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copperhead not eating
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by redrott on September 10, 2005
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I got a copperhead back around april at the south carolina show. Anyway I am sure it was wild caught but have had no problems with it until now. It has not eaten for the last month. It would only eat live anyway but I always watch it and it would do fine. Anyway I don't understand why all of a sudden it does not want to eat anymore. Any help or something I should try would be appreciated.
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RE: copperhead not eating
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by Cro on September 10, 2005
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Is there any chance it is a gravid female? Coppers` often go off feed the month before the young are born, which is usually late August, September, and early October.
I think that the the female Copper` that Phillip has, that just gave birth, stopped eating that way.
JohnZ
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RE: copperhead not eating
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by redrott on September 10, 2005
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no it is not a gravid female. It was marked male when I bought it. The guy I got it from was black water reptiles. He has a good reputation I just forgot to ask if it was wild caught or not but i am sure it was. Anyway the only thing I could figure it would be would be temperature but he has been in the same place since I had him and he has always chased the food down and ate it as soon as it stopped kicking. The last meal he ate was still kicking on the way down. I put another mouse in today and the mouse walked up to his nose and licked it and he didn't strike at it or anything. I am a little worried about him.
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RE: copperhead not eating
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by Cro on September 10, 2005
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It could be a temperature related problem.
It could be parasites in a wild caught snake. It would not hurt to treat the snake assuming it is that. Without taking fecal samples to a vet for ID, which would cost money, why not assume that is a possibility and go ahead and treat?
Another thing is that you said the last mouse the snake ate went down kicking and screaming as it was swallowed. It is possible that the snake developed a fear of mice from being bitten by a mouse. You might want to try a dead smaller mouse left overnight, which would not scare the snake as much. I would also try to find a brown colored mouse if possible, as the fear could be based on the white mouse color. Even a live Fuzzy Pink left overnight might do the trick.
Hope this helps some.
JohnZ
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RE: copperhead not eating
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by redrott on September 10, 2005
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Well it wasn't exactly kicking and screaming it was more like twitching. But anyway he doesn't seem to be scared it could be the temperature. But I thought they were fine in the same temps as cornsnakes since they share the same range. How do I treat for parasites I have never done that before. This is the first snake I have had that would be wild caught.
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RE: copperhead not eating
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by redrott on September 10, 2005
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Well it wasn't exactly kicking and screaming it was more like twitching. But anyway he doesn't seem to be scared it could be the temperature. But I thought they were fine in the same temps as cornsnakes since they share the same range. How do I treat for parasites I have never done that before. This is the first snake I have had that would be wild caught.
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by Cro on September 10, 2005
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Kevin: Take a look at this post from a couple of months ago:
http://www.venomousreptiles.org/forums/Experts/17976
Also, type ``parasites`` in the Ask the Experts Search thing, and you will find many many other articles about treating. The treatments at your local pet shop will probably have specific doses also, based on the snakes weight. Just remember that most kill the adult parasites, and the eggs that have not hatched yet will re-infect the snake once they hatch. The second treatment in about two weeks is very important.
Hope this helps some.
JohnZ
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RE: copperhead not eating
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by agkistrodude on September 10, 2005
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If its only been a month I wouldn't worry yet unless its showing other signs of sickness. I have 2 that stop eating every year for several months.Last year they stopped in mid Sept. and started again the 1st week of June.And neither one looked under weight.I expect them to start again here soon. Marty
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RE: copperhead not eating
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by Cro on September 10, 2005
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What Marty said is quite valid. I have also had many snakes that would stop feeding for months, the eat again when they were good and ready.
Perhaps this is a winter hibernation not eating thing.
I think a lot of people feed captive snakes way too much. In the wild, a lot of snakes probably feed only a few times a year.
I have a timber rattlesnake that I have kept for over 25 years, and I have on average fed it about once every two months, or 6 times a year. It has not grown huge in that time, but has slowly grown, as evidenced by it`s string of 19 rattles, which have been broken off a couple of times.
JohnZ
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RE: copperhead not eating
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by redrott on September 10, 2005
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I thought about the winter thing too. Seeing as how it is getting ready to change seasons. But I figured keeping him in a warm environment he wouldn't know the difference. Maybe since he is wild caught he can tell it is time to hibernate anyway. I guess we will see what happens. He seems in good health and doesnt' look really thin or anything.
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