Long hunger strike - Getting a little scared

[luschen]

My previous snake quit eating for about a month last summer and then died, so I guess I am a little paranoid to start with as I don't want a repeat experience.

We bought our new snake last summer and she was a great eater up until several months ago. She missed a couple feedings in early March, but shed in mid March, then ate one more mouse in late March and hasn't eaten since. She started acting a little unusual, roaming the cage instead of hiding like she usually does. She shed again 2 weeks ago, but wouldn't eat after that shed. Then we went on vacation for a week and when we got back today found she had laid a clutch of about a dozen slugs.

So I guess I am glad to have a reason for her hunger strike, but she looks so skinny and pale. We tried to feed her this evening, but she wasn't interested, although we are leaving her in there with the mouse for a few more hours. How worried should I be? Is there anything else I can do to get her to start eating again, or do they usually wait awhile after laying eggs to begin eating? I'm just worried that it's been so long, she's forgotten how the whole mouse eating process works! :uhoh:

 

[danielle]

I would try a smaller than usual meal and leave the mouse in with her overnight. Good luck!!

 

[luschen]

Sorry, I guess I should have done a more thorough search before I posted. I didn't realize they shed both before and after they lay eggs. I guess that is why she looks so pale. If she doesn't eat now, I will wait until after her next shed and hope for the best. I've actually been feeding her smaller than normal mice lately (or trying to feed, that is) since they are a little cheaper that the bigger ones and I've just been throwing them away in the bushes where I found a rough green snake last year (do wild snakes eat f/t?)

 

[luschen]

Long hunger strike - Getting a little scared - update

Well, Sally the snake went according to schedule. She shed, then 10 days later she laid her nest of slugs, then 2 weeks later shed again. I waited a couple days and tried feeding her last night, but still no luck. She seems pretty normal and healthy, but it is so frustrating not to have her eat. I left her in her feeding cage for 2 hours and then for good measure, heated up the mouse again and left in with her in her cage overnight, but nothing. I will try again next week - until then any advice would be welcomed.

 

[luschen]

Hi, Just to let everyone know, Sally finally ate last week - she is so skinny though and feels like skin and bones when I pick her up, but hopefully she will keep on schedule and start putting on weight.

 

[haydnrobinson]

I hope she goes ok, keep us updated. Good luck

 

[The_Thunderer]

Sorry that she's so finicky... I've had my share and I feel for ya. Keep us posted! Pics would be great too!

 

[Asbit]

Yes please do keep us up to date....we are all pulling for her.

 

[luschen]

Well, I am sad to say that we had to put Sally down Sunday. We had taken her to the vet early September and he said she had a severe intestinal infection which probably spread to her back since she seemed to have a fused vertebrae. He was pretty insistent that newspaper is much better than aspen and that a ceramic overhead heater is better than the heat mat we were using. I don't know if the clutch of eggs weakened her so much that it led to the infection or if the infection started first and kept her from eating. Anyway, we took the vets advice, but she never did eat again and looked like she was in pain and not enjoying life so we finally got up the courage to put her down. We decided to try one more time with a hatchling from MoReptiles instead of the local reptile store where we bought our last two snakes. We will take her to the vet right off the bat to get her checked out so hopefully we can finally have a healthy snake that will live a long life.

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

I'm terribly sorry to hear about your loss, however I would reccommend against the ceramic heater idea. Lizards needs basking light; corns need belly heat.

 

[Nanci]

I'm sorry to hear that. I agree, snakes do better with belly heat, IF you have a thermostat to regulate it. They hide under the aspen, they don't bask. They love to burrow. I wouldn't keep a snake on newspaper. Good luck with your new baby.

 

[MegF.]

I 100% disagree with your vet. Cornsnakes are terrestrial in nature and a heat mat with a thermostat is a more appropriate way to warm your snake. You can use a heat lamp but IMO they are fire hazards, excessively dry the air and are just a pain in the butt. As far as aspen, thousands of keepers can't be wrong. Aspen has been used for years by many keepers including myself. Again, newspaper can be used, but I don't agree that it was aspen that caused your snake's problems. I'd want a necropsy to prove that it was that. Sounds as if she became septic for whatever reason and that's just what it is. Some sort of internal infection going on. Could have been a retained egg, burst ova anything at all.

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

I 100% disagree with your vet. Cornsnakes are terrestrial in nature and a heat mat with a thermostat is a more appropriate way to warm your snake. You can use a heat lamp but IMO they are fire hazards, excessively dry the air and are just a pain in the butt. As far as aspen, thousands of keepers can't be wrong. Aspen has been used for years by many keepers including myself. Again, newspaper can be used, but I don't agree that it was aspen that caused your snake's problems. I'd want a necropsy to prove that it was that. Sounds as if she became septic for whatever reason and that's just what it is. Some sort of internal infection going on. Could have been a retained egg, burst ova anything at all.

Could a bad mouse cause it too, or would they just regurge that? trying to help OP pinpoint what went wrong so snake #3 has a better chance.