Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I don't want to get off on the wrong foot with my honduran hatchlings. I acquired the adults as young adult good feeders so am not used to starting hatchling milks.

Any tricks to getting them feeding? Within a few days after shed 2 of 3 have refused feeding attempts. (1 refused live as well as frozen thawed medium pinks. 1 refused prekilled and wasn't offered live). The other ate a live, then a prekilled 2 days later.

I appreciate any help.

Adam

Slice the head open on a dead pinky with a sharp razor blade, then squeeze it a little so a little brain material oozes out. Smear this all around the nose and face of the dead pinkie,..many times this triggers a feeding response.

Offer this head first to the snake slowly with a long pair of forceps or tongs. Try not to move your body AT ALL, as many times this distracts them from feeding too, they are extremely nervous as a rule, especially when they are this young. If it doesn't seem to want it right then, leave the "brained" pinkie in there with it and slowly close the top and leave it alone for a while in a TOTALLY dark place.

A very SMALL container, and a nice tight low hide is another necessary item, unless they are in a deli cup.

see if this triggers a response, then move onto some other tricks.

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Thanks Doug, this is a technique I'm familiar with on the hognose snakes ... so I'll give it a try on the milks if they keep refusing. I'll get out the old tongs and pretend I'm ice fishing Adam

First rule is be patient. Don't attempt to feed until after that first shed.

I usually make three attempts with a FT pink left in the cage overnight before resorting to other methods.

My first other method is to cup the hatchling in a deli cup with the FT pink and leave them together in the cage overnight. This usually works.

Then I resort to live pinks left in the cage and if that doesn't work, live pink cupped overnight with the hatchling.

I have NEVER had to do anything else with Hondurans or black milks. Using these methods I have had one Honduran wait me out for 5 weeks before taking a meal. She then ate with no problems on FT. I find the larger the hatchling the more stubborn they can be on that first feed. My theory is that they are full of yolk and not that hungry.

Bottom line: Don't panic, don't forcefeed and just keep trying every four or five days. Hondurans and black mils are usually eating machines. They get hungry eventually.

Rob

Thanks Rob, I was kind of expecting eating machines, which is why I wondered if I was doing anything wrong. But these are certainly fat little hatchies so maybe like you said I'll give them a chance to develop an appetite. Adam

In addition to what has already been stated here, you can also wash the pinky with soap and water. You can try this whether you brain it or not. When we put them in a deli cup we also cover it at night with a towel large enough to black them out out.
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Thanks!

Joe Exposito
Thoroughbred Exotics, LLC
www.thoroughbredexotics.com

Ok, when I feed thawed frozens they've usually been soaking in water, but the prekilleds I offered came right from a mouse colony enclosure so lots of rodent scent. Are these snakes after lizards and small reptiles in the wild? Thanks!

"Are these snakes after lizards and small reptiles in the wild?"

>> Many times, yes, absolutely, but the important thing is to try to get them wanting what YOU want them to eat, which are rodents. And sure, after all attempts are made(and tricks) to get them started on rodents has failed after a good period of time, then you can resort to the next "lesser of the evil's", and try scenting. They can ALWAYS be weened off scented stuff, the MAIN thing is to get them eating ANYTHING if it goes on for a prolonged time.

I always try to take things in stages.

1) preferred(un-scented mice)
2) next choice(brained, or washed)
3) next choice(scented pinkie of several types)

take care, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Thanks again Doug. I've got 2/3 feeding on unscented prekilleds and my prized little hypo, bad omen or not, is chasing pinks around from tongs. That little Eastern on the other hand ...

I give mine 7-9 days after shed before offering food. It's good to have another proven eater on hand (any snake) so you don't wind up throwing the pink away. I use clean paper coffee cups, (no plastic or styrofoam) covered, and place container back inside the cage, either upright or on its side. Check cup in a few hrs. If not eaten, feed pink to another snake.

Sometimes they'll go after the second shed. Depends how big the hatchlings are at birth.

Mike

Ok thanks Mike. I jumped the gun a little and now have a snake that thinks its time to fight when it smells a pinky mouse. I'm going to give it a few days. Adam

You cannot do any better than the advice you have been given so far...I have used these same techniques, some from the same people that replied to you, and never had a long term issue. Good luck!!
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Scott MacLeod
2.6 Snow Hondurans
2-4 Aberrant Hondurans
1.2 Aberrant Hypo Hondurans
0.1 Aberrant Hybino Honduran
1.3 Extreme Hypo VP
1.1 Tricolor Hypo VP
1.1 Albino Striped Sinaloan
2.7 Striped Sinaloan
2.4 Het Albino Sinaloan