Re: Force feeding

Posted by Pierson on May 03, 2002 at 23:25:54:

In Reply to: Force feeding posted by PatrickR on May 03, 2002 at 21:47:54:

You'll want to feed something relatively small but something big enough to be of some sustenance. An adult mouse is about right for an adult caochwhip. Firmly grab the snake behind the head. I place the mouse on top of a credit card and, holding both in one hand, use the credit card pry open the snake's mouth. You can then slide the mouse of the credit card into the snakes mouth. You may have to continue pushing open the mouth using the mouse. Once the mouse is in the snake's mouth quiclky grab a thin, blunt instrument (I use the butt end of a pencil) and use it to slowly push the mouse into the snakes throat. You'll have to loosen your grip behind its head to let the mouse pass through. Continue pushing until the mouse is several inches down the snakes neck. I gently plcae the snake back in its cage at this time and watch it. If it begins to regurge then I grab the snake and massage the mouse farther down the snake's esophagus. Eventually it will swallow the mouse. Some people have success with simply shoving the mouse in the snake's mouth and putting it back in its cage where it will be swallowed. I've never had this luck. Good luck and remember that force feeding is a last resort. Check your husbandry practices to make sure there isn't something you can do to avoid force feeding. Good luck.

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: You'll want to feed something relatively small but something big enough to be of some sustenance. An adult mouse is about right for an adult caochwhip. Firmly grab the snake behind the head. I place the mouse on top of a credit card and, holding both in one hand, use the credit card pry open the snake's mouth. You can then slide the mouse of the credit card into the snakes mouth. You may have to continue pushing open the mouth using the mouse. Once the mouse is in the snake's mouth quiclky grab a thin, blunt instrument (I use the butt end of a pencil) and use it to slowly push the mouse into the snakes throat. You'll have to loosen your grip behind its head to let the mouse pass through. Continue pushing until the mouse is several inches down the snakes neck. I gently plcae the snake back in its cage at this time and watch it. If it begins to regurge then I grab the snake and massage the mouse farther down the snake's esophagus. Eventually it will swallow the mouse. Some people have success with simply shoving the mouse in the snake's mouth and putting it back in its cage where it will be swallowed. I've never had this luck. Good luck and remember that force feeding is a last resort. Check your husbandry practices to make sure there isn't something you can do to avoid force feeding. Good luck.

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