Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A buddy of mine gave me a het amel male Western Hog that he couldn't get to eat. I've tried F/T, F/K, toad scenting, frog scenting, live, small lizards and deer mice all with no luck. I've also tried putting it in a deli cup with a lid on it. I've never had one refuse toad scented thawed mice so I'm out of ideas. Anyone have any other strategies I can try? The temps are all normal for Westerns and it has acceptable substrate to burrow in to feel secure. I have around 10 others and they are all set up exactly the same way with no feeding problems regardless of age.
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Inventory
1.2 Bairds Rat Snake
5.11 Ball Pythons
1.3 Boa Constrictors
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boas
0.2 Cal Kings
1.2 Carpet Pythons
26.38.4 Corn Snakes
1.2 Dumerils Boa
1.0 Eastern Fox Snake
1.1 Green Tree Pythons
1.0 Grey Banded Kingsnake
1.1 Hog Island Boa
1.3 Jallisco Milksnake
1.3 Kenyan Sand Boas
1.1 Mandarin Rat Snake
1.3 Mexican Black Kingsnake
0.0.1 Northern Water Snake
1.1 Red Milksnake
1.1 Ruthvens Kingsnake
2.5 San Luis Potosi Kingsnake
1.1 Spotted Pythons
1.2 Taiwan Beauty
5.5 Western Hognose

I've heard some people having luck with scenting using a can of tuna. I think they use the juice from it. I also heard canned sardines work sometimes too. just makes sure you get them in water goodluck and let us know
wayne

I have one that I have to brain the mouse. She drinks the brains off the head and then eats....totally gross, but it works!
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Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

"The beatings will continue until morale improves!"

Like Wayne said, I was gonna suggest tuna water too.

reako45

Thanks for the ideas! I'll give it a shot tomorrow!

>>A buddy of mine gave me a het amel male Western Hog that he couldn't get to eat. I've tried F/T, F/K, toad scenting, frog scenting, live, small lizards and deer mice all with no luck. I've also tried putting it in a deli cup with a lid on it. I've never had one refuse toad scented thawed mice so I'm out of ideas. Anyone have any other strategies I can try? The temps are all normal for Westerns and it has acceptable substrate to burrow in to feel secure. I have around 10 others and they are all set up exactly the same way with no feeding problems regardless of age.
>>-----
>>Inventory
>>1.2 Bairds Rat Snake
>>5.11 Ball Pythons
>>1.3 Boa Constrictors
>>1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boas
>>0.2 Cal Kings
>>1.2 Carpet Pythons
>>26.38.4 Corn Snakes
>>1.2 Dumerils Boa
>>1.0 Eastern Fox Snake
>>1.1 Green Tree Pythons
>>1.0 Grey Banded Kingsnake
>>1.1 Hog Island Boa
>>1.3 Jallisco Milksnake
>>1.3 Kenyan Sand Boas
>>1.1 Mandarin Rat Snake
>>1.3 Mexican Black Kingsnake
>>0.0.1 Northern Water Snake
>>1.1 Red Milksnake
>>1.1 Ruthvens Kingsnake
>>2.5 San Luis Potosi Kingsnake
>>1.1 Spotted Pythons
>>1.2 Taiwan Beauty
>>5.5 Western Hognose
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Snake Inventory
1.2 Bairds Rat Snake
5.11 Ball Pythons
1.3 Boa Constrictors
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boas
0.2 Cal Kings
1.2 Carpet Pythons
26.38.4 Corn Snakes
1.2 Dumerils Boa
1.0 Eastern Fox Snake
1.1 Green Tree Pythons
1.0 Grey Banded Kingsnake
1.1 Hog Island Boa
1.3 Jallisco Milksnake
1.3 Kenyan Sand Boas
1.1 Mandarin Rat Snake
1.3 Mexican Black Kingsnake
0.0.1 Northern Water Snake
1.1 Red Milksnake
1.1 Ruthvens Kingsnake
2.5 San Luis Potosi Kingsnake
1.1 Spotted Pythons
1.2 Taiwan Beauty
5.5 Western Hognose

Best of luck. My guy hadn't been eating for a while also so, I offered him 2 tuna-juice scented fuzzies, and he ate 'em right up. He had been taking live unscented fuzzies. I think I read a post on this forum here (can't remember who it was by) that talked about the fickle feeding tastes of some Western hogs. I guess they will change up on you. Now, my guy will only eat toad or tuna scented fuzzies. Strange snakes.

reako45