Reptile & Amphibian Forums

When do you say enough is enough on forcefeeding a snake. I have had this one hatchling for almost 4 months now and it has never once ate for me. It was supposed to be taking live pinky mice when I received it but this has never worked.

Over these 4 months I have force fed this thing mouse and rat tails and recently egg through a syringe (thought I may as well experiment at this point).

Could he possibly just need to brumate? I am afriad to do this with such a small snake but I really don't feel I have any more options. He seems incredibly healthy considering he DOES NOT EAT! He shows no interest in mice of any sort what so ever. I have tried scenting with mouse urine, pinky rats, brain casing even bought a salamander to rub live or thawed pinky mice onto but no luck.

I don't believe its a matter of a simple trick for this guy. Has anybody seen anything like this? What really confuses me is how healthy he at least seems.

You may be trying too hard. I force feed a mouse tail, then I leave it alone for 4 days, then I take a f/t tiny pinky wash it with a tiny tiny drop of non scented soap, rinse off all soap (make sure it is all off). I put it in front of the snakes hide at night before I go to bed, then don't check it till the next day. If he doesn't take it, take another tail, and repeat. You should always wash the pinky until it eats on its own. They don't like the smell of domestic mice, but they will eventually take them. I don't force the tail all the way. What I do is take the tail, put 1/4" in the snakes throat, hold snake by the tail almost at the end. They usually start taking it down themselves. Keep using mice. Egg is usually a last resort for a starving snake (my opinion). Keep with the steps of tails and pinks, but always wash the pinks. You can even brain them sometimes, but out of 7 GBKs this year, 5 are eating pinks now. It takes lots and lots and lots and lots of patience. You'll get there. Don't rush it. A snake can go along time without food. You have gotten tails in it, so it should be ok. Everything I have decribed is how I got my snakes to eat. This worked for me. Email me, and I can help you some more.If I remember correctly, it is a GBK? kingsnaken@gmail.com Good luck. Derek

.. I forgot to mention that.

I will try cleaning pinky mice and leaving them overnight. In the past I have always had better luck with a live newborn pinky but I'll try washing the pinky. Is there any type of unscented soap which is prefered for this?

I have been only forcefeeding tails every 2 weeks or so to try to build up some hunger .. but it doesn't help. I even tried a cricket last night out of despiration but no luck. I'll keep you guys posted.

I have a couple hondos that only eat live. If none of that stuff works, you might think about a vet visit. They aren't usually stubborn eaters. You could take a stool sample to the vet also, which is much cheaper. Where did you get it? Derek

Just hibernate him/her.The snake will loose less wieght in brumation than if you keep it up and force feed it.
Just put it down for two or two and a half months and then bring it up.It will probably take live pinks/small fuzzies then.
Shannon

get some house or Mediterranean geckos from Glades Herp and freeze them for about a month to kill the bugs. Wash your pinks (live or dead) with Ivory and pulp a gecko to use as a basting sauce.
Freeze the geckos in small tubs of water and they'll keep for years=just thaw one or two when needed. The gecko mash will last for a few freeze/thaw cycles.
If you have skinks in your area, I'd give them a try also.
I wouldn't cool the snake for more than 2 months and try to avoid less than 55; 60-70 is cool for these guys.
For the record, I worked on an Alterna for 2 years but that won't happen here....
Good luck, Jeff

I have force fed baby snakes for over a year before they started feeding. I remember Ernie Wagner pinky pumping adult snakes that had never fed, back in the 1980's.
Most of the time I use A/D cat food from a vets, which has all the nutrition needed and I feed the snake through a feeding tube.
On pinky mice, I wash the pinky with Baking Soda, which I think takes the smell off of the pink.
Hibernation is also an option.

I think I will put him down for the winter and then make a good effort with some new methods: live (maybe other baby rodents than mouse), cleaning the mouse, scenting the mouse ...

I would mention where he is from but it really doesn't matter, its an honsest and reliable breeder (at least that tells that it is not from some pet store or some mystery man) The main thing is that the siblings are doing great. They are absolute PIGS and have never missed a F/T meal. Funny how they are from the same clutch and this one just wont eat.

How do you keep this hondo?

My preference is: plastic shoe box (painted white on outside to help animal feel secure; use artist jesso, dry brush); hide area (cork bark or small plastic), aspen bedding preferred over newspaper.

Baby snakes and adults like their peace and quiet, no unnecessary handling, and food untouched by human hands (forceps) or leave pink on top of hide object.

Mike

I keep him in a semi-clear showbox sized tupperware, I use mini cereal boxes for a hide. He can also hide under his waterdish. Betachip bedding. When feeding I use forcepts and do avoid touching the mice. I usually have the best luck placing the mouse just inside the hide box as opposed to ontop.

we all encounter a balky hatchling now and then. Ask Don Shores about the CalKings I sent him. I'd hatched 2 clutches from a single female Brooksi one season and had one hatchling refuse to feed for a couple months-really unusual. Your non-feeding Hondo falls into the weird files also (in my limited experience).
Would you pls shoot me a couple pics of the bi-colored milk you mentioned some time ago?
Here's the addy: Jis97@aol.com
Thanx, Jeff