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Any adivce appreciated. Three of my little pistols are on a hunger strike (no pun intended) two ate f/t after the first shed, although braining was required for one. Now they show interest, but will not eat in spite of tease-feeding, offering live, braining, or scenting with deer mouse. I may try scenting with a lizard or tree frogs if I catch one, but don't want to waste that time if the species isn't known for eating such foods naturally. Two ate eagerly before now. Oddly, these are three of the most high-strung of my batch, all but one of the rest don't coil, rattle and strike at all. BTW, they are all in the same rack system and I even tried changing tray positions (non-feeders to feeders spots) before the last feeding attempt.

How long have you presented the food items to them? Just spot feedings, or have you tried leaving the food item with them overnight? Also sometimes taking out the chances for a descision works, such as leaving the snake and prey item in a deli cup or bag overnight. Snake has two choices, eat it or live with it. Just a couple of things that have worked for me in the past, and I've currently used on my baby hognoses. Hope this helps.

I scented with lizard, to no avail. Even tried lizard tail. I tried ALL hatchlings on live, and even the feeders wouldn't eat them, they seem scared of them. I tried assist feeding tonight- easy enough, they open their mouths trying to bite me, but they let it go when I let them go, or brought it back up if started a ways. Good point about the weight, they look fine! I tried feeding in tiny deli cups already- thanks Conrad, but they seem willing to "live with them." I guess I'll stick with offering food every five days until they eat. If no luck I plan to brumate them this winter.
PS, would you WANT these Conrad? I'd give two to you if you'll pick them up. Also could take you snake-hunting around here. Probably blk rats, garters and copperheads, but you never know.

DEFINATELY!!! Shoot me an e-mail and we can work out the details.

on its own from the start. It wouldn't eat no matter how I presented the meal or when. I had written her off as she wasn't going to eat and wouldn't make it. My wife as a last resort, I didn't imply for her to do it because I didn't think it should be done, decided to force feed her. My wife, Brenda, said to tell you if the climac hasn't and/or won't eat about a month after their born, then go find the smallest live pinky you can get. She would take this little pinky and after opening the hatchlings mouth, she would put the pinkie in head first. The snake would resist obviously, but he would start to take it down on its own after the pinky was pushed down a ways. Brenda said, you're not done yet. She says the snake is mad at you and you wait and hold it because the snake will try to bring the food back out. If it does put the pinky back down. She did this for a couple months and the snake began taking it down on its own. I hadn't agreed with force feeding before, but she saved this female. In fact, I kept her (the snake) for awhile because I didn't want to let someone else get her and then she stops eating. She's from last year and eats everytime. In fact, she's all over the hopper as soon as it placed down in the enclosure. My wife says to use a live pinkie for torce feeding because the dead ones mush up. The female eats thawed/frozen now. Good luck

>>Any adivce appreciated. Three of my little pistols are on a hunger strike (no pun intended) two ate f/t after the first shed, although braining was required for one. Now they show interest, but will not eat in spite of tease-feeding, offering live, braining, or scenting with deer mouse. I may try scenting with a lizard or tree frogs if I catch one, but don't want to waste that time if the species isn't known for eating such foods naturally. Two ate eagerly before now. Oddly, these are three of the most high-strung of my batch, all but one of the rest don't coil, rattle and strike at all. BTW, they are all in the same rack system and I even tried changing tray positions (non-feeders to feeders spots) before the last feeding attempt.

Don't worry too much. I seem to always have a few of the Kunasir Island rats that won't feed for several months. Almost always, mine have later begun to eat on live or thawed pinks. I've had a few go 3-4 months before feeding, then they took off and fed like champs. They don't seem to lose the weight like a baby corn snake, and as long as they don't look really skinny, they will probably come around.

Good Luck!

Mike Humphrey
Hump's Herps