Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm new to Blackheads, and would like to hear from people with experience with them. He is 8 weeks old. I have attempted feeding a live pink in a bag and then two weeks later in a deli cup. Both times refused. On both occasions I ended up force feeding. Once the head was in his mouth he swallowed. My question is what is typical time and or number of force feedings before they take food voluntarily? Any input is appreciated.

Thanks
John

are you trying pinky mice or rats? pinky mice would be way to small from what the pic shows. Also i would try like a fuzzy mouse sometimes snakes like the furr for some reason thats how i got my newborn ball to eat last year. try live first in the cage if not try a f/t in a small paper bag over night do not handle the snake for a few days before trying this. i dont know alot about blackheads besides i like them buthtis is what worked for me with my baby balls and one of my baby carpets that i had a problem with

BHs are often hard to start feeding. I wouldn't be force feeding them yet. Sometimes it's up to 4-5 months before they start. You can always try them on rat pinks wirh the scent of snake or lizard on them, since that's their primary food in the wild.
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I would not force feed yet. You have not given him a chance to get hungry enough to eat a food item that he is obviously not psyched about. I would try a live rat pup overnight in his cage. The next simpest thing to do is wash the prey item. Use soap on a fresh killed prey, sometimes getting rid of the smell is all you need. Try every 4-6 days and if he still hasn't eaten after several weeks you could try scenting with any number of things but lizard or frog would probobly work best.

don't handle him till hes feeding regularly and make sure he has dark secure hide boxes.

All of this is ASSUMING that you have done some homework and your environmental conditions in the cage are ideal.

Most snakes are programmed to eat cold-blooded prey when young. Just try and get into a rat nest for a pup when your that little and not get your head bitten by mom!

Wash a dead right-sized rodent dry it off with a paper towel only handle it with the towel, you smell different than pray.
With a sharp knife puncture the top of the rodents head and squzze some brains outon top of the head, for some reason brains smell like lizards to snakes!
With tongs or chop-stcks wave the food item near the hidding place of the snake, Black heads feed when only their head is above ground or above floor litter in the wild!

If this does not work drop it infront of the snakes hiding place and leave the room, do not desturb for an hour. If you get a no-feed each week for two or three weeks then force feed.

I had to force feed one for 14 month before it would eat on its own. Most come around in less than three months.