My russian rat snake 'Nikita' has not eaten three times in a row.The last medium rat she had on August 17.
I read about russians that they stop eating in August ,to prepare for brumation,but as she never brumated in her 7-10 years of her life,I'm a bit worried.On another thread I said she did brumate most of her life,but this is not so,I only thought she did.I asked the previous owner.
Since I got her(July 12) she only ate 3times and the last three feedings she didn't(August 25,September5,September20).As you can see from the date of her last feeding,I waited quite a long time and I really had my hopes high that she would be hungry after that long time
I read that if they don't eat and don't have the chance to brumate they will become very thin and not so active next spring and they also could become ill quicker than other snakes that brumate.
What should I do?
She still is quite active and very curious and watches what's going on around her terrarium.And she still climbes around,but I noticed that she hides more often and earlier in the day than before.
I'm quite nervous about brumating a snake because the whole preparation sounds so complicated and I'm afraid(very afraid!) that I'd do it wrong.Please help me with your advice,thanks.
Is it selfish to not brumate a snake?Do they really feel better?I love to see my snakes all year round actually and don't mind the food cost.
I need to ad that she ate life food all her life only with me she changed from life to f/t.But as she ate f/t three times since I had her(but not in a row!) this shouldn't be the problem.I read that they are easy snakes to change from live to f/t.Should I still try every now and then to feed her?How often should I try?

Jacky I would continue to do what you have been doing. Try feeding her again in the normal interval that you have been. Brumation is not necessary, more so if you are not breeding her. Alot of people have the opinion that brumation adds years and better health, I for one am not convinced that it is proven,,but that is just my opinion, not fact. Watch her weight and how alert she seems. You'd be surprized at how long a snake can go without feeding. Good luck and keep us posted.

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Ken
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan

I wouldn't brumate if it was my snake. It's just too scary and delicate a thing for me to want to do.

Spectre went on a hunger strike once almost as long as Nikita's, so don't panic yet. We just kept offering him another feeding every 7 days, and eventually he decided to eat. If she's taken f/t three times, I don't think that she's refusing because it isn't live food. Keep offering the f/t, and one of these days I'll bet she's hungry enough to eat. I've heard they can go a really long time, but I don't know at what point a person should panic about it....What are your tank temps right now? What kind of enclosure do you feed her in? Spectre refused to eat at all in a dark blue plastic enclosure we had. He will only eat in a clear glass one. He's so picky!

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~Juliane~

Thanks Ken for your quick reply.Me too am not convinced enough that it is proven about the health risk on not brumated snakes,but the Germans and Swiss totally believe so.I just can't imagine how they would prove that.
Having your opinions helps to not worry too much.I just feel sorry for the rats that end up in the bin and died for nothing.
I will keep you posted when she eats again.Thanks!
By the way,just out of curiosity:what do you guys pay for a medium frozen rat?Over here I pay about $5.-.

Sorry Juliane,didn't see you there;I was editing while you wrote,but thanks for your reply,too!
I feed her in a white IKEA box,which she accepted the second time around.I put a lid on and leave her for half an hour.Temps are always around 25°C which is ok for a russian.But we had a bit colder days where she had the lowest around 20°C during the day.

Jacky, don't worry!! It's only three feeds.. wait til one of your snakes goes for 6/8 months! Just keep trying her each week and she will take. I wouldn't return to live food if she has eaten f/t. Keep trying with f/t and in a few weeks, if she still hasn't eaten, try a couple of tricks, like warming the item up or braining it.

I'd like to add that there's nothing wrong with brumation - it's a perfectly natural occurrence. In captivity, unless the animal brumates itself, there is no real need to brumate unless you are planning to breed, but many males will fast and brumate without external prompting, and one of our female bearded dragons always takes herself off to sleep. But yes, before brumation takes place the animal should be of optimum health and weight.

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

Thanks Rachel.I'm one of those snake keepers that couldn't feed live.In Germany and Switzerland that is a very bad thing and you quickly will be called names and not worthy enough to keep snakes,and laughed at because you are not able to feed life,with some people,anyways.Here people are more understanding.
I know brumation is a natural thing,but it's too risky,that's my opinion.I would be a very nervous wreck at the end of winter,because I'd worry too much how they are doing in that box in the fridge!

I agree,, not quite sure I could ever feed live. If it came down to my snake was going to die or I had to feed live then I would ofcourse but it would have to be absolutely necessary and everything else possible would have been tried first.

Brumations not so bad - but if you aren't going to breed I don't see any point.

Good luck with your rat, keep us updated, but I really wouldn't worry. If you like you can have our male BP or our male dumerils boa.. they don't eat for 6-8 months of the year, very very frustrating!!! LOL but that's nature! Typical men

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

I hope it helps to know that other Russian ratsnakes will self-brumate. Mine stopped eating in Sept and just started again in Feb. He's almost 2 and is now pounding mice like no tomorrow. He didn't lose any significant weight either. Hang in there.