I thought I would share my story in hopes it would make you feel better. I bought my Western Hognose snake in July of '07 (he was only 2 months old). He would not eat pinkies (even though the breeder said he would). Almost every advice I got online said to feed him toads or scent pinkies with tuna (the latter did not work). I did feed him toads and he ate (thank goodness). Keep in mind some breeders will not suggest this because live toads/frogs can carry diseases and make your snake sick. I felt it was feed him toads/frogs or let this expensive snake die.



October 31st - March 28th= he stopped eating completely. Keep in mind he was a baby. I was really worried, but after November, I couldn't find frogs/toads anyway because they were hibernating. I decided to leave "Baby hog" alone. I wouldn't pick him up, but watch to make sure he was still alive and keep his water bowl filled. He had a heat pad with a red heat lamp on one side of the cage, but chose to stay on the colder side of the cage instead. He wanted to brumate/hibernate. I left him alone.



March 29th (today)- he finslly ate a toad (after 5 months).



My advise is to do all the reseach you can and really listen to what people have to say. I would have force fed him a pinkie (which would have been a major mistake) if I wouldn't have researched first. Don't worry if he doesn't eat when you first get him. he's getting use to his new enviornment and forcing him to eat will make him mad...in turn, he won't want to eat. If he looks healthy and isn't loosing weight or looking like he's gasping for air, let him be. DON'T PANIC..like I almost did. Get all the advise you can and please don't force feed him/her. It's really hard on the snake and a really, really cruel thing to do.

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