Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I posted a couple weeks ago about a pair of subocs 07s that would not eat. It's been 5 weeks. Cage set up and temps are correct. I have 2 other pairs that are doing fine. They were said to be eating f/t pinks.I have tried live and dead pinks and recently dead anoles , sometimes leaving them in there for days. I think it is almost time to step in and do something. They are very delicate to begin with, so if I have to, what is the best way to force feed?What about a pinky pump,should I get one? Any ideas.

Five weeks seems like a long time but it really isn't. Snakes can go down for months if they have to. I wouldn't jump on the force feeding band wagon just yet. There are many ways to try that I bet you haven't gotten to yet. I would try a dark small escape proof container with a day old pink in each container first. Leave it for 24 hours, peek in after that. The more secure they feel, the more apt they are to do what they do. A smaller container also will enable they pink to keep bumping into the suboc, and with no place to go, a strike will probably ensue. I really think they like to hide and ambush when small. My girl would stay in her rock cave and pull the food in to her, rarely showing. She then became bolder and would come out to eat. Braining is another option, but I would exhaust all options before the force feed. I have only had to force feed one snake in my life, it was a brain damaged Schott's whipsnake adult that someone clubbed. He didn't make it but we kept it alive for several weeks, I think it gave up the ghost from both the trauma of the damage and the stress. My .02.

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Todd Hughes

Do NOT force feed yet! Our sub-ocs sometimes drive us nutty but we've NEVER lost one from starvation. Actually, the only loss we've ever had was from a wc & I suspect heartworm.
Carry on another month into springtime. That amount of time could be the trigger. Also, offer a hide with moist sphagnum. Our guys really love them & I'm really thinking these hides are crucial.
What you're experiencing is not unusual. Some sub-ocs can be awfully finicky, some can be pigs. In our experience with them, it's just a matter of waiting them out. Eventually, they'll eat. Don't cram any forced food down them.
Just me thoughts.
Dan.

Don't force feed ! I've had a couple (hatchlings) off feed for 6 weeks before they started. Live prey usually works if fed in a quiet dark area.

Use an empty paper coffee cup with a live pink. Leave cup in cage, in case of escapes, overnight.

Mike