Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a baby Eastern Hog (9" that I caught a few months ago. Up to now he has eaten fairly well, as long as I could catch fresh baby toads/frogs.

Once I fooled him into eating a F/T pinkie, but not since. I can't even get him to eat F/T frogs now. It's been over 2 weeks now since he's eaten, and I know I'll never be able to find enough small toads/frogs, and it doesn't look like I'll be able to get him to eat pinkies either.

Should I just let him go? What would you do?

Thanks for the advice,
Les

You shouldn't be intimidated by a freeze in his eating. Hogs do this all the time. It may be due to a recent cold spell, he may be getting ready to shed soon, or perhaps he just isn't hungry right now.

If you tricked him once, you can do it again. What I suggest is that since you are still able to find toads, get a bunch of them, freeze them and scent the pinky mice with the frozen frog scent. I do not own an eastern, but from what I've heard, a good trick is to: (warning this may sound gruesome) freeze a bunch of toads and once they are defrosted, grind them up into a paste or stew and freeze that paste into a container. Whenever you need your mouse to smell like a toad, simply rub the mouse on the frozen frog-cube.

Let us know how things go.
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1.1 100% het albino W. Hognose
0.1 66% het albino "red" W. Hognose
1.0 Pastel Ball Python
1.0 Common Snapping Turtle
1.1 Bearded Dragon

Thanks for the advice and reassurance. OK, I'll keep him and try that. I've done the frog smearing in the past but it didn't work. The way I 'fooled' him, was to feed him a small toad, and as he was just finishing it, put the pinkie up to his mouth. He just continued to eat. I was holding him in one hand and the small toad, then pinkie, in the other hand. He seems to eat while I'm holding him just as well as when he's in the cage. That is, he used to.

Maybe you're right about the shedding. He hasn't shed since I got him, and he is looking mighty 'dull' right now. I'll just keep collecting what frogs/toads I can find and freeze them.

I looked all over the internet for frozen toads/frogs, but to no avail. Have you EVER heard of a place that sells them?

Thanks again,
Les

No I haven't sorry. I've looked once myself, it was hard even finding a live one.
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1.1 100% het albino W. Hognose
0.1 66% het albino "red" W. Hognose
1.0 Pastel Ball Python
1.0 Common Snapping Turtle
1.1 Bearded Dragon

Actually I was just inthe 'classified's' looking, and actually found one seller so far, but he wants from $3.50 - $2.50 each for live feeder tree frogs (depending on how many you buy). That does not include shipping!

I think that pinkies are the ONLY way to go, but only time will tell if I can switch him over. Can you 'force-feed' a pinkie mouse to a Hognose???

Les

No. Do not attempt to force feed. I've learned that force feeding is a "last attempt", and when I mean "last attempt" I mean you should only have a professional try it after you've already tried vet visits with the vet doing every test, and due to the snake not eating in 6 or more months. This can be extremely stressful to the snake and could be fatal.
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1.1 100% het albino W. Hognose
0.1 66% het albino "red" W. Hognose
1.0 Pastel Ball Python
1.0 Common Snapping Turtle
1.1 Bearded Dragon

Thanks, that's good to know.

Les

A slightly less gruesome version of the scenting trick is to simply freeze one toad or frog in the same plastic bag as the pinkies. Then keep all your pinkies in that bag while they are frozen. The smell will permiate the pinkies over time. Sounds like you just need to let him shed and he'll be super hungry then. Put the frog/ toad into the frozen pinky bag today and by the time he/she sheds the scent will have permiated the bag. If you really want the strongest scent, simply grab a pinky that is touching the frog when you take out the bag. Less messy then the whole frog cube method. I find one frog/toad per bag works for a long time even when you add more pinkies to the bag.

Red

Yeah, that's what I've been doing, really 'smearing the thawed frogs all over the pinkie. Haven't fooled him but that first time.
OK, I'll wait until after the shed.

BTW, after a while, can you stop scenting pinkies, or will that be a standard practice from now on, with an Eastern hog?

I really appreciate all of you guys advice. This is a great forum. I'm glad I found it!

Les

It matters on the snake, but your ultimate goal is to get them eating unscented food. The day it happens you will dance around gleefully screaming lyrics from 80's hairbands and probably invent a new dance move.
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1.1 100% het albino W. Hognose
0.1 66% het albino "red" W. Hognose
1.0 Pastel Ball Python
1.0 Common Snapping Turtle
1.1 Bearded Dragon