Reptile & Amphibian Forums

O.K. I know the question comes up all the time "How do I get my hoggie to eat?" I want to refine the question a little and ask how all of you get your neonate westerns to eat mice? F/t vs. live? Scented /unscented? I want to know what you have had the most success with. I know it will vary from person to person, but really would like to know what has worked for you guys. I am finding my westerns harder to start eating than the tricolors....go figure!
-----
Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

"The beatings will continue until morale improves!"

Most of the times they take f/t pinks right away. I start feeding within the first 2-5 days after hatching.

The few that wont take them, I'll try live pinks (not scented), and if that wont work, I scent the f/t pinkie with "smelt"fish. works like a charm .
-----
Best regards

Mark

ok first thing I try is FT pinkies. if it doesn't work the first time I wait a week or so and try again. after that I try live pinkies, wait a week or so try them again. my last resort is to brain them. and that usually works with my stubborn ones. if they don't take brained I'll force feed them a few times. that usually gets the most stubborn feeders to eat. I still have lost a hog or 2 to not wantnig to eat.
wayne

O.K. I know the question comes up all the time "How do I get my hoggie to eat?" I want to refine the question a little and ask how all of you get your neonate westerns to eat mice? F/t vs. live? Scented /unscented? I want to know what you have had the most success with. I know it will vary from person to person, but really would like to know what has worked for you guys. I am finding my westerns harder to start eating than the tricolors....go figure!

It seems like the live pinkies spook the baby hogs more often than not. I've had more success with f/t brained pinkies in a deli cup,but if you can get ahold of some c.b. baby deer mice your problems are all over 90% of the time. Kevin