Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all and thanks in advance for any suggestoins or help you may be able to provide. I bought an 07 Red Albino in early 08 and it was sold to me as a garunteed frozen thawed pinky feeder it weighed in at 11 grams, the problem is that I have NEVER gotten him to feed on f/t pinks only frog/chicken egg scented or train fed behind a frog. He has fed only 10 times(with great frustration to me) since I got him, now he weighs 10 grams and I am running out of options he wont eat any of the following frogs,toads,eggs,guppy,goldfish,cricket,anole,gecko,anole eggs,gecko eggs, tuna,salmon,pinkies,salamanders,earthworm,pinkies wrapped in frogskins, just plain wont eat and I am not a starter I have been dealing with hogs for about 7 years now with no problems from any of the rest of my hogs
I keep his temps at 84-86 F and he is kept in a 6quart sterilite tub good ventalation 14hours of light with very little intrusion into my reptile room 2 times daily to check on them with no handling unless I am cleaning tubs. Seriously any ideas that I have not already tried may help, I really dont want to have to force feeding this guy
thanks again

don't worry.but please don't force feed, males are a pain and i've had mine go off feed for months.i don't know why it's males that do this [you did say it's a male right] but they can be just like ball pythons sometimes. i've had male hogs go off feed
for two months, if it feed for you before it will feed again.but
try and keep him a smaller container as i have had many problem
feeders eat when kept in very small boxes.

FORCE FEED IMMEDIATELY. Your snake is starving. Any 2007 snake that has eaten only 10 times in over a year and has lost weight (going from 11g to 10g) is in serious trouble. My experience has been that if you don't get a hog feeding regularly fairly early, they often are problem feeders all their lives. You should immediately start force feeding a pinkie head or "ham" twice weekly, and graduate to full pinkies until this snake eats on his own. A 2007 male western hog should be at least 50g and even 75g or more. It is IMHO past time to take drastic measures.
-----
Greg Jackson

Hi Greg, thanks for your advice its nice to hear someone else's opinion on force feeding. a few hours after posting my first message I rolled a pinky head in egg yolk/white and stuffed it down his throat, and this morning he willingly fed on 2 frog scented pinks(would have given him more but his stomach couldnt take it) at this point I really dont care what he feeds on as long as he will feed so hopefully he will continue to feed, his half brother was born about the same time and is well over 60grams and proven. I find it EXTREMELY IRRITATING that the breeder wont stand behind one of his snakes.
thanks
Adam
HOGS:
1.1 high contrast albino
1.0 red albino
0.1 100% het albino
0.1 66% het pink pastel
0.1 66% het snow
0.1 speckled
0.1 cinnamon
1.0 great plains
1.0 reduced pattern pos het hypo
1.0 red phase pos het hypo
0.1 100% het hypo pos het pastel
1.0 100% DH Ghost

First, try a smaller container, like a small deli cup. Also try to keep it on the warmer side(but make sure he does not get dehydrated)

Also try to dip a pink in water and rub its mouth when you notice it start to drink, hold the pink steady and sometimes this will work.

Obviously there are tons of other methods to try, and when the hog is ready to eat - it probably will.

I was in a similar situation last year, and almost lost patience with everything, but it turned around - the presistence and patience paid off - he is my breeding king.