 90.

This will give a gradient for the snake to thermoregulate

Invictus · 06-02-04, 08:02 AM

Now all of a sudden you don't know the temp on the cool side? Don't make things up, man. Get a digital thermometer and MEASURE your temps. Don't guess.

allthatjazz · 06-09-04, 01:36 AM

He's right... Watch your temps better... Or you may be getting a garbage bag out.

nicola_boulton · 06-09-04, 03:01 AM

true

NewLineReptile · 06-09-04, 03:42 AM

This is why one must research before getting a new pet

Brandon

spottedpython · 06-11-04, 11:37 PM

well it is coming into winter here and i rang a breeder up she said some spotted pythons hibernate even if the temperture is high and some just don't eat through winter she weighs 118grams i've been told that is a good weight for a spotted python that isn't eatting this is what she ate when i first got her ok a couple of days after i got her she ate 2 fuzzies then the next couple of days she ate a small mouse then a week later she ate another small mouse then a week later another small mouse then another week later she ate a pregnant small mouse and that was her last meal and she hasn't eatten since

spottedpython · 06-11-04, 11:38 PM

and i brang her temps up to 33 degrees celsicus thats 91f and 28 degrees celsicus thats 82f at night