Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I need some tips for feeding a stubborn neonate....tried overnight both f/t and live pinkies and fuzzies......Tried the old paperbag overnight with pinky trick. if you have anymore suggestions let me know thanks JASON K

First off, it won't starve in a few weeks (or even a few months) being ectotherms, they really need VERY little to survive. Most food intake goes toward growth. Bottom line, don't rush.

I had three reluctant feeders last year, out of 136 babies. All three simply would not eat anything. one born on 08/21 and two on 10/13, all males. One of the brothers ate one hopper two weeks after birth then nothing, the other two would not eat anything. I tried everything for MONTHS short of forcing them. pinkies, hoppers, rats, mice, brained, in bag, in tub, overnight, all day, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. get the idea? In the meantimel, all the brothers, sisters, cousins and neighbors (the other 133) all ate just fine with only the occasional refusal, typically during shed although more typical to eat anyways during shed.

Finally on January 8th I gave up and "assist fed" them. The whole time they looked fine but duh weren't growing. Yes, that means one was 4 1/2 months old and the other two were 3 months old. Assist feeding consists of opening the mouth (a playing card works great) and inserting head of prey. Then let the snake swallow it normally. Worked on all three. Took three or four times each before the stupid boys got the idea. Now they chow down every week on their own with no problems since. I learned through the process that you can open the snakes mouth with the head of the prey. With practice, the kind you don't really want , assist feeding is actually fairly easy.

>>I need some tips for feeding a stubborn neonate....tried overnight both f/t and live pinkies and fuzzies......Tried the old paperbag overnight with pinky trick. if you have anymore suggestions let me know thanks JASON K
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB, selectively bred from good stock)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
11.24 BRB
10.16 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

If I had it to do all over again, I would still give it a month or two then go to assist feeding.

As long as there were NO other circumstances like regurge etc.

Also, this applies to babies I produced with full knowledge of their entire history!
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB, selectively bred from good stock)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
11.24 BRB
10.16 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Jason,
....As you probably know they much prefer live to dead for the first meals. Pinkies and fuzzies are NOT their favorite meal though. They really will go for a live hopper or weanling or even small adult much more eagerly than a pinky or fuzzy. They seem to like something that runs around. I have even fed them large adults mice as their first meal. They can swallow enormous meals but there is increased chance of regurge with meals larger than weanling mice.
Good luck,
Jeff

>>I need some tips for feeding a stubborn neonate....tried overnight both f/t and live pinkies and fuzzies......Tried the old paperbag overnight with pinky trick. if you have anymore suggestions let me know thanks JASON K

its gross but you could split the head of the fuzzie thats an old trick we used at the zoo.