| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kashie |
Posted - 12/10/2009 : 23:01:28
Ok, so we all know that Ziggy is a finicky eater, but after just getting him to take two strike feeds, he has reverted back to not taking anything. 
The first time I thought ok, maybe he jsut doesnt want it - it's no big deal it's only one feed.
The 2nd time, I was a bit more concerned but decided to leave it.
The 3rd time I tried to assist but he doesnt seem to want that either - same again the 4th time.
ANd now tonight I have just spent nearly an hour trying to assist feed but he is getting it back out. 
The last time I tried before I gave up I more or less had the whole thing down his throat, but he was determined that he wasn't going to eat it and managed to get it back out
Is this a sign that he just doesnt want to eat - as he did accept an assist feed with no problems before???
Any suggestions gratefully received.  |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| kashie |
Posted - 29/01/2010 : 19:10:17
Last update for this thread, Ziggy continued to strike feed for a further two times after my last entry.
He then had a few strikes that missed - which seemed to upset him - so he didn't eat for three feeds - even though I tempted he shyed away - so I left him.
Since then, we have had SEVEN successful strike feeds and so I think I can now start to relax and put this thread to bed!
He seems to be gaining weight nicely 255grams (a month ago) - even though quite slowly - but at least he is isn't loosing any and he is eating.
I think it's all been a huge learning curve and goes to show how different each snake can be compared to the other.
Thank you to everyone on here who spent time giving their advice at a time when I was in panic mode!!! Much appreciated....thank you. |
| Robert |
Posted - 28/12/2009 : 22:42:30
Congrats :) we all worry a little when they don't feed but unless anything else is wrong they all feed at different rates, just go with their flow and not yours, no feed leave a few days and try again and if still no feed do the same, so long as they are healthy and unstressed they will feed when they are ready :) |
| spor |
Posted - 24/12/2009 : 19:10:20
good to hear. well done to you both and fingers crossed. |
| Blackecho |
Posted - 24/12/2009 : 12:43:54
Well done  |
| kashie |
Posted - 24/12/2009 : 12:14:59
Yet another strike feed from Ziggy - that's three in a row - things seem to be taking a chnage for the better. He even comes out now when I'm warming other snake food with the hairdryer!!!! Fingers crossed it continues.
Merry Christmas everyone! |
| Blackecho |
Posted - 15/12/2009 : 11:04:08
No, feeding more often than every 5 days is just more likely to stress him.
Fingers crossed he'll be hungry in 5 days. |
| kashie |
Posted - 15/12/2009 : 07:45:37
Well I had to resort to assist feeding in the end. He went down to 160 grams and i started to panic - so assist it was. I did this twice in the past two weeks BUT last night he struck and fed all by himself!!!
I'm not holding my breath but let's hope this is going to be something regular.
As it was only a mouse fluff that he ate and I have been assisting two of these, I didn't give him the 2nd one as he showed no interest. Should I feed him on a 3 day cycle instead of his usual 5 day. I dont want to increase the size of the feed as this seemed to put him off last time his started striking.
Any advice greatly appreciated.....Thanks |
| kashie |
Posted - 02/11/2009 : 08:31:44
He has a clesn shed and he eyes are clear so it's not that.
The rub is enclosed by the wall at the back and on the right hand side to his left is Kelso in a clear small plastic viv.
Thinking about it - yes - I have moved him, since he was in the viv.
There are 5 snakes in a row, and Ziggy is at present at the right hand end of the row.
He was originally on the left hand end, perhaps I could try putting him back there, as that end would have received more day light than the end he is currently on.
Apart from that nothing has changed.
I cleaned him out yesterday and put in some more wood to cramp it up a bit.
I will move him today and leave him to settle back there before offering more food. |
| wolfspirit |
Posted - 01/11/2009 : 22:41:06
that angle makes that rub look bigger than a 9L..lol.
yours is not much different to this one, this is Kayla's..
you could try stretching his feeds if your still worried..leave it a tad longer, ie 7-10 days just to see if you get a better feeding response...
the only other thing i can think of is eyecaps...but if he has clean sheds then it is not that..lol
what is his rub next to? has he always been in the same place even when he was in his other home?
|
| kashie |
Posted - 01/11/2009 : 14:08:16
This is a picture of Ziggys rub, it's not usually this untidy but I've just opened it the first time this morning, and he has been on the rampage in the night. lol.
Where he is sleeping is roughly where the heatmat ends and the piece of bark he is hiding under is his favourite haunt but is usually situated next to the dish in the corner of the cool end.
The temps are fine, 29.3 in warm end on a stat, and 26.3 in cool end. It's a 9lt rub, so not too big.
He has been in here since I moved him from the original viv we had him in when we first brought him home, and seems much happier than he was before.
He has shown more increased activity in the evenings over the past few weeks but nothing has changed from when I first put him in there, so I don't know what else might be bothering him. |
| wolfspirit |
Posted - 01/11/2009 : 00:09:35
forgot to add, Kaylas rub is very busy, she has two hides a water bowl and a plant that covers three quarters of her living space...oh and she has a toilet roll but she does not go in it, it is just to fill up space.
