My snake won't eat

lukeskywalker · 03-28-2007, 07:05 PM

Hi-

I've had my garter about two months now and he has shed 3 times. He was ravenous and would eat about 2-3 large earthworms or between 4-6 minnows daily. After his last shed about a week and a half ago he has eaten only 1 minnow. He SEEMS to be fine, and actually he seems more interested in his environment, climbing and exploring more than usual, but not acting frantic or anything like that. As far as I can tell he seems healthy and happy. He doesn't seem impacted or anything. The temperature in his enclosure is the same, as is everything else. WHAT IS GOING ON???

Cazador · 03-28-2007, 07:26 PM

YODA: Mmmmmm. Eat not, will the young garter? Understanding lies in the past, not the future. (Yoda slowly closes his eyes and falls asleep).

Translation: His growth rate and shedding frequency suggest that he is/was a young, rapidly growing snake, but that's still a WHOLE LOT OF FOOD to give a single snake on a daily basis. Many times when snakes are overfed, they'll gorge themselves for a while. Then they'll do exactly what your snake is doing... fasting. I wouldn't be surprised if he ate very little for the next 2-3 weeks. This is my first guess, but there is another possibility that must be checked out.

The other thing to consider is that your snake may have had a failed shed. If you still have the old skin, take a very hard look at the head area. Are the eyecaps (spectacles) attached? Did the shed skin come off in one piece, or was it torn into pieces? Quite often, the old spectacles remain transparent when they remain on the snake, so don't count on seeing them. They should be easily visible on the old skin, though.

Even if it has experienced a failed shed, you'll need to feed your snake less often. It will lead to obeisity and all the associated problems.

abcat1993 · 03-28-2007, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cazador

YODA: Mmmmmm. Eat not, will the young garter? Understanding lies in the past, not the future. (Yoda slowly closes his eyes and falls asleep).

You pretty much said it all. Best movie ever by the way.

Snaky · 03-29-2007, 04:05 PM

I would certainly not panic, but can not add any more advice to Cazador's post. I would wait 1 week and try again.

Stefan-A · 03-29-2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abcat1993

Best movie ever by the way.

In the order they were made: Good, better, bad. As far as I'm concerned, the first three parts of the story (ep 1-3) were never made and George Lucas is now dead to me.

adamanteus · 03-29-2007, 04:24 PM

You know that whole Star Wars thing...I don't think it's real, I think it's fictional, never really happened at all. I could be wrong, but it seems flawed to me.

Stefan-A · 03-29-2007, 04:28 PM

Well, since we are capable of neither time- nor intergalactic travel, you can't disprove it either.

adamanteus · 03-29-2007, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan-A

Well, since we are capable of neither time- nor intergalactic travel, you can't disprove it either.

See, I can do both, all it takes is alcohol!

Stefan-A · 03-29-2007, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamanteus

See, I can do both, all it takes is alcohol!

Alcohol only allows forward time travel and only relatively short, random distances.

adamanteus · 03-29-2007, 04:42 PM

Obviously you're not drinking enough...Or I'm drinking too much!

03-28-2007, 07:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
lukeskywalker Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 6 Country:	My snake won't eat Hi- I've had my garter about two months now and he has shed 3 times. He was ravenous and would eat about 2-3 large earthworms or between 4-6 minnows daily. After his last shed about a week and a half ago he has eaten only 1 minnow. He SEEMS to be fine, and actually he seems more interested in his environment, climbing and exploring more than usual, but not acting frantic or anything like that. As far as I can tell he seems healthy and happy. He doesn't seem impacted or anything. The temperature in his enclosure is the same, as is everything else. WHAT IS GOING ON???

03-28-2007, 07:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cazador Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alaska, USA Posts: 1,608 Country:	Re: My snake won't eat YODA: Mmmmmm. Eat not, will the young garter? Understanding lies in the past, not the future. (Yoda slowly closes his eyes and falls asleep). Translation: His growth rate and shedding frequency suggest that he is/was a young, rapidly growing snake, but that's still a WHOLE LOT OF FOOD to give a single snake on a daily basis. Many times when snakes are overfed, they'll gorge themselves for a while. Then they'll do exactly what your snake is doing... fasting. I wouldn't be surprised if he ate very little for the next 2-3 weeks. This is my first guess, but there is another possibility that must be checked out. The other thing to consider is that your snake may have had a failed shed. If you still have the old skin, take a very hard look at the head area. Are the eyecaps (spectacles) attached? Did the shed skin come off in one piece, or was it torn into pieces? Quite often, the old spectacles remain transparent when they remain on the snake, so don't count on seeing them. They should be easily visible on the old skin, though. Even if it has experienced a failed shed, you'll need to feed your snake less often. It will lead to obeisity and all the associated problems.

03-29-2007, 04:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
Snaky "PM Boots For Custom Title" Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,468 Country:	Re: My snake won't eat I would certainly not panic, but can not add any more advice to Cazador's post. I would wait 1 week and try again.

03-29-2007, 04:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
adamanteus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cheshire. (Near Manchester). Posts: 6,690 Country:	Re: My snake won't eat You know that whole Star Wars thing...I don't think it's real, I think it's fictional, never really happened at all. I could be wrong, but it seems flawed to me. __________________ James.

03-29-2007, 04:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
Stefan-A The Prince of Insufficient Light. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern Finland Posts: 4,146 Country:	Re: My snake won't eat Well, since we are capable of neither time- nor intergalactic travel, you can't disprove it either. __________________ Natura non contristatur

03-29-2007, 04:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
adamanteus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cheshire. (Near Manchester). Posts: 6,690 Country:	Re: My snake won't eat Obviously you're not drinking enough...Or I'm drinking too much! __________________ James.

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