Noodley won't eat!

[Holly]

Noodle(brown snake) hasn't eaten in about a week, he did shed about 4 days ago but usually gobbles down his worm right afterward.

The only thing I've noticed is that the worms we got him look a bit different than they did before. We always get him a package of nightcrawlers from the baitshop and this is the same package but the worms are a lot bigger and have a big notch in the middle of them.

I know garters can't have red wrigglers, I wonder if that's what they gave me and maybe that's why he won't eat them?

It's either that or that I promised him a big juicy slug the other day when the weather was nice but never went out to get him one?

[gregmonsta]

If the worms look different they probably are and red-wrigglers would be a no-no for most reptiles I would think.

He could be in a huff :D ... it might be worth going outside and digging about for food anyway ;)

[drache]

a week isn't that long - even for a little snake
he may just have a little spring finickiness

[Holly]

Foraged for some slugs today and he ate one right away! Little bugger was holding out for his promised meal

[guidofatherof5]

Spoiled rotten little scrub. You gotta love him.:D

[Holly]

Now he doesn't want slugs either! He ate a bit of worm about 4 days ago and he's been hiding under the paper towel most of the time, sometimes sticking his head out. Maybe he's not feeling well since it's been a little warm here? The heat is still on in my apartment building but it's been about 20C outside lately, I have to keep the windows open to keep it cool enough to be comfortable for me and the geckos.

[guidofatherof5]

Unless there's a big weight loss, I wouldn't be concerned. They sometimes go off food for unexplained reasons.
They know what they're doing, even when they don't tell us.:D

[infernalis]

Dekayi forage for slugs during the coolness of evening, too warm of a temperature will affect eating patterns.

[Holly]

He's out cruising around right now, maybe I'll try again. He still looks nice and fat. I bet it's been too toasty for him, today is rainy and a bit cooler.

[infernalis]

He's out cruising around right now, maybe I'll try again. He still looks nice and fat. I bet it's been too toasty for him, today is rainy and a bit cooler.

Those exact barometric conditions will trigger a feeding response in both Dekayi and red belly snakes. (Garters too)

rain equals worms and slugs, supper time!

[Holly]

I guess he'll be hungry all the time when we move to BC in a month then!

[ConcinusMan]

Sounds like it couldn't hurt to facilitate a nice sharp drop in temperature of about 10 degrees and perhaps a mist at "sundown" or first thing in the morning.

Often times it is not the food being offered that is the problem. Often it is the timing and other factors that make the snake hesitate. Personally, I will refuse food for the first few hours of the day, then eat heartily after 2-4 hours of activity. If "my keeper" was only offering food at that wrong time...

Most king snakes and milk snakes will refuse food during the summer day but eat that same food enthusiastically at twilight or night. I don't know about dekayi but most day-active garters I have will be more "ready" to eat about mid-morning or shortly after their morning warm-up and have just reached optimal temperature. Enthusiasm can wain outside of that time. If there's not much difference in temperature from sun-up t mid-morning, would the time ever be right for eating? Give your snake not only visual cues, but temperature and humidity cues daily so they get that rythm and always know day from night. Full spectrum low-intensity lighting and a drop at night/warmup in morning doesn't hurt. It makes a big difference in garters appetite and activity levels. Maybe in dekayi too.

[infernalis]

Dekayi peak feeding times are dusk and dawn.

When the slugs come out to nibble on blades of grass, the Dekayi are chowing down on the slugs.

Rain means worms, so another stimulation is cool temps and lots of mist.

Those tough leathery slugs are not as attractive to the snakes as the gray or black slippery slimy ones are.