Snake has stopped eating and possible injury?

[xStatic]

Hello all,

I have had my female albino checkered garter for about 3 months now. She has always been a great eater and accepts pinky parts, earthworms, and tilapia chunks without issues. However, she hasn't shown any interest in food in the last 2 weeks. I'm assuming she's about 4-5 months old but I haven't asked the breeder when specifically she was born. She's almost 11 inches long and has nearly doubled in size since I first got her. She's in a 10 gallon tank with a basking light. The ambient air temp of the warm side is about 80 degrees, and my temp gun says the substrate temp is 84 on the warm side and 76 on the cool side. I can't get the lamp any closer or brighter so I don't think I can raise the temperature at all.

She pooped a very small amount the other day in her water dish and I can see that she's not compacted by holding her body up to the light. I can usually see if she has any poop in her body using this method but since she hasn't eaten in 2 weeks she's totally empty.

On Friday I was putting her into a deli container with some pinky and worm chunks (she usually eats best in one of these) and when I went to shut the lid she shot her head into the crack. I caught her jaw in the opening for a second and she flipped upside down and then right-side-up. I looked at her jaw and one half of the lower jaw wasn't aligned properly. It really scared me and then a few seconds later she yawned and realigned her jaw. There was no blood and no swelling. Her jaw now looks perfectly fine. I'm just worried she could have cut the inside of her mouth with her own teeth.

Other than that she seems fine and she's been out playing all day long. She's climbing all over her viv and basking under her light. I also cleaned out her tank today and she's been exploring every inch with her tongue moving a mile a minute.

My adult snakes also didn't eat last week but they are back on track this week. I'm not sure what's going on with my baby? Should I be worried at this point?

[dieselbaby]

Im no expert but i would say she is ok. I would keep a close eye on that jaw for awhile, keep looking for swelling etc. My piggy (female checkered garter) for the first time since i got her last month, has refused food. Im thinking it must be the time of year. My male ate but my female didnt and she is a piggy, never missing an opportunity to chow down. Also, i dont know how sensitive snakes are to tectonic events, or geomagnetic storms, but im thinking this could also be a factor, at least for mine. we have been getting alot of aurora's lately. My babies are around 4 months old. I would say give her some time, and keep an eye on the mouth just in case.

[guidofatherof5]

Sounds like seasonal feeding changes.
Really nothing you can do but wait and see. Keep offering food on a regular basis.
They're very durable little animal. Sounds like no injuries from the mishap.

[brain]

I've noticed the same. I think Steve has some there.

Even thought i don't plan on burmin any everyone seems to slow down on the feeding at this time of year.

Do make sure there is water avail.

[xStatic]

Alright thanks everyone.

I will continue to wait it out and offer her food. She always has fresh clean water and good temps!