Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I hatched out 5 babies on May 22 and can't get 1 of them to eat. The other 4 have eaten 6 times, however the 1 has only eaten 1 hopper mouse and is considerably smaller than the others. She was average size when she hatch but now over a month later, she's still the same weight. Any suggestions on how to get her to realize she's supposed "eat" the mouse/rat, not just hang out with it. Thanks, Joe
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0.0.1 Green tree python (Aru LT)
0.0.1 Green tree python (Wamena LT)
0.1 Irian Jaya carpet python
1.0 Albino ball python
0.1 100% het Albino ball python
0.1 Normal ball python
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow boa
1.0 Leucistic Texas ratsnake
1.0 Albino cornsnake

Hi,

In April I hatched a clutch of 5 normals (1.4 ratio) and the runt of the clutch would not eat at all. So I kept thinking I wonder why. Well it hit me! A hide box! So I put a hide box in the babys bin and sure enough within 24 hours or less of that happening she ate and hasn't quit since.
So give the small one a hide box.
Another question though is what temp are you keeping the baby at?
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Christine
Tails With Scales Reptiles
Happiness is biting my snake back!

Hide box
Temps about 90
High humidity
Small live hopper mouse

Have you tried assist feeding? Just take a small prey item a basically force it into the snakes mouth, push it as far back into his mouth as you can without using too much force. I usually hold the snakes jaws down onto the prey for a minute or 2 to let it settle down a little and then put him back in the cage. Then the snake will swallow the prey by iself. Usually works for me on the first try, if not I try again. I have had 100% success with that method. I bought one CH female this yeat that would not eat. I assist feed her once and she is now one of my best feeders. Sometimes the snake will spit it out a few times but eventually they get the idea. Assist feeding is much safer and less stressful than tubing them. It is kind of odd in your case because you said she already ate for you on her own once. Could you post a pic of her with one of the others?
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John Vandegrift

It could be a security issue.

Ball up lots of newspaper and fill its enclosure with it, from bottom to top. After about a week, start removing small amounts of it day by day and when its about half-filled, offer a prey item. That usually does the trick with stubborn feeders.

ive had luck with assist feeding on some of my snakes, but there is still one that will not eat even assisted--it will sit there for like 30 min and eventually spit it out. all the rest in the rack eat but this one. i have still yet to try live--but it seems assist feeding doesnt always work-it helps but not 100% (at least in my case)
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GOOSEBALLS

lamina1982@hotmail.com

I would try live before I ever resorted to assist/force feeding.

I did not realize you had not tried live. Live is definitely the way to go at least until you get some weight on him.
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John Vandegrift

much less stress for the hatchlings and for the breeder.
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Kyle J. Stevens
Royal Variations Ltd.

Many a false step is made from standing still.

i had 4 snakes that had not eatensince i got them. one hadnt eaten in 2 months. i offered live small mice and all ate verociously. so it was much easier than assisting. igues learning goes with trialand error and time. much happier when everyones eating.
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GOOSEBALLS

lamina1982@hotmail.com

I have been trying live ever since she shed. I started with hopper mice, then went to rat pinks, then rat fuzzies. She did finally eat again last night. It's very nerveracking when the others eat and you sit back and watch one which shows no interest. I even tried leaving them over night and in the morning they'd be sleeping together under the hidebox.
Joe Dalbo
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0.0.1 Green tree python (Aru LT)
0.0.1 Green tree python (Wamena LT)
0.1 Pied ball python
1.0 100% het pied ball python
1.0 Albino ball python
0.6 100% het Albino ball python
0.1 Normal ball python
0.1 Irian Jaya carpet python
1.0 Leucistic Texas ratsnake
2.0 Cornsnakes