Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I wrote this article for Gray-banded Kings but it certainly applies to other mexicana complex Kings / and Milks as well.

If you have edits for me or suggestions to add to it, please send them to me. It's been a while since I wrote it and there certainly could be something I missed.

When someone posts "my snake won't eat" it will be easier to point them to the article than typing out a long response every time.

The article

www.kingsnake.com/alterna/hatchlin.html

linked from the resource page - link titled "documents"

www.kingsnake.com/alterna/resource.html
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http://www.hcu-tx.org

Wonderful article Joe, thanks for sharing it.

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Michelle
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.

Thanks for the article Joe. I've also heard of dipping the pinkie in warm chicken broth, but have yet to try it. Has anyone had success with this?
Ken

i didnt see anything about slap feeding in the article does anyone else do this or am i the lone ranger here?

>>i didnt see anything about slap feeding in the article does anyone else do this or am i the lone ranger here?

the antagonistic approach? That's one that we haven't included yet. Good job, sometimes that works.
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http://www.hcu-tx.org

Could you please explain slap feeding. I have never heard of that one. Thanks, Derek

It isn't where you slap your thayeri into eating, lol, but kind of nudge the prey item in its' face and bump its' body to get a defensive/feeding strike. But if they don't eat after that.....LOL!
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Todd Hughes

it is what i do when i have tricky feeders because scenting to me becomes a pain in the butt. you have to put the snake in basically a three finger headlock, dipping the pinkies head in the water seems to help, and then you gently rub the pinky across his face. I fed 15 hatchling that wouldn't eat for four months and it only took a few minutes, but i have been doing it awile.