Separating siblings

[anji1971]

I have an issue with my three babies.
One of them (Checkers) is eating very poorly in comparison to his siblings. He sometimes goes nearly two weeks, and then eats only a couple small pieces of food.
Sweetpea is eating about what I expect the average 6-month-old snake to eat, and Inchworm..........well, Inchworm just EATS. He'll stuff himself like a sausage, and the next day help himself to the food I offer the others, and stuff himself all over again.
I'm thinking it may be best to separate them, but I'm indecisive as to whether it would be more beneficial to remove the piggy Inchworm, to keep him in check, or if Checkers would be better off on his own.
He is kind of high strung, and skittish.
Would being alone make that worse, or make him more comfortable and thus increase his appetite?
I've already taken measures to raise the humidity in the tank, and I'm hoping that will help too. He's not starving to death, by any means, but I would like to see the skinny little bugger put on some size. He's half as big as Inchworm.
Throw your two cents in, I'm open to suggestions!

[crzy_kevo]

have you tried feeding by hand but the only thing i can really think of to get him hungry again is a short brumation or seperate into a high humidity enclosure

[adamanteus]

Anji, it could work either way. I myself keep young snakes in groups as the competition seems to make them more eager to eat. Then again if you have a skittish snake, it might benefit from being left alone to eat in peace. I guess you'll have to experiment, Anji.

[crzy_kevo]

try adding a small potted plant to the enclosure to add humidity

[anji1971]

Actually, I covered 3/4 of the screen top with Press and Seal, to hold in the humidity. The adult girls have an old aquarium with an enclosed cover and some vents, and the moisture holds in there really well. I've seen great improvement in their appetite, and their sheds have been perfect and easy since they moved in there. I figured the plastic wrap might give a similar effect in the babies' house.

[crzy_kevo]

you could add a larger water dish as well

[adamanteus]

My guess is there is nothing wrong with the environmental conditions, since two of the three are eating well, the problem would seem to be that you have a reluctant feeder. I would be careful about changing the conditions in case you put the others off. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.:)

[guidofatherof5]

Feed the ones that will eat. Get them good an full so they leave Checkers alone. Get some guppies and introduce them to him by hand or let them flop around near him. My 2 troubled eaters change attitudes when I put the guppies in. Granted, they will only eat guppies but they've come along way from starvation. Hope this helps.

[anji1971]

My guess is there is nothing wrong with the environmental conditions, since two of the three are eating well, the problem would seem to be that you have a reluctant feeder. I would be careful about changing the conditions in case you put the others off. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.:)

Good point, James. I'm thinking maybe I'll just put Checkers in the small tank on his own for a while, and also try some guppies. Maybe if there's nothing around to distract and intimidate him, he'll start to eat a bit better. I do think it's mostly his bad nerves keeping him off feed. Anyone know where to find "snaky valium"???:D

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Anji.... I would personally not separate him out... I have noticed the same thing James mentioned, small groups seem to make the snakes a little more bold and more willing to say ME FIRST!!!! I had a snake like this, my male high black oregon red spot would go for a week or two and then when he ate, only a little bit. I even took the extra measure to baby him at each feeding and offer things he really liked but it still didn't work. He was not growing as fast as the others and he was always hiding... never came out to bask. He unfortunately did not make it.... I hope your situation turns out for the better!

[anji1971]

Update...
I haven't separated anyone, but the plastic wrap is working well to hold in some extra humidity. And that extra humidity is working very well.
Inchworm and Sweetpea have gone from good eaters to downright aggressive, striking at the food, me, each other and anything else that moves! I've had to break up two food fights in as many days.:eek:
And Checkers, lo and behold, ate three pieces of trout today, not nearly as much as his siblings, but twice what he's been eating lately. To top it off, instead of running into hiding immediately after his food, he's been lounging up on the branches for the last few hours.
I'm really hoping that the winter dryness was a big part of his problem, and that things turn around now.

[Snake lover 3-25]

congrats:D

[infernalis]

Great news Anji...

[guidofatherof5]

Nice to hear they're eating again. Great job.

[anji1971]

Thanks.:)
Checkers is much more active in the last few days too. I'm glad, because when they were neonates, he was the busiest, and the first to eat as well.