Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It's been a really rough week - lots of financial stress, work stress, legal issues, family issues, my boyfriend moved three states away a few days ago, etc etc - on top of which, I've had a beautiful BRB hatchling in my care for about 2 weeks now who has refused every meal I've offered her. Pinkies, fuzzies, fresh killed, F/T, hairless, hairy, brained, bloodied, teased, "dangled"... the little beauty had never eaten and I was starting to get REALLY worried. She's spunky, and has stuck at me several times, but just couldn't seem to figure out that whole "eating" thing.

Not to mention I trekked to our [bleep]ty local pet store today to pick up some live pinkies for yet another attempt, only to see a dead ball back in the reptile section. When I confronted the owner about it, he shrugged it off, saying "That thar one never was a good eater ennyway. They come ta me without a guarantee so he never did eat nothin."

Anyway, I left the live hamster pinky in with the hatchling and she showed no interest, so I left for work, really depressed and thinking I would either have to find someone with more experience to force feed her, or even worse, have to face another dead snake in a few days.

I got home from work tonight, checked her half-heartedly and just about had a heart attack -she ate it!

I know this must seem small potatoes to those of you with large collections, but especially after such a stressful, depressing week, it was WONDERFUL to come home to a really euphoric reminder about why keeping snakes is so rewarding. No one else could possibly understand, so I just wanted to share with you guys
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1.2 BRB (Epicrates cenchria cenchria)
1.0 African egg eater (Dasypeltis atra)
1.2 Corns (Pantherophis)
0.1 Hog Island Boa (Boa constrictor imperator)

It's always a relief when a stubborn one eats!!! Congrats!!!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Don't get stressed about a young snake that does not eat for two weeks. They can go many months between meals. Force feeding should not even be considered for the first month that they do not feed. You mentioned quite a few things that you tried feeding to the snake but I notice that a little BRB's favorite meal was not listed. They will eat a live hopper mouse that runs around before they will eat most anything else. The fact that the snake was striking indicates that it was stressed and stress is often the reason they do not eat. Get them tamed and set up in correct caging so that they are not stressed and they will almost always eat.
Jeff

>>It's been a really rough week - lots of financial stress, work stress, legal issues, family issues, my boyfriend moved three states away a few days ago, etc etc - on top of which, I've had a beautiful BRB hatchling in my care for about 2 weeks now who has refused every meal I've offered her. Pinkies, fuzzies, fresh killed, F/T, hairless, hairy, brained, bloodied, teased, "dangled"... the little beauty had never eaten and I was starting to get REALLY worried. She's spunky, and has stuck at me several times, but just couldn't seem to figure out that whole "eating" thing.
>>
>>Not to mention I trekked to our [bleep]ty local pet store today to pick up some live pinkies for yet another attempt, only to see a dead ball back in the reptile section. When I confronted the owner about it, he shrugged it off, saying "That thar one never was a good eater ennyway. They come ta me without a guarantee so he never did eat nothin."
>>
>>Anyway, I left the live hamster pinky in with the hatchling and she showed no interest, so I left for work, really depressed and thinking I would either have to find someone with more experience to force feed her, or even worse, have to face another dead snake in a few days.
>>
>>I got home from work tonight, checked her half-heartedly and just about had a heart attack -she ate it!
>>
>>I know this must seem small potatoes to those of you with large collections, but especially after such a stressful, depressing week, it was WONDERFUL to come home to a really euphoric reminder about why keeping snakes is so rewarding. No one else could possibly understand, so I just wanted to share with you guys
>>-----
>>1.2 BRB (Epicrates cenchria cenchria)
>>1.0 African egg eater (Dasypeltis atra)
>>1.2 Corns (Pantherophis)
>>0.1 Hog Island Boa (Boa constrictor imperator)

Thanks for the advice - this is the first hatchling I've ever had.
I live in such a rural area that there is virtually no selection concerning food - the nearest pet store is 30 minutes away, and they have live pinkys/fuzzies/hoppers only infrequently - this has been her first (live) meal because this has been the first time any rodent within a 50 mile radius has given birth in the time I've had her. Trust me, I've been trying. Now that I know, however, and one pet store has FINALLY had a litter of hamster babies, hopefully things will go a bit easier from here on out.

I believe I'm keeping her in correct caging - a plastic shoebox with airholes, damp paper towel as substrate, water bowl, hide box, and I have a little terra cotta pot filled with damp moss that she loves to perch on. I haven't yet handled her, as I was waiting for this meal to happen first, and she shed within a few days of my getting her. Would you recommend anything else?
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1.2 BRB (Epicrates cenchria cenchria)
1.0 African egg eater (Dasypeltis atra)
1.2 Corns (Pantherophis)
0.1 Hog Island Boa (Boa constrictor imperator)

It sounds like you have a nice setup for her. As soon as this meal gets digested for a couple days start handling her daily and she should calm down.
Jeff

>>Thanks for the advice - this is the first hatchling I've ever had.
>>I live in such a rural area that there is virtually no selection concerning food - the nearest pet store is 30 minutes away, and they have live pinkys/fuzzies/hoppers only infrequently - this has been her first (live) meal because this has been the first time any rodent within a 50 mile radius has given birth in the time I've had her. Trust me, I've been trying. Now that I know, however, and one pet store has FINALLY had a litter of hamster babies, hopefully things will go a bit easier from here on out.
>>
>>I believe I'm keeping her in correct caging - a plastic shoebox with airholes, damp paper towel as substrate, water bowl, hide box, and I have a little terra cotta pot filled with damp moss that she loves to perch on. I haven't yet handled her, as I was waiting for this meal to happen first, and she shed within a few days of my getting her. Would you recommend anything else?
>>-----
>>1.2 BRB (Epicrates cenchria cenchria)
>>1.0 African egg eater (Dasypeltis atra)
>>1.2 Corns (Pantherophis)
>>0.1 Hog Island Boa (Boa constrictor imperator)

Congrats! I know your joy, I finally got my most stubborn GBK hatchling to take a meal last week. He's quite a bit smaller than your BRB babies at 6gm and he went a full 2 months before he finally gave in. I definitely did a happy dance!
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Julie

Surrounded by a bunch of BRB, some Ridleyi, a few Grey Banded Kings, Australian Cattle Dogs, a Belgian Malinois, assorted Mustelids and an incredibly tolerant male human.

I'm glad your little girl's finally eating! I know how hard waiting can be. I'm waiting for my baby blood python to eat so I can get her from the breeder (She's been one of his very slowest eaters). She's my birthday present from way back in June, so it's getting harder and harder to wait---especially when I thought I'd have her a month ago!
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Renee
1.0 BRB (Loki)
2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
0.1 blood python (Duchess, arriving later this month)
1.1 Cats (Nightshade & Cuzzy)