I already tried the force-feeding route, but their heads are so small that smallest thawed pinkie was rather tight, and he was really resisting. These things are small, and I have no experience with this.



Juvenile Canebrakes were just large enough that a small, newborn pinkie would go right on in. I just forced the head in to open the jaws, gently moved the pinkie further and further back with the handle of a small artists paint brush, and the rattler did the rest. I never had one regurgitate a meal, and all were eating fine by the third force-feed. The Coppers are just too small and I'm concerned about hurting them, so I stopped.



I placed the small tree frog in the cage yesterday morning that I was using to scent the pinkies. Last night when I got home he was MIA ... but I didn't noticed pronounce lumps in either of the babies. I dunno how he got out, if that's what happened.



They have to be eating or gone by Sunday. I'm leaving Monday for an open-ended engagement and I don't know what my schedule will be like for the next month. If I could get them to take a meal I'd set the heat/light up on a timer and leave plenty of water. But I don't see it happening.



This weekend and all next week is supposed to be very warm, and since I have a hot location for local Coppers I may have to release them there and hope they can find the dens. Just let mother nature do her thing.



This sucks ....



Minh/Phil

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