| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ash89 |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 19:07:13
Hello Everyone.
Firstly when you check the temperatures within the vivarium do you check the temp of the heat-mat or the temp of the air within the hot/cold sides?
I've had problems with one of my corn snakes, he is 5 years old, he last ate 27/1/12 on a day old rabbit, since then he has refused all food items given both adult mice and day old rabbit.
He has shed quite alot of time since then and each time they've been very poor within coming off, alot of the times in bits and even having to assist in helping (putting him into a bath of warm water and helping to get the skin off)
It's got to the point where I am now worried as he has not ate in 4 months now, I have read the thread in Guide to non feeding snakes and have tried everything in there apart from giving him a live feed, tho am wondering if this is my last option? I did refer to his notes from this time last year and he did do something similar but was fine within a month.
Temps:
Air temp on warm side is 23.5'c
Heat mat is 36'c
Cool side is 21'c
I am using a heat-mat and have ordered a thermostat as I think that the heat-mat is too warm (help on that also if possible please) |
| 18 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| kdlang |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 23:36:29
Firstly I agree with all the above. You really need to turn your mat off until you get a thermostat. If your mat is at 36C then you are running a good risk of burns and neurological damage. Are the temps being measured with a digital thermometer or a dial one. If it's a dial one then you can be pretty sure that the temperatures are even higher than you think. As long as you don't feed your snake, he will be perfectly fine without heat for a few days. Just mke sure he isn't in any cold draughts.
Once you have got the heating sorted out, then you can address the non-feeding. It could be that he isnt eating due to the high temperatures on the mat. He may realise that one part of the viv is too hot but the other end is too cold for digestion. It could also be down to breeding season. I had a male that went 22 weeks without eating last year. Eventually he did become more lethargic although he didn't lose excessive weight. I gave him a couple of reptoboost baths to make sure he was hydrated and fed him on a small mouse instead of his usual large. He has rarely missed a feed since apart from shedding time. Somebody on here told me that their stomachs shrink after a long period of not eating so they will refuse larger meals. |
| Ash89 |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 19:51:12
He is active, but not as active as my others snakes, they're climbing up the glass and climbing their rocks but he just doesn't seem to be as active as them quote:
Originally posted by Georgina
possibly and it is breeding season. but again if he is actice it could be both. if you sort out the temps then he still doesnt feed then you will have to monitor him.
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| Georgina |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 19:45:11
possibly and it is breeding season. but again if he is actice it could be both. if you sort out the temps then he still doesnt feed then you will have to monitor him. |
| Ash89 |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 19:43:51
It does? So the reason as to why he could be refusing to eat is due to the temps?quote:
Originally posted by Georgina
so about 4ft or so, that sounds like an ok weight for him to be.xx
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| Georgina |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 19:41:11
so about 4ft or so, that sounds like an ok weight for him to be.xx |
| Ash89 |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 19:39:37
About 125cmquote:
Originally posted by Georgina
cool, any guess how long he is?
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| Georgina |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 19:32:53
cool, any guess how long he is? |
| Ash89 |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 19:30:33
He is currently weighing 480g quote:
Originally posted by Georgina
ok, so weigh him now. turn his mat off and do not handle, only change his water every other day amd set the stat up asap. once the temos have held fo a week try and ofer him a smaller food item, so maybe a small or a medium xx
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| Georgina |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 19:23:46
yup, as long as you do not live in the antarctic :p |
| Ash89 |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 19:22:45
I have turned off the heatmat until I get my thermostat, will it still be warm enough till it comes? |
| Georgina |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 19:21:57
ok, so weigh him now. turn his mat off and do not handle, only change his water every other day amd set the stat up asap. once the temos have held fo a week try and ofer him a smaller food item, so maybe a small or a medium xx |
| Ash89 |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 19:21:33
I hate to admit it, but I've not been weighing him, it's not till now that I realized that I should have. He does feel lighter when handling him compared to what he used to do.quote:
Originally posted by Georgina
scaly day old rabbits can vary in size, they are never bigger than a large or jumb mouse. they are harder to source and can be costly, but if you have access to them.
i would turn your mat off as 36 is far too high, and could cause damage.
once your stat is here i woould set it up so that a digital thermomter attached to the mat reads no higher than 28-29 degrees. theres no need to measure the air temp.
i would offer food between now and when your set up has been at 28 for a week.
have you been weighing him?
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| kev 5 |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 19:16:02
quote:
Originally posted by ScalySituation
quote:
Originally posted by kev 5
need to turn your thermostat down,needs to be between 27-29, 36 is to hot
didnt notice the bit aboutthe temps 
yeh get that temp down asap, maybe even turn the mat off until you get your stat
didn't see the bit about not having a stat. turn the mat off until your stat arrives and don't offer food until you get your temps right |
| Georgina |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 19:15:12
scaly day old rabbits can vary in size, they are never bigger than a large or jumb mouse. they are harder to source and can be costly, but if you have access to them.
i would turn your mat off as 36 is far too high, and could cause damage.
once your stat is here i woould set it up so that a digital thermomter attached to the mat reads no higher than 28-29 degrees. theres no need to measure the air temp.
i would offer food between now and when your set up has been at 28 for a week.
have you been weighing him?
|
| Ash89 |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 19:14:30
Turn the mat off even thought that the cool side is 21'C? |
| ScalySituation |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 19:11:17
quote:
Originally posted by kev 5
need to turn your thermostat down,needs to be between 27-29, 36 is to hot
didnt notice the bit aboutthe temps
yeh get that temp down asap, maybe even turn the mat off until you get your stat |
| kev 5 |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 19:10:07
need to turn your thermostat down,needs to be between 27-29, 36 is to hot |
| ScalySituation |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 19:09:42
To start with, you need to monitor the temps on the ground
And i dont think a corn would get big enough for a rabbit kit.. |
