Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just got this 06 female. Mother is a nice Santa Rita and father is a nice Applegate special. My problem is that she will only take anoles (so far). I got her from a guy in Florida. He said that she took scented pinkies. I had zero luck with scenting. Tried washing / braining and even washed/brained and scented with an anole tail stuck in the pinkies mouth! In a deli cup over might. No luck. Got desperate and gave her a frozen/thawed anole - bingo. I have found out the the breeder also gave her an anole, so I'm thinking that she is going to hone in on anole scented anoles!!!
I was thinking of brumating her and see what happens in the spring. She is in pretty good shape so I think brumation is a good option.
What do you guys think?? What is my best option? Anoles are tough to get here in N.E.Ohio unless you pay $6 at a pet shop. And I want her on pinkies as soon as possible.
Thanks for your help!!
Steve

First off, nice looking snake. Feeding her anoles is ok-(if you can get some utas or western fence liz's,that would be best) but like you said, they are hard to come by in Ohio, so I would just cool her over winter. I have put baby pyros down that had no meals at all from hatching and cool from nov.-april, and come out eating. If shes had a few meals, she'll be fine. And I bet she'll come out with an appetite too. Good luck,
Jeff Teel

Captive Bred Tri-colors

Jeff
What is the best method for scenting a pink?? I have been washing the heck out of it with liquid handsoap - rinsing it well, drying it off and rubbing it all over with a thawed anole. Is that OK?? The snake does not reconize the pinkie as a lizard so I'm not doing something right.

Thanks

Steve

I do the same thing, only I dont use any soap-(have in the past, you know the green palm olive trick) I just rinse them in regular water, then rub the lizard on them. Especially around the vent and hind legs of the lizard. Putting a piece of lizard tail in the pinks mouth is good too, but I have had them just take the tail out of the mouth and eat that..LOL. Good luck, if they wont eat at all, just cool 'em for the winter.
Jeff

Captive Bred Tri-colors

OK if the snake is not taking scented. I then let it actually chase a lizard, then swtich baits with a scented mouse. This works for me. Then you get them on scented and each time rub less of the lizard on the mouse. I also noticed that they want to take scented fuzzie or pinkies before anything with hair.
Nick