Re: Fussy little hatchlings won't eat! AHHH

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Posted by TDMac on October 22, 2000 at 18:51:37:

In Reply to: Fussy little hatchlings won't eat! AHHH posted by Reptiluvr on October 21, 2000 at 19:09:16:

Two extra tricks that I have found quite successful are:

1) Wash the pinkie. I just get the warm water running, lather up my hands with that liquid pump hand soap (SoftSoap), pick the pink up and lather it up. Rinse the pinkie well in the warm water, gently pat it dry on a paper towel and offer with forceps. I have a '99 suboc that won't touch frozen/thawed but will snatch washed pinks from the forceps (he is available at a discount, by the way :-)).

2) Force the pinkie. I have had good success by simply taking a frozen/thawed pinkie by the neck in one hand, taking the reluctant baby snake by the neck with the other hand and gently forcing the head of the pink into the mouth of the snake. Be sure you are over the baby's container so you can deftly lower the snake into it's container to allow it to figure out what the heck that it has in its mouth. Be very still and they will usually swallow on the first or second try. It may sometimes take three or four. I would stop there so as not to stress the little fellow too much. After about 3-5 times of having that happen, they seem to figure out what is going on and will take a pinkie that is left on top of their hide box overnight. I always give them the chance to take one overnight before I force it.

I hope this gives you a few more tools.

Adios. Dean

T.D. Mac - Captive Bred Snakes

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: Two extra tricks that I have found quite successful are: : 1) Wash the pinkie. I just get the warm water running, lather up my hands with that liquid pump hand soap (SoftSoap), pick the pink up and lather it up. Rinse the pinkie well in the warm water, gently pat it dry on a paper towel and offer with forceps. I have a '99 suboc that won't touch frozen/thawed but will snatch washed pinks from the forceps (he is available at a discount, by the way :-)). : 2) Force the pinkie. I have had good success by simply taking a frozen/thawed pinkie by the neck in one hand, taking the reluctant baby snake by the neck with the other hand and gently forcing the head of the pink into the mouth of the snake. Be sure you are over the baby's container so you can deftly lower the snake into it's container to allow it to figure out what the heck that it has in its mouth. Be very still and they will usually swallow on the first or second try. It may sometimes take three or four. I would stop there so as not to stress the little fellow too much. After about 3-5 times of having that happen, they seem to figure out what is going on and will take a pinkie that is left on top of their hide box overnight. I always give them the chance to take one overnight before I force it. : I hope this gives you a few more tools. : Adios. Dean

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