Red-phase pickeringii

[adamanteus]

As some of you may have read, I acquired a pair of 'red-phase' T. s. pickeringii last September from a European breeder. I was never happy with the female, she was tiny in the extreme when she arrived, less than half the size of the male. Just like a little piece of string.

For four months I have struggled to get her to feed. Every now and then she would accept a worm and I would 'post' something a little more substantial in behind it, but she failed to grow or gain weight. She has always had difficulty sloughing and has generally been a very problematic snake. For the past few weeks I have been waiting for her to die.

Anyway, about 10 days ago she took a piece of unscented pinky, (intended for the male). Then she took another. I have been feeding her every second day since then, and she is eating as though it's going out of fashion! She now accepts pinky halves, trout strips, salmon strips and worms, all with equal enthusiasm. I haven't changed anything in her environment, it's as though someone threw a switch and she decided to survive. I'm no longer waiting for her to die!

Pictures to follow shortly.

Anyone else had similar experiences with apparently 'suicidal' snakes?

[gregmonsta]

Fantastic news!!! Nice to hear that she's pulling through

[Lori P]

Oh, that's GREAT to hear James!! Don't question it; just feed feed feed!!! LOL I wonder what clicked for her...

Miriam is now an eating machine, but we know with her it's the parasite treatment. She acts like someone threw a switch, too, but we know what the switch was in her case.

I'd love to see them, so pls send pics. And enjoy your *new* snake!!!!!

[Sid]

Great news, James. Happy for the final turn-a-round. My experience this past year had the very opposite end. I purchased a trioof Wandering babies. Two would wolf down anything offered from the very first day. The third would take a small worm rarely. Tried everythinf, including force feeding. Nothing worked. Guess she wasn't meant to make it.

[Stefan-A]

Great to hear, James.

You already know about my suicidal snake, but that was a bit different. And the tetra was allegedly a poor feeder at first, according to the previous owner. So no, no first-hand experience here. But that's still good news.

[adamanteus]

It is strange. I had force-fed her once or twice (weeks ago) but I felt that it was counter productive. Who knows what changed to make her want to eat? If anything, it's re-affirmed a lesson I learned long ago...... never give up on them.

Anyway, I can't stop grinning!

[Lori P]

So where are the pics???!!! (Tapping foot impatiently)

[adamanteus]

It won't be today! It's midnight here, the lights are out, she's full of food, I'm full of Australian Shiraz. I'll take pics at the weekend!

[Lori P]

LOL Ok, we can wait then. :-) Congrats again!!

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I had a baby garter turn around after force feeding once JUST like this. He ate a plunk (pinky chunk, i call them plunks for short haha) and then another and ever since has really taken off. Something about baby muse organs...