I am not positive for your species of snake, but....

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Posted by JDM on September 21, 2001 at 20:22:15:

In Reply to: I can't do this anymore... posted by Nyx on September 18, 2001 at 02:18:15:

I have just begun tube-feeding many of my stubborn hatchlings. I purchased a plastic syringe from a local pet store and attached a small flexible rubber tube to the end of it ( the same kind of tube used in fish aquariums. ) The edges of the tube were slightly melted so that they are smooth. The smaller tube you can get the better. I then purchased Gerber baby food. I used the beef baby food(which is kind of hard to find in the shelf). The syringe cost about $4 for two and the tube was about $2. The baby food cost about $ 0.60 cents. I mixed a calcium supplement into the baby food and put it into the syringe. I pulled out a non feeding snake and gently opened its mouth with a very small sexing probe. I then carefully inserted the tube into the snakes mouth. I then removed the sexing probe while holding the tube in place. Once, the tube was in place, I gently prodded the tube into the neck area of the snake and began slowly injecting the baby food mixture. I gave them each a generous amount (about as much as a pinky would be) and pulled the tube out. It was MUCH more easier than force feeding, easier on the snake, and easier on me. You should do this type of feeding for a few times in the fall to keep up the body weight on the snake. Hibernate the animal in the winter, and most likely, when spring comes, it will voluntarily accept mice on its own.

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: I have just begun tube-feeding many of my stubborn hatchlings. I purchased a plastic syringe from a local pet store and attached a small flexible rubber tube to the end of it ( the same kind of tube used in fish aquariums. ) The edges of the tube were slightly melted so that they are smooth. The smaller tube you can get the better. I then purchased Gerber baby food. I used the beef baby food(which is kind of hard to find in the shelf). The syringe cost about $4 for two and the tube was about $2. The baby food cost about $ 0.60 cents. I mixed a calcium supplement into the baby food and put it into the syringe. I pulled out a non feeding snake and gently opened its mouth with a very small sexing probe. I then carefully inserted the tube into the snakes mouth. I then removed the sexing probe while holding the tube in place. Once, the tube was in place, I gently prodded the tube into the neck area of the snake and began slowly injecting the baby food mixture. I gave them each a generous amount (about as much as a pinky would be) and pulled the tube out. It was MUCH more easier than force feeding, easier on the snake, and easier on me. You should do this type of feeding for a few times in the fall to keep up the body weight on the snake. Hibernate the animal in the winter, and most likely, when spring comes, it will voluntarily accept mice on its own.

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