Tricks for starting problem feeders

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Rat Snake Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Joey on August 06, 2000 at 10:07:17:

Tricks for starting problem feeders,

I have a few ideas I use with corn or kingsnakes, usually have good success. These may be applied to other species with some hope of success. I never offer food items until after the first shed (usual within 2 weeks of hatching). After that if food is refused and refused, eventually the stomach stops sending the "we're hungry" message to the brain. When this happens force feeding may be needed, but I try to avoid it if at all possible.

Trick #1, Try frozen pinkies, pinkies fresh from the nest, or, Wash the pinkie to provide a different smell.

Trick #2, Try During daytime, or, at night.

Trick #3, Try feeding at a variety of temperatures,

Trick #4, Try various species of lizards (here we have Green Anoles, Fence Lizards, Racerunners, and 4 types of Skink) as some may be more appealing than others. WARNING: wild lizards may have internal parasites! An alternative could be to catch the adult lizard, break off its tail, and offer the tail as food. I have also heard that sticking the tip of the tail, into a dead pinky's mouth, will cause the snake to swallow the pinkie, along with the tail (which is what he's really after, and could lead to the little snake coming to understand that the pinky is a food item.

Trick #5, Try various types of small frogs (young leopards, Cricket Frogs, Chorus Frogs, or Treefrogs). WARNING: wild frogs may have internal parasites.

Trick #6, Mouse tails are the perfect size and shape to force feed to a baby snake. Cut the tail off a dead mouse (I cut them off at an angle, which helps get them into the mouth to start with) and push it into the mouth as far as possible. The small bristle hairs on the mouse tail also help keep it from being regurgitated. A mouse tail has very little nutrition (unlike the whole animal) but this can at least get the stomach activated, and the stomach will start sending the "I'm hungry" message to the brain. Causing the snake to want to feed later. Try a normal food item 4-5 days later.

Trick #7, Brain the pinky. With a pin, needle, small knife, or razor blade, split the skull of a pinkie open and expose brain. Smear brain around on the forehead and face of the pinky. Evidently the brain has an appealing smell to the little snakes. This works!

Trick #8, Split the pinky. With scissors, cut the pinky in two halves (nose to butt, right down the middle) to expose all internal organ/blood smells. Gross, but it does work.

Trick #9, Kill a pregnant mouse. Cut out the little pinkies, offer them. Gross, but might work.

Trick # 10, Try rat pinkies (my milksnakes tend to love rat pups/pinks). If unable to find a baby rat small enough, take what you can find, and the scissors/knife/razor blade/etc and make pieces (that blood smell will not hurt anything and may even be helpful) that are small enough.

Trick # 11, Try putting the little snake into a simulated hibernation for a week or two. bring it out, warm it up and bang! Spring hunger! Offer the food items then.

Trick #12, Pinky Pump. A syringe with a smooth tube instead of a hypo needle. drop in a pinky, stick the tube (or nozzle) down the throat, and pump in pinky stuff by depressing the plunger of the syringe. It's a little harsh but is well known and does work.

Any other ideas? Please share.

Good luck,

Joey

Follow Ups:

Re: Tricks for starting problem feeders Pedersen, S�e 08/07/00 (0)

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: Tricks for starting problem feeders, : I have a few ideas I use with corn or kingsnakes, usually have good success. These may be applied to other species with some hope of success. I never offer food items until after the first shed (usual within 2 weeks of hatching). After that if food is refused and refused, eventually the stomach stops sending the "we're hungry" message to the brain. When this happens force feeding may be needed, but I try to avoid it if at all possible. : Trick #1, Try frozen pinkies, pinkies fresh from the nest, or, Wash the pinkie to provide a different smell. : Trick #2, Try During daytime, or, at night. : Trick #3, Try feeding at a variety of temperatures, : Trick #4, Try various species of lizards (here we have Green Anoles, Fence Lizards, Racerunners, and 4 types of Skink) as some may be more appealing than others. WARNING: wild lizards may have internal parasites! An alternative could be to catch the adult lizard, break off its tail, and offer the tail as food. I have also heard that sticking the tip of the tail, into a dead pinky's mouth, will cause the snake to swallow the pinkie, along with the tail (which is what he's really after, and could lead to the little snake coming to understand that the pinky is a food item. : : Trick #5, Try various types of small frogs (young leopards, Cricket Frogs, Chorus Frogs, or Treefrogs). WARNING: wild frogs may have internal parasites. : Trick #6, Mouse tails are the perfect size and shape to force feed to a baby snake. Cut the tail off a dead mouse (I cut them off at an angle, which helps get them into the mouth to start with) and push it into the mouth as far as possible. The small bristle hairs on the mouse tail also help keep it from being regurgitated. A mouse tail has very little nutrition (unlike the whole animal) but this can at least get the stomach activated, and the stomach will start sending the "I'm hungry" message to the brain. Causing the snake to want to feed later. Try a normal food item 4-5 days later. : Trick #7, Brain the pinky. With a pin, needle, small knife, or razor blade, split the skull of a pinkie open and expose brain. Smear brain around on the forehead and face of the pinky. Evidently the brain has an appealing smell to the little snakes. This works! : Trick #8, Split the pinky. With scissors, cut the pinky in two halves (nose to butt, right down the middle) to expose all internal organ/blood smells. Gross, but it does work. : Trick #9, Kill a pregnant mouse. Cut out the little pinkies, offer them. Gross, but might work. : Trick # 10, Try rat pinkies (my milksnakes tend to love rat pups/pinks). If unable to find a baby rat small enough, take what you can find, and the scissors/knife/razor blade/etc and make pieces (that blood smell will not hurt anything and may even be helpful) that are small enough. : Trick # 11, Try putting the little snake into a simulated hibernation for a week or two. bring it out, warm it up and bang! Spring hunger! Offer the food items then. : Trick #12, Pinky Pump. A syringe with a smooth tube instead of a hypo needle. drop in a pinky, stick the tube (or nozzle) down the throat, and pump in pinky stuff by depressing the plunger of the syringe. It's a little harsh but is well known and does work. : Any other ideas? Please share. : Good luck, : Joey

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Rat Snake Forum ] [ FAQ ]