Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been struggling with a hatchling that I have had for about 6 months. Force-feeding mouse tails every week trying to get him to eat. F/T, live, brained, quartered....... nothing. Then last night I saw a trick used by the guys at BHB ([ban]) involving scenting with tuna fish. Well, tonight I gave it a shot and sure enough......I have a fat hatchling!

What a relief. I would have been heartbroken to lose him, and I hated manipulating him in such a way to force-feed, as the little fella is all of 6 inches long
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1.0 C/B Brooks
0.1 C/B Lavender brooks
0.0.1 W/C Scarlet King
0.0.1 W/C Eastern Milk
0.0.1 W/C Yellow Rat
0.0.1 W/C Western Garter
1.0 C/B Black Lab
1.0 C/B Min. PoodleXAmer. Eskimo hybrid
1.0 C/B Goofy Cat
1.2 C/B Children
0.1 W/C wife

Good deal. Never tried that trick, but I've heard of it too.

Dave

DNS Reptiles

Man, mine looks identical to that one you have pictured. Mine is a Lewis Co. Kentucky locality. Where is yours from?
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1.0 C/B Brooks
0.1 C/B Lavender brooks
0.0.1 W/C Scarlet King
0.0.1 W/C Eastern Milk
0.0.1 W/C Yellow Rat
0.0.1 W/C Western Garter
1.0 C/B Black Lab
1.0 C/B Min. PoodleXAmer. Eskimo hybrid
1.0 C/B Goofy Cat
1.2 C/B Children
0.1 W/C wife

Mine is Westchester county NY locale. It will darken up and look like this as an adult.

Dave

DNS Reptiles

Westchester county NY? Thats where I live Dave. Did you find that eastern milk?
These are from Putnam co NY,the next county north of Westchester

CB male 2004

Nice chocolate brown on these and thick black borders

This is the dad to the one above

A female from the same locale

Another male same spot with more of a olive brown

He eats from my hand

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"Wake me when its April"
Doug L

Hey Doug,

You live there? No kidding? No I didn't collect them myself but got them in a trade.

I like those putnum county animals. Very nice. Did they breed for you in 2008?

Here is another shot of the female with different lighting (but no flash) so you can see her, she has the same thick black boders typical of the NY triangulum.

Dave

They didn.t breed in 08'.In fact that female just died. I was so pissed.Your look like they have that chocolate brown that I like so much with the thick black.When I get babys Ill let you know.

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"Wake me when its April"
Doug L

Yeah, let me know. That totally SUCKS you lost that really light female. Sorry about that.

Dave

Nice snakes Dave. How big are they? My female (mother of Dougs little md easterns) is now 33 inches.

Thanks. That female is on the small side...I'd say 26 - 28" somewhere around there.

Dave

Awesome!

Tuna scenting has worked for me too. I have one yearling Mexican hognose that still only eats mice scented with tuna juice. Its a pain, but at least he eats.

Dan Eby

I'll take scenting over force feeding any day. Plus, the leftover tuna fits my diet as well.
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1.0 C/B Brooks
0.1 C/B Lavender brooks
0.0.1 W/C Scarlet King
0.0.1 W/C Eastern Milk
0.0.1 W/C Yellow Rat
0.0.1 W/C Western Garter
1.0 C/B Black Lab
1.0 C/B Min. PoodleXAmer. Eskimo hybrid
1.0 C/B Goofy Cat
1.2 C/B Children
0.1 W/C wife

great news,I tryed that trick also but it didnt work for me.Its a old hognose trick.

My bet is your snake will take off now and eat like a pig

This pic is after the 1st meal

this pic after the 14th meal. That took about 12 weeks

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"Wake me when its April"
Doug L

You can also try fish oil capsules in the future. Just poke a hole in it and squeeze some of the oil put onto a prey item. Glad to hear it's eating now.

no kidding? Now THAT's creative scenting!
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1.0 C/B Brooks
0.1 C/B Lavender brooks
0.0.1 W/C Scarlet King
0.0.1 W/C Eastern Milk
0.0.1 W/C Yellow Rat
0.0.1 W/C Western Garter
1.0 C/B Black Lab
1.0 C/B Min. PoodleXAmer. Eskimo hybrid
1.0 C/B Goofy Cat
1.2 C/B Children
0.1 W/C wife

Pretty awesome. I never did try that on myself. Maybe next time I am about the choke one I will try that first!