Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i bought a tri orange female. She's a real cutie. She's out of the egg & she just shed for the 1st time 2 days ago. Does anyone know how soon they eat after they shed? I put her & a f/t pinkie in a deli cup tonite. No luck so far. I'll try a live one tomorrow if she doesn't eat.

Also, is the tri colored a western or an eastern hog?
Beth
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Beth Evans
JerseyGirlReptiles
R.I.P Croc hunter

It's neither a Western or Eastern- it's a Tri-Color from South America. There are several types. http://www.hognose.com seems to have the most information. I wish someone would write a book!

If yours is mostly black, with a mostly black head, with red and yellow bands/spots, with black tips on the red and yellow scales, and looks as if it might eventually turn black, it's probably Lystrophis pulcher. If it's got a whiter looking face with bright red or orange bands it's probably Lystrophus mattogrossensis.

I can't answer your question about when to attempt the first feeding- but good luck!

Nanci

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*****
0.0.1 Normal Corn, 0.0.1 Cali King 0.1 Nelson's Milk
0.1 Tricolor Hog, 0.0.1 Eastern Hog, 1.0 Eastern Box Turtle
0.0.2 Desert Torts, 2.0 Feral Pigeons

Thanks for the info nanci. He has a black face with thin yellow stripes & the body has alot of bright red, black bands & yellow thinner bands. He is beautiful.
I had no clue that they originated in South America.
Nice pic! Is he one of yours?
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Beth Evans
JerseyGirlReptiles
R.I.P Croc hunter

Yes, that is my new boy, Zee. I got him from Neil Golli in Tampa. He is an EXCELLENT eater of unscented FT fuzzies. (He accidentally tried to eat me on the way to his feeding bin tonight- I must have smelled mousy!)

He is really a fun snake- very calm, if I set him down, he immediately tries to burrow. I've never seen him out in his viv- he's always buried. Great to photograph because he is so calm. He's sort of like an armadillo- if he gets startled, he jumps, and then ten seconds later has forgotten he was frightened. I can even set him down outside- he isn't going anywhere. I just love him.

I'm sure someone will be along to tell you when your hatchling will be ready to feed and what to do.

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*****
0.0.1 Normal Corn, 0.0.1 Cali King 0.1 Nelson's Milk
0.1 Tricolor Hog, 0.0.1 Eastern Hog, 1.0 Eastern Box Turtle
0.0.2 Desert Torts, 2.0 Feral Pigeons

It sounds like Zee has quite a personality. What an expressive face he has & great eyes. Your lucky he's eating fuzzies, he'll be growing fast. His colors are very different then mine but both are beautiful.
My boy is still scared when i go to pick him up. Once i have him he calms down. I am leaving him alone until he eats.
I porbably shouldn't have gotten one right out of the egg. I've had good luck getting difficult feeders to eat, with patience. This is a new species for me so I thought there might be some tricks.
This is a busy time of year but I hope to get some tips in the next few days.
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Beth Evans
JerseyGirlReptiles
R.I.P Croc hunter

Try scenting with anoles or green treefrogs. Some tri babies will not eat until their second shed. The most important thing is to not let them get dehydrated. Some Tris eat with zero scenting, some require a little more patience. Try this link for some tips on handfeeding (it can take a while though) Hope he eats quickly for you!
Tri feeding tip

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Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

"The beatings will continue until morale improves!"

Thank you Jenea & Nanci for all the info. I'll try putting a pinkie in his mouth tonite. They do make it look easy. We'll see!!
My girl looks like the one's on Alex's website but orange instead of red. They are in a KS ad by Nate's Snakes.
I'll keep you posted on my progress.
Thanks again!
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Beth Evans
JerseyGirlReptiles
R.I.P Croc hunter

The method in that link totally works with my Eastern.

Nanci
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*****
0.0.1 Normal Corn, 0.0.1 Cali King 0.1 Nelson's Milk
0.1 Tricolor Hog, 0.0.1 Eastern Hog, 1.0 Eastern Box Turtle
0.0.2 Desert Torts, 2.0 Feral Pigeons

I bet yours does just fine! That webpage Jennae posted makes it seem so easy. Yours looks like that, doesn't he? You're a lot braver than me to take on a hatchling, though- good luck and let us know when he eats for you.

Nanci

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*****
0.0.1 Normal Corn, 0.0.1 Cali King 0.1 Nelson's Milk
0.1 Tricolor Hog, 0.0.1 Eastern Hog, 1.0 Eastern Box Turtle
0.0.2 Desert Torts, 2.0 Feral Pigeons

http://www.alexhuereptiles.com/Collection/tricolorhognose.html

This species definitely has a healthy appetite, we offer hatchling tri-color babies day old frozen thawed pinkie mice within 5-7 days of hatch and have never had one refuse on 2 consecutive occasions.

Nanci
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*****
0.0.1 Normal Corn, 0.0.1 Cali King 0.1 Nelson's Milk
0.1 Tricolor Hog, 0.0.1 Eastern Hog, 1.0 Eastern Box Turtle
0.0.2 Desert Torts, 2.0 Feral Pigeons

This is how i get mine going if you have problems.

www.hognose.co.uk/13.html
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www.hognose.co.uk

What a great website you have. It's so informative. Thank you.
I did try holding her & putting a pinkie up to her mouth.She's not at all aggressive & didn't seem to mind the teasing. I didn't brain it though. Does that mean cutting open the head?
She kist had her 1st shed last week. Is now the time to feed her? I read some don't eat until after their 2nd shed.
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Beth Evans
JerseyGirlReptiles
R.I.P Croc hunter

Thank you. I feed mine straight after the first shed. Try without braing, hold it as shown and touch it gently to its mouth, if it wont take it, put the mouth of the pink over the snakes snout, they will usually take it out of annoyannce. I havent had a single tri-colour this year that didnt feed!!!!
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www.hognose.co.uk

How long do you typically feed by the touching the pink to the nose method before the snake decides it can feed by itself?

Nanci
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*****
0.0.1 Normal Corn, 0.0.1 Cali King 0.1 Nelson's Milk
0.1 Tricolor Hog, 0.0.1 Eastern Hog, 1.0 Eastern Box Turtle
0.0.2 Desert Torts, 2.0 Feral Pigeons

Usually 4-5 times then they will eat spontaneously.
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www.hognose.co.uk

My little girl ATE. She's eating as I type. I tried pinkie mouth over her nose & no go, so I took a razor blade & slit the head. The brain juice ran down the head. I tried again & she opened her mouth. After the head was in I put her in her bin.
I am thrilled & I want to thank everyone for their help & suggestions. It really wasn't hard with the right tecnnique.
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Beth Evans
JerseyGirlReptiles
R.I.P Croc hunter

I'm so happy for you! My little tri is _ravenous_. He does a really funny thing- and he always does it. The first time I saw this behaviour, I thought he was trying to eat the pink wrong, but no, he does it every time. I think he's envenomating them! He'll first bite it right in the center, in the belly, and hold it for a _long_ time, then reposition and swallow it. Last night I fed him two at a time, because the fuzzies I had seemed huge so I gave him two big pinks, and I spotted him holding a pink by the middle, up in the air! Well, great news.

Nanci
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*****
0.0.1 Normal Corn, 0.0.1 Cali King 0.1 Nelson's Milk
0.1 Tricolor Hog, 0.0.1 Eastern Hog, 1.0 Eastern Box Turtle
0.0.2 Desert Torts, 2.0 Feral Pigeons

Im glad to be of service, once they start, theres usually no turning back, they are easier to get going tham westerns in my opinion.(:
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www.hognose.co.uk