Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have four baby hognose from three different clutches and only one has eaten since i have had them, which is two weeks. I have offered live pinkies each week in their enclosures as well as deli cups but they are not interested. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

try dipping the pinkie in tuna fish water then put the snake and the pinkie in a brown paper lunch bag fold the bag down and leave it alone for atleast 12 14 hours. This has always worked for me.

Hi

Have you tried 'split braining' frozen thawed pinkies? This gets a really good feeding response from some babies. It's a bit grim, but you just need to push a sharp knife through the top of the skull, squeeze the side of the head so that some of the brain matter comes out of the top, and then use the knife to smear this goo over the pinkie's face. Sounds pretty unappetizing, but it works!

I've just tried the tuna trick with a really stubborn feeder that won't even accept split brain pinkies. It worked straight away-immediate feeding response with no need for a paper bag or container.

great tip

thank you

I haven't tried split brain yet. I am currently trying the tuna water. Hopefully I'll get a response. Thank you for the help.

Paul

Anole scent works well too.
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Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

"When your memories are bigger than your dreams, you're headed for the grave" Author unknown

Tuna water didn't work so next will be split brain. How do you go about anole scenting?

Paul

Well, I keep an anole to scent with. I either rub the pink all over the anole, or wrap the head of the pink in shed skin from the anole. Of course the skin works the best because it has the strongest scent, but is also the hardest to come by.
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Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

"When your memories are bigger than your dreams, you're headed for the grave" Author unknown

Forgot to mention another method that has worked for a few of my westerns. I had a few that would not eat unless they drank water off of the pink first. I would have to hold a wet pink up to their snout and let them drink. Eventually they would just open up and eat it. I have an adult female that still prefers to eat that way.
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Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

"When your memories are bigger than your dreams, you're headed for the grave" Author unknown

Thank you everyone for the help. The two older hogs are now eating very well. The younger pair still haven't taken a meal since I've had them, which is now a month. I still haven't tried frog, toad, or anole scenting yet. The reason for this is I don't have a place to keep them. Are frozen available?

Paul