Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok I may have a gravid female this year, that I posted pics of earlier that NO ONE REPLIED ABOUT
I know most of you start with the first 2 (give or take) feedings with mouse tails right? How do you do it? Assist feed it or just see if they will take it on their own. Also what size of o mouse do you take the tail from?
Thanks

CHRIS FLOWERS

For me, mouse tails are just used for extreme problem feeders that will not take a pink (scented / plain / brained / etc) or a thawed lizard. A newly hatched snake can go for a long while on the yolk reserves they are hatched with if they want / need to.

Now I know for some there is a problem with having small pinks on hand, or access to lizards and so on.

Also, the tail of a mouse could not possibly meet long term nutritional needs. One thing about pure predators is that organ meat is needed to get all the trace nutrients (at least that is my personal opinion). But the tail is easy to force feed and will not "blow up" like a soft skinned thawed pinky, just wet it and ease it down the tiny gullet.

My experience is that tails will keep them alive, but they will not put on weight or grow for you until they start taking whole meals.

Lance
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Herp Conservation Unlimited

some folks dip the tail in egg, and make sure the hairs are pointing backwards, then the tail slides down pretty quick and easy.

The once or twice I used tails it was from the largest adult mouse I could find, and the tail is still small enough for the smallest hatchling, just cut off a section about 1" long or so for a first meal, and make sure no sharp bone is protruding.

The most important thing IMO is to always give the hatchlings an opportunity to eat / switch to mice at every meal. This year I had pretty good luck with live newborn pinks thrown in the hide box and left alone for a while.

Forks
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Herp Conservation Unlimited
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Photography by Joseph E. Forks
Captive Bred Locality Matched Desert Kingsnakes

Don't start your hatchlings out on tails....try offering what you prefer to feed and then use that as a starting point. I always try the following:

F/T
Brained
Cut in half pinks f/t
Live pinks

If that fails, I cool them for 30-45 days. If they survive the cool down, they get offered all of the above again. Most of the really stubborn ones will take a pink cut in half. If none of that works, then and only then do I resort to tails. Cut a mouse tail about 1/4" to 1/2" long and gently get the snake to open its mouth. Wet the tail and very gently slide the tail down the throat until it is deep in the mouth. You can usually massage it from there. It is a pretty stressful event so don't do it wearing your favorite t-shirt or you'll have snake poopie stains on it

Russ

this is the first I have seen of cut in half pinks... Do you think the hatchling has an issue with just the size of a whole pink? I assume you offer the front half?

Always looking for something new for the old bag of tricks..

Lance
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Herp Conservation Unlimited

It really doesn't matter which end you offer, I believe it is the scent of the body fluids that drives them to eat. I usually achieve a very high percentage of feeders using the half pink method.
Russ

my big trick is to make a small hollow beneith the water bowl and place a f/t pink in it so that the neonate can hunt for and find it. This works with almost 100% of my reluctant first time feeders.

Tony is spot on...his trick works well.

I've never had to "mouse tail" thayeri. Appropriate sized f/t pinks do it. Split braining can help smaller neonates get past the head.