As some of you may have read, I acquired a pair of 'red-phase' T. s. pickeringii last September from a European breeder. I was never happy with the female, she was tiny in the extreme when she arrived, less than half the size of the male. Just like a little piece of string.

For four months I have struggled to get her to feed. Every now and then she would accept a worm and I would 'post' something a little more substantial in behind it, but she failed to grow or gain weight. She has always had difficulty sloughing and has generally been a very problematic snake. For the past few weeks I have been waiting for her to die.

Anyway, about 10 days ago she took a piece of unscented pinky, (intended for the male). Then she took another. I have been feeding her every second day since then, and she is eating as though it's going out of fashion! She now accepts pinky halves, trout strips, salmon strips and worms, all with equal enthusiasm. I haven't changed anything in her environment, it's as though someone threw a switch and she decided to survive. I'm no longer waiting for her to die!

Pictures to follow shortly.

Anyone else had similar experiences with apparently 'suicidal' snakes?