some hints for feeding a reluctant hatchling ...

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Posted by patricia sherman on October 15, 2001 at 01:09:42:

In Reply to: Re: rat snake won't eat posted by Schwan on September 28, 2001 at 14:31:04:

If baby is striking at the food, you can get him to swallow it by using the following "assisted feeding" method. Your fingers can do the job quite well. The trick is, to not give the snake the opportunity to "spit it out" once you've got it even a tiny bit into snakey's mouth.

Use a very tiny pinkie, or even just a tiny pinkie-head. Start out by wetting the pinkie, because it slides down more easily when wet. If possible, tease snakey into making a grab for it; if snakey won't grab for it, then gently pry jaws open sufficient to get the pinkie's nose between the jaws. Once you've got it there, that's half the battle. From this point, it is just a matter of keeping the jaws held firmly enough against the pinkie to cause the teeth to hold the skin, then alternately stroking the sides of the jaws, to gradually draw them forward.

The teeth curve backwards, so that the pinkie can't slip out provided the jaws are kept in close contact with it. The key to success, is extreme patience. The movement of the pinkie down the throat has to be incremental, and by alternately stroking each side of the jaws, you are simulating the snake's natural eating motions. The pinkie will probably dry out, so you should occasionally dab a drop of water onto it as you are working it down. Don't put the snake down until the pinkie's butt is past the back of the throat, or even until the pinkie is already halfway down the neck.

Hope this helps,
Patricia

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: If baby is striking at the food, you can get him to swallow it by using the following "assisted feeding" method. Your fingers can do the job quite well. The trick is, to not give the snake the opportunity to "spit it out" once you've got it even a tiny bit into snakey's mouth. : Use a very tiny pinkie, or even just a tiny pinkie-head. Start out by wetting the pinkie, because it slides down more easily when wet. If possible, tease snakey into making a grab for it; if snakey won't grab for it, then gently pry jaws open sufficient to get the pinkie's nose between the jaws. Once you've got it there, that's half the battle. From this point, it is just a matter of keeping the jaws held firmly enough against the pinkie to cause the teeth to hold the skin, then alternately stroking the sides of the jaws, to gradually draw them forward. : The teeth curve backwards, so that the pinkie can't slip out provided the jaws are kept in close contact with it. The key to success, is extreme patience. The movement of the pinkie down the throat has to be incremental, and by alternately stroking each side of the jaws, you are simulating the snake's natural eating motions. The pinkie will probably dry out, so you should occasionally dab a drop of water onto it as you are working it down. Don't put the snake down until the pinkie's butt is past the back of the throat, or even until the pinkie is already halfway down the neck. : Hope this helps, : Patricia

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