Hi

we bought a royal python about 6 months old, when we got here home she settled down really quickly and was doing great - she was eating well and growing nicley.

unfortunetly we moved about 6 months later and ever since this move nearly 2 years ago now she hasnt been the same. when we first moved here she wouldnt eat for about 7 maybe 8 months so we tmoved her tank thinking she wasnt happy where its was this didnt make any difference. after about 8 months she ate for about 2 and then stopped again - she now hasnt eaten on her own for nearly a year - we have to forced feed her adn even then she quite regualy spits them out - we've run out of ideas can anyone help as shes not the size she should be shes tiny for her age and doesnt look very good. she wants to eat and looks intrested when you first put food in but then changes her mind??? we've moved her tank, changed the substate, her humidty and temp is fine, we tried buying food elsewhere, we even moved her back down to pinkies!! we've heated them up and even rubbed them up and down or geckos to smell different - nothing is working - any ideas would be helpful as we dont want to keep on force feeding her....

susie

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Hello,

Royals I'm afraid are notoriously fussy feeders and do indeed go off their food for long periods. Nearly a year is past the serious point though and the first thing to do is take her to a vet that knows reptiles. There are lots of things that might be wrong so it's pointless at this stage to discuss them all here, let the vet take a good look first. If the vet can't find anything wrong, and it sounds like you've looked at all the obvious things, temp, humidity etc. Mites? Force feeding isn't nice and you must get the food item far enough down to reduce the chance of regurgitiation. Force feeding can also inflict injury so tube feeding is preferred. One thing I would suggest is to catch a wild rodent in the usual mouse / rat trap and see if you get a positive reaction. Obviously, under the circumstances you may need friends and family to help out with this!! The natural rodent scent frequently has a very positive response! The last resorts are twofold - and the first is very unpleasant for you. A tube is inserted into the snakes mouth and down towards the gullet, and then the liquidized mouse / rat is poured down. Not for the squeamish - and an extreme measure to be used only in a life or death situation. The last measure is to feed a live mouse / rat. This is illegal in England except through the instruction of a vet, but - He may not allow it at all, it's his decision.
After saying all that, I am of course assuming the snake is removed from it's normal enclosure and put into an empty feeding enclosure?
If it were my animal - the most obvious is to go to the vet and get an examination done, including a fecal exam.
Hope this helps, and I wish you all very best!

Firstly.... What size viv are you keeping her in?

What are your temperatures and is the viv in a high traffic part of your home?

You may want to try some chicks, chicks can entice royals to feed if you are desperate, where in the northwest are you? If we can ever help please dont hesitate to ask, we are in congleton.

There is a possibility of having parasites, this can be easily rectified and will take a trip to the vet.

Also....this is to repbizius.... Live feeding is NOt illegal in the uk, its believed falsely by many...see here CLICK

Also live feeding is a last resort, But it all depends how much weight is lost and condition of the snake....We breed our own rats, so always have food at hand for emergencies, however we feed ours on fresh killed and defrosted.

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