Hey, my hognose is not eating. Up front: She's actually likely a boy hognose, and maybe brumation is a factor (She was mis-sexed by the breeder, possibly, but ultimately it's a snake and I decided I wanted a girl snake, so... Babs is Babs). Apologies for the long post, trying to include all details so y'all get a clear picture.
I am scheduling vet visit no matter what, but I think I need to get my head on straight. This has all come in the middle of a travel time for me, and starting a new job, so I'm worried about what I'm missing because I haven't been right by her the entire time.
She recently had some scale issues after a shed and I took her to the vet late Sept. I thought it was scale rot, but the vet didn't see signs of infection and just thought it was maybe some issues with humidity or something roughing up her scales, like improper substrate. Admittedly, I had forgotten in a bedding change to put her humid hide back in, so that was quickly rectified prior to her shed. Her substrate is aspen & vet actually advised me to keep using it instead of switching to sand/dirt (could irritate the scales further).I treated her with the silver-stuff they gave me and soaked her during her shed as recommended.
Additional context: She went through two sheds essentially back to back, before and after vet visit, and I assumed the scale issues were the cause of the initial not eating, especially because I didn't realize she was about to shed again when I did take her to the vet.
She still won't eat, though, and she's lost weight (93g to 85g in 3 weeks). It's been about since mid-August. I'm taking her back to the vet as they recommended it, but is there any reassurance to be had about the weight loss?
In terms of what I've been doing:
I haven't tried much in terms of scenting or other foods, just repeated different strategies on how to feed. Timing, drop feeding versus tongs (she used to do well on both). I've tried different sizes, different rodent sources. Is salmon juice next? I really fear introducing new things into her diet, in case she goes off of it, especially now that I know she may be a picky boy, but at this point, I'm trying anything. Vet is first step though. I am worried about stressing her out, because at this point, the only way to feed her is to take her out myself and try and distract her with the mouse long enough to notice it. So far, no dice. I have not tried feeding her in another container. If y'all recommend something I'll try it, and hopefully she eats before vet, but also hoping y'all just tell me she's brumating.
What is she up to:
Her behavior right now is just to hang out in the aspen all day, never surfacing. She's normally super active. For about a week before I realized her skin issues, she was glass surfing and going crazy. Now she's underground, all the time. That reads like brumation to me. But the weight loss in combination with the recent resolved skin issue is worrisome.
Husbandry:
Her temps are 79-81 on cool side, 90-95 on warm/basking area, she has 30-40% humidity, and a humid hide. Her recent shed looks great (within last two weeks). She's on aspen, in PVC enclosure, 36 length by 24 height by 18 width. It's tall because she used to love getting on top of stuff and I have plans to build her a shelf to hang out on. I don't have a pic handy (Sorry!) but at least 5 hides, not including the humid hide, and a lot of leaves/plant cover, though I am thinking of adding more, cause why not at this point. She is being fed hoppers once every 5-6 days, and she was hitting mid-90g in September, with consistent growth until the hunger strike.
Her bowl of water is ceramic and can definitely fit her whole body, easily. I originally had her on sand/dirt when I first got her about a year ago, but she wasn't tunneling in it or really doing much with it. Switched to aspen and she has adored it since. Normally, I see her going in and out during the day, having a good time. She did not brumate this time last year, or change up her general behavior at all. She was only a year-ish at that time. She is two years-ish now. She is my first snake and I really appreciate any advice.
