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Gabino feeding problem
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by Hard2findherps on May 26, 2004
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About 2-3 months ago I purchased a pr of smoking WC gabinos (gaboonXrhino). During the second week I offered both of the snakes a meal. The female is approx 4ft long and the male about 2ft. I gave the fem a medium rat and the male a small rat. The male readily took the prey item and the female ate after I closed the lid of her cage and allowed her to be in quiet darkness. Since then I have offered them food on a weekly basis. The male readily accepts anything that enters his cage and has since shed twice. The female has not eaten nor deficated since the first meal but she has shed once. Im really lost as to what the problem is and I would hate to lose this snake. Any suggestions?
Jon and Mike
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RE: Gabino feeding problem
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by copperheadkid15 on May 26, 2004
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well I am definitely a expert nor have I ever kept hots ( I will soon). but I have razed a few stubborn feeders. if the rats are frozen they may have lost there sent ( that is if you thaw them in water). try to cut the nose of the rat next time, it usually gets a feeding response. also check your temps and possible stress, do people look at her a lot( like if the cage is in a heavily trafficked room). she may be stressed out.
hope my limited knowledge can help
Randy
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RE: Gabino feeding problem
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by Phobos on May 26, 2004
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Hi:
Have you been giving them a bath/soak? They don't normally drink if you don't make them but need it. Just put them into your bath tub with clean water about 1 inch deep. Make sure the water temp. matches the cage temp. Just allow them to swim around for 5-10 minutes. They should drink and maybe defecate if not in the tub (Yuck!) in the cage. I was told that Bitis can hold onto feces for 10-12 weeks sometimes. If this does not do the trick for the female you may try "tubing her" and gently palpate her lower abdomen to see if there is any hard fecal material. This may just be enough stimulus to get things moving too. Do becareful when handling for obvious reasons.
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RE: Gabino feeding problem
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by Richie on May 26, 2004
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Hello Jon & Mike, sorry to hear about your difficulties. Hopefully this will help.
It is most likely that she hasn't acclimatised fully yet - some specimens can take quite a while to adjust to captive surroundings. Particularly larger, wild caught individuals.
As with all hot snakes, if she is refusing food the best thing you can do is to keep as much distance between you and the snake as possible. Minimal human contact will reduce any stress she is feeling.
I would suggest that you provide subdued lighting in the enclosure. In my experience Gaboons & Rhinos don't like a brightly lit enclosure. In addition make sure that she has a large hide box (either a purpose built wooden box with a lockable front, or a cork bark arch laid flat on the substrate) so that she can get completely out of sight - so she feels secure.
The time of day that you offer food, can be critical, especially with tricky feeders. I feed my Gaboons & Rhinos at night. About one hour after "lights out" I quietly approach the enclosures, food ready with 24" forceps. I use a torch to illuminate where the snakes are in the enclosures (I don't turn the room light on as this clearly disturbs them) then in turn, I open a door (carefully), offer the prey items and they ALL feed on queue.
Another thought... Have you noticed her filling out, despite refusing food? Have you seen her basking for extended periods? YES she COULD be gravid! Female Gaboons & Rhinos tend to go off feed (although not always) in the latter stages of pregnancy.
If she hasn't fed within 2-3 weeks, then I would suggest that you arrange to take her to a reptile veterinarian, who is experienced with hot snake husbandry.
Kind Regards
Viperman (U.K)
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RE: Gabino feeding problem
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by ianb on May 26, 2004
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I wouldn't worry too much yet. Gaboons don't need to eat every week and can stay healthy with a monthly feeding. I've also seen them go well over a month without deficating. They have a pretty slow metabolism rate I guess. It sounds like your doing the right thing just wait until she has deficated and is still not taking food for a month before you worry too uch
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RE: Gabino feeding problem
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by Richie on May 26, 2004
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Hello Phobos. Just wanted to say that I NEVER soak any of my Bitis - personally I have never found it necessary. ALL of my Gaboons (Easterns, Westerns and Centrals) and ALL of my Rhinos drink readily from their water bowl. I also know several other Bitis keepers, who also find their animals drink readily and of their own accord, without encouragement from being soaked. * I'm not suggesting it's wrong to soak, and I'm not being cocky or anything, it's just my observation with my animals and other keepers I know *
Regards
Viperman (U.K)
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RE: Gabino feeding problem
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by Hard2findherps on May 26, 2004
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Thank you all for responding. I am going to try the night feeding trick that richie suggested as I have never done that before. As far as all of the other concerns here is all the info so maybe this will all help.
I keep her in a large rubbermaid that is green. No light penetrates it at all. There is a large water bowl in there for her to use for drinking or soaking but none of my bitis drink on their own they all get soaked either every week or every other. The substrate is cypress mulch and there is no hide box in the tub right now. She had a hide for a while and went in it but never came out. The male has a hide but never uses it. The temps are all good as I remedied that problem early on. We do not take her out except to soak and we dont even really touch the tub shes in. We leave it well alone. She hasnt been "handled", obviously with the appropriate tools, in a good couple of weeks. Periodically we lift the lid off the cage to check on her and she has yet to stop huffing when we are present.
I hope this info helps out alot. Any other suggestions will be helpful.
THanks,
Mike and Jon
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RE: Gabino feeding problem
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by Phobos on May 26, 2004
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Hi Richie:
Okay...maybe mine are stupid American bred Gabbys & Rhinos. LOL... They seem to need encouragement to get a drink. The breeder that I bought them from told me to soak'm once a week, that's what I do. They all eat on cue anytime food is offered and are doing well. I agree that they need lower light levels and a "hide" to strike from to make them comfortable.
This is a great forum because it's possible to learn from others who may do something differently but get the same results. I'm always open to other ideas and techniques. Knowledge is Power!
Cheers!
Al
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