Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all,
I still have one baby from my May 4th litter that has not fed. I'm wondering at what point I should attempt a force-feeding. I've tried all the tricks I picked up from here on getting her to eat on her own. She's still doing pretty well(to think I get crabby after a few hours without food!).

Also, what are your best practices for force feeding? I have never done this and I don't think there is anyone in my area with experience in this.

Huge thanks in advance for your help!
Chris
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Chris
1.1 Columbian BCI
0.1 CA BCI

The procedure its self isn't to complicated,but it must be done correctly.Little ones are fragile,so try and see the procedure first hand before attempting.

Or better yet, just wait it out. I have a Woma I hatched in February that still hasn't eaten. One of these days I'll figure out what I'm doing that he doesn't recognize, or the switch will turn on and he'll eat. 9 times out of 10 it is keeper error with non-feeders.
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South Central Herpetological

I know you have mentioned that you've tried all the avenues, but just to double check, you have tried all these options??

1. Live mice hoppers or appropriate size
2. Live rat pups or approp. size
3. Baby chicks
4. "Braining" a mouse (puncturing its skull and smearing blood and brain material over the outside of the animal)
5. "Braining" a rat pup
6. CHICKEN BROTH - I know it sounds crazy but works quite well. Get a can of chicken broth, and dip the mouse's head in it.
7. Chicken broth trick on rat and mouse.
8. Chicken broth with brained animal

If none of those work then Im with ya. The braining works quite well and so does the chicken broth, and they are two avenues many people dont do because they dont want to mess with it. If you havent tried these two avenues, you havent tried all the avenues and the best two at that.

If you have ... lol ... well my friend Im not sure then. As far as force feeding goes I would still wait a few months. I had a litter of Dumerils once and had some animals hold out 4 months!

Since you guys don't seem to be freaking out about the 2 1/2 months yet, I will just hold out and be patient. I have tried the braining, but not in combination with the chicken broth. Maybe that will be the perfect recipe!
At any rate, I just started to get a little nervous since it's been 10 weeks. Thanks for calming the nerves!
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Chris
1.1 Columbian BCI
0.1 CA BCI

Makes for great flavoring for you next gourmet meal!! Seriously though that baby should come around soon, one more trick try washing the scent away with mild soap & water rinse well try that with live & pre killed. Sorry, I have another thought its a stretch but some of the imperator sub species are "island" boas and there diets consist of lizards and birds. You may want to try buying an anole lizard, freeze it first then rub with pink mouse to transfer scent???
Joel

Thanks for the suggestions! If she holds out much longer, I'll try the lizard idea. Maybe that'll be the trick
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Chris
1.1 Columbian BCI
0.1 CA BCI