| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
albreda
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
2 Posts |
 Posted - 17/07/2013 : 23:12:51
|
I've had Diesel for two years now. He's 5 years old.
I got him from a breeder who I know as a friend. I'm the third owner, my breeder friend had taken him off of his friend. At the time I took him on he was living in a breeder drawer.
In the first year he fed regularly on rats around every 7-10 days in the feeding season and stopped during the breeding season as you'd expect. He resumed eating in the spring but around July 2012 he stopped again. I offered every week or two constantly an monitored his weight. Then breeding season came, I continued to offer but to no avail. He went from 1.5 kg to 1.4 over around 10 months.
He remained active and health in appearance.
In June 2013 I thought I couldn't let him go a whole year so decided to try him on a live hamster. He struck and ate after a couple of minutes. But since then has declined the dead rat offerings.
Is it possible he has taken a dislike to rats? I've tried medium, small, white, mixed, brown, male, female, hot, warm, cold, nighttime, daytime, brained, etc etc. he always shows an interest but never takes them.
Has anyone experienced this before? |
|
|
Foremand
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
968 Posts |
Posted - 17/07/2013 : 23:17:05
|
Royal are a very very fussy eater and very stubborn. It's only been a couple of weeks so just be patient with it. He hasn't lost a lot of weight in the period of time. So as long as he doesn't lose too much then don't panic.
You fed him a hamster live? Do you usually live feed and usually feed hamsters? |
1.0.0 Royal python- Kaa
1.0.0 German shepherd- Riley
0.3.0 Cats- Does not matter they won't come to you
1.0.0 Red Footed Tortoise- Nemo
1.0.0 Boa- Bison
0.0.1 Brocky- Bearded dragon |
 |
|
|
albreda
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
2 Posts |
Posted - 17/07/2013 : 23:27:35
|
Hi Foremand. Thanks for replying.
He's always been offered dead rats and occasionally dead mice. The live hamster was just an trial to see if a live rodent would appeal.
Do you think it's normal to go 11 months withouth food after being a regular feeder? Even if he didn't loose much weight? And then to feed only once and decline to feed again? |
|
|
|
Foremand
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
968 Posts |
Posted - 18/07/2013 : 00:18:52
|
You'll be suprised at how many people's royal go a long time without eating. They are stubborn so n so's lol he's lost less that 10% off his weight in 10 months. Which I don't think is alarming. It's just the frustration of the owner which makes it worse.
Obviously the many thing is since eating last has anything changed? Is he in a RUB or a viv? Have temps stayed the same etc. how is he in himself? Has he been moved around alot? Or has he been in the same conditions? Does he have mites etc? Obviously you have to look at the simply questions first. Has he pood since last eating?
I'm quite new to this so kinda looking at things others have been asked. I'm sure others will give you a bit more advice. |
1.0.0 Royal python- Kaa
1.0.0 German shepherd- Riley
0.3.0 Cats- Does not matter they won't come to you
1.0.0 Red Footed Tortoise- Nemo
1.0.0 Boa- Bison
0.0.1 Brocky- Bearded dragon |
|
|
|
Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 20/07/2013 : 23:46:48
|
| Hi Albreda welcome to the forum. That's one mighty fast he is putting you through. It's the Royal way I'm afraid they hit point where they just don't need any more food so just stop eating. All we can do as owners is keep tabs on their weight loss, make sure their temps are kept ideal and give them fresh water every day. I only offer food once a month during a fast, it saves on waste, they eventually get back to eating. The magic number is 10%. If they lose 10% of their body weight then it's time to consider taking action, before then, just sit back and enjoy the money your not spending on rats. |
 |
|
|
|
richard v
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
563 Posts |
Posted - 21/07/2013 : 07:58:31
|
| Hi Albreda, you have been given some good advice, can't really add anything thing else, that's royals for you, have you tried multimammates they are a good food source for real picky royals. |
|
|
|
JodiT
Yearling
United Kingdom
149 Posts |
Posted - 21/07/2013 : 09:48:23
|
l finally managed to get my girl on rats and then after a couple of feeds she stopped eating and refused feeds for about 7 months. When it got to that point one of my friends who owns a reptile store assist fed her a mouse fluff. Then after that she would only eat mice. Literally took me over a year to get her to take a rat.. I think some of them can just be fussy eaters or just want smaller meals. Since my girl has laid eggs she has been taking pretty big rats every feed with no hassel.. literally strikes straight away.. I assume because she knows she has weight to put on after losing it through breeding. It was then when I realisee I need to give her more credit than I have.. she knows what she needs. If she needs food she will eat, if she doesn't she won't. As long as they aren't loosing a large amount of weight I think it's okay to let them 'take control' if you will.
I hope this has helped! Thought I'd offer my experience :) |
0.1 Normal Royal - Fifi
1.0 Normal Royal - Milo
1.0 Spider Royal - Rupert
0.1 Corn Snake - Flo |
|
|
|
JodiT
Yearling
United Kingdom
149 Posts |
Posted - 21/07/2013 : 09:52:32
|
l finally managed to get my girl on rats and then after a couple of feeds she stopped eating and refused feeds for about 7 months. When it got to that point one of my friends who owns a reptile store assist fed her a mouse fluff. Then after that she would only eat mice. Literally took me over a year to get her to take a rat.. I think some of them can just be fussy eaters or just want smaller meals. Since my girl has laid eggs she has been taking pretty big rats every feed with no hassel.. literally strikes straight away.. I assume because she knows she has weight to put on after losing it through breeding. It was then when I realisee I need to give her more credit than I have.. she knows what she needs. If she needs food she will eat, if she doesn't she won't. As long as they aren't loosing a large amount of weight I think it's okay to let them 'take control' if you will.
I hope this has helped! Thought I'd offer my experience :) |
0.1 Normal Royal - Fifi
1.0 Normal Royal - Milo
1.0 Spider Royal - Rupert
0.1 Corn Snake - Flo |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Royal not eating