It is hard to see her for the plant in there, but she is happy and as i said in my previous post feeds really well.. |
| wolfspirit |
Posted - 01/11/2009 : 00:06:02
25g is not a lot, if your still worried have a chat with the breeder, see if he can come up with anything..
what size rub is he in?
sorry i cant remember,..
you could try him in a 9l or a 4l rub...i have a 500g royal still in a 9l rub...and she feeds like a trojan..and she still squishes herself into a small margerine tub for a hide...silly girl..she loves that it is so small i guess... |
| kashie |
Posted - 31/10/2009 : 22:51:22
I weighed him yesterday and he was 194 so since I weighed him after pooing he has lost 25 grams in four weeks, which isn't so bad but he has had a rat pinky in between so that has stopped the wieght loss. He was loosing like 1 gram a day.
And no Anne I know you are not having a go, I really appreciate all your help - truely. ;) |
| wolfspirit |
Posted - 31/10/2009 : 15:30:12
quote:
Originally posted by kashie
I know what you mean about the larger snakes not eating - I went though that with Gladysss, she didn't eat for nearly 12 weeks, but she is now back on the rats which is fab.
It's only me that feeds them all, they all strike within seconds of me offering, it's like bang, bang, bang, and they are all fed, literally that fast. Ziggy, seems to be hunting his rub every night but when offered food shys away.
I plan to offer him food but if he doesn't take it leave him for 5 days and offer again. My main concern is how much weight I should allow him to loose. He is so small in comparision to the baby snakes we have had for just a few months.
being active in his home does not always mean hunger....it can also mean stress or being unhappy, i am not saying your doing anything wrong either, just that it is another sign of stress, so it coul dbe something simple that is causing it.
The reason i aid to get someone else to try a feed was because i know of someone whose royal would ot feed for them, and the one day he was not able to do it, someone else did and bingo the snake fed...
i would still be inclined if your really worried to either offer him a small live mouse and see if he is interested then, put him in a open rub with it so you can see what is going on..
failing that i might get in touch with the breeder to see what they suggest..
the thing is you weighed him twice, once unempty and then empty, how much has he lost since the empty weight? |
| kashie |
Posted - 31/10/2009 : 12:24:12
I know what you mean about the larger snakes not eating - I went though that with Gladysss, she didn't eat for nearly 12 weeks, but she is now back on the rats which is fab.
It's only me that feeds them all, they all strike within seconds of me offering, it's like bang, bang, bang, and they are all fed, literally that fast. Ziggy, seems to be hunting his rub every night but when offered food shys away.
I plan to offer him food but if he doesn't take it leave him for 5 days and offer again. My main concern is how much weight I should allow him to loose. He is so small in comparision to the baby snakes we have had for just a few months. |
| wolfspirit |
Posted - 30/10/2009 : 23:30:39
shame would have made life a bit easier for you in that maybe it could have been the dog, but it still could be something like that, and he feels threatened..., or it could just be the time of year..
i have had so much hassle trying to get Oscar to feed..in the end i gave in..but for me it is different, he did lose a bit of weight to start with but not a great deal it was only a 100g but he is still at 750g so i am not to worried and he has not lost any more since being back on mice..
i agree with BE to in that it might be nothing to worry about, all the same they are to me part of my family and i would feel stressed a bit at first, if all else is well i dont think now i would worry so much...
i know of a few people who have had royals not eating for ages and one whose royal never ate for over a year..
maybe just leave him alone for a good 14-21 days and then see what happens, he is probably picking up your stress and it might be making him uneasy...
is there anyone else in the family who feeds them? maybe try getting one of them to do it alone without you there and see what happens.. |
| kashie |
Posted - 30/10/2009 : 22:09:46
No Anne the rats were thawing in the kitchen and I had warmed them ready to feed. I took one and tried to feed him, but when I went to get the other I couldn't find it. The dog turned up as i was looking for it and dropped it at my feet.
Good thinking, but no that wasn't the case. |
| Blackecho |
Posted - 30/10/2009 : 20:28:33
Good thinking Anne. |
| wolfspirit |
Posted - 30/10/2009 : 19:33:21
Hi Karen, just a question..
you said in your post the dog ran off with a rat pup..
was the dog in the room when you were feeding Ziggy?
i cant feed Bliss when any of my animals are in the room as she freaks out, and she does not like them...they scare her
Bliss senses my animals even when they are outside the room, like behind the door and she is constantly watching to see if they are coming in..and it takes her time to settle and know she is safe
on another note, i have now got Oscar feeding, its on mice but he is taking them regular for me now..and he refused a live rat...so go figure...
so maybe something like this is bothering him.. |
| kashie |
Posted - 26/10/2009 : 13:48:54
Thanks for the advice, I know I probably am over reacting, and I appreciate your honesty, but can you advise me of when I should start worrying and what sort of weight loss I should be looking for before resorting to assist feeding??
I think that because he is a 10 month old snake and only weighs in at 180 grams, compared to my younger snakes who are only 6 months and over 300 grams, this is why I am concerned. |
