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My snake won't eat. What should I do?
It can be a frustrating thing to have your snake suddenly stop eating.
There are several reasons why a snake will go off food for a period of time.
I will list the reasons and what you can do when it happens.
Seasonal fasting
- In autumn, snakes will often start to fast to prepare for the coming winter.
Even though you don't plan to make any changes to their environment during the winter,
their instincts may tell them to prepare anyway.
In this case, you usually just have to wait it out.
They will start to eat again in the spring.
- In spring, males will often be too focused on finding a mate to eat.
Again, even if you have no plans to breed them, their instincts are strong and will dictate their behavior.
A fast that lasts a few months will not harm your snake if it is in good health.
Don't worry about him too much.
There's not much you can do in a situation like this either.
Just continue to offer food every week or two until he's ready to eat again.
Stress related fasting
- If you just got your new snake and it won't eat, give it some time.
It can often take up to two weeks for even an established snake to settle in and start eating again.
In this situation, it is best to leave the snake alone for a few days.
Fight the urge to handle it and show it off to your friends.
That will only stress it out more.
Offer it food every 3 days or so and it should start to eat soon but be patient, it can take some time for the snake to settle in.
- It is important to look closely at every aspect of your snake's environment to make sure your husbandry is correct.
Improper conditions such as low temperatures may cause a host of problems that can trigger a fast in your snake.
Also, inadequate hiding spots, humidity issues, an illness, the presence of another snake,
handling too often or keeping your snake in a high traffic area can also be factors.
Looking closely at your husbandry is one of the first things you should do when your snake begins skipping meals "for no reason".
Often, a few small changes can make all the difference.
Unfortunately, there are no cut and dry answers to this problem.
It is a common problem that almost all keepers face from time to time.
Sometimes you can do something about it and other times you can't.
But it is important to understand some of the reasons why a snake will fast and what, if anything, can be done.
It this situation, knowledge and patience are your best tools.
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