Ratsnake hatchling feeding q's?

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Posted by Nyx on August 27, 2001 at 13:51:01:

I've posted about this before, but since there's a call out for more posts, I figured I'd post it again and see if it gets any response...

My E.obsoleta hatchling hasn't voluntarily eaten since he was born. [as far as I know] I managed to force-feed him through the recommendations of someone on the Canadian forum; he's been eating mouse tails for a couple of weeks now.
My question is this: how do I get him off mouse bits and pieces and onto the WHOLE mouse? He doesn't seem to be growing much at all [go figure...mouse tails aren't all that nutritious and delicious] and he's become extremely withdrawn in the past few weeks; he used to be a very active baby, climbing all over his enclosure, but now he hides in his hidelog all day - sometimes I pick it up and check, just to make sure he's still alive.
It has been quite hot lately, sometimes hitting 85�F [ambient room temperature]; I can't keep his heating pad on because it just gets too hot.

Before I tried mouse tails, I tried:
- braining the pinky
- scenting the pinky
- leaving him overnight with the pinky in a:
paper bag,
deli cup,
feeding tank
- cutting the pinky into little pieces for him

...and just about every other technique I've ever heard of - except for a live pinky, as live pinkies are VERY hard to get in town. :( I'm going to put in a request to each of the pet stores to call me if any of their mice drop a litter, but I'm not standing my hopes on it.

Anyway, any advice would be appreciated. His length is...well, no more than a foot, and his girth is about...oh...maybe pencil thick.

Nyx
[who's glad the bible debate didn't happen on a forum she was part of...big teeth come out when I talk about religion ;)]

Follow Ups:

He meeds more than just tails... patricia sherman 08/31/01 (1)
- It's not so much that I can't find pinkies... Nyx 08/31/01 (0)
Re: Ratsnake hatchling feeding q's? Steve 08/28/01 (0)

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: I've posted about this before, but since there's a call out for more posts, I figured I'd post it again and see if it gets any response... : My E.obsoleta hatchling hasn't voluntarily eaten since he was born. [as far as I know] I managed to force-feed him through the recommendations of someone on the Canadian forum; he's been eating mouse tails for a couple of weeks now. : My question is this: how do I get him off mouse bits and pieces and onto the WHOLE mouse? He doesn't seem to be growing much at all [go figure...mouse tails aren't all that nutritious and delicious] and he's become extremely withdrawn in the past few weeks; he used to be a very active baby, climbing all over his enclosure, but now he hides in his hidelog all day - sometimes I pick it up and check, just to make sure he's still alive. : It has been quite hot lately, sometimes hitting 85�F [ambient room temperature]; I can't keep his heating pad on because it just gets too hot. : Before I tried mouse tails, I tried: : - braining the pinky : - scenting the pinky : - leaving him overnight with the pinky in a: : paper bag, : deli cup, : feeding tank : - cutting the pinky into little pieces for him : ...and just about every other technique I've ever heard of - except for a live pinky, as live pinkies are VERY hard to get in town. :( I'm going to put in a request to each of the pet stores to call me if any of their mice drop a litter, but I'm not standing my hopes on it. : Anyway, any advice would be appreciated. His length is...well, no more than a foot, and his girth is about...oh...<i>maybe</i> pencil thick. : Nyx : [who's glad the bible debate didn't happen on a forum she was part of...big teeth come out when I talk about religion ;)]

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