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Baby not eating...what else canI do?

SugarFox03 Sep 12, 2009 11:25 PM

Hey everyone. I purchased a one month old hognose from Daytona a couple weeks ago. For the life of me, I cannot get this kid to eat! I have tried live, frozen thawed, split brain, wild caught lizard (hated doing that, but wanted her to eat, she still didn't.)

I was told by the breeder that she had taken mice pinks. I'm thinking I got ripped off.

I have heard about the scenting thing, but I don't have any frogs readily available to use to scent pinks. Will anything else work?

Thanks for any help. I did a quick search here, but couldn't find anything relevant to my problem. I do apologize if this has been covered before.
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BALL PYTHONS
1.0 08 Mojave
1.0 08 Cinnamon
1.1 09 Het Caramel albino
1.1 09 Het VPI Axanthic
0.1 09 Piebald
0.1 09 VPI Axanthic
0.1 09 Orange Ghost
0.1 09 Black Pastel
0.1 09 Pinstripe
0.1 08 Spider
0.2 07/08 Pastel
0.4 Normal
OTHER SNAKES
1.0 Albino Boa
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Western Hognose
1.2 Corn Snake
LIZARDS
1.1 Bearded Dragon - Orin & Sierra
0.0.1 Red/Blue Hybrid Tegu - Jackson
MAMMALS
0.1 American Bulldog - Maui Rose
0.1 Shiba Inu - Mako (Starlite's Shark Attack)
1.0 American Pit Bull Terrier - Magnum TT, CGC, TDI
2.0 White DSH Cats - Lucaya (Luke) & Fiji
1.0 Cinnamon Pinto Hedgehog - Niles

Replies (8)

Rextiles Sep 13, 2009 04:34 AM

Hogs do go off of feeding for periods of time. Of course this is typical especially if the snake is getting ready to shed as well.

The key in determining whether you have a problem or not is if the snake is in fact losing weight. Considering that you just recently acquired this snake, perhaps she has not acclimated to her new surroundings yet to want to eat. You mention a lot of different scenting methods you've tried in just a short while of owning this snake which ultimately might pose a new problem since you might be offering way too much, therefore turning the snake off of food for extended periods of time or even confusing the snake about what exactly it's food source is if it's already been acclimated to eating a particular food item.

Those that have kept western hognose for any extended period of time have often witnessed lengthy periods of non-harmful fasting from babies to adults and everything in-between. More often than not, it's the males that are more prone to this kind of behavior once adults, but not always. It is not unusual and typically not a problem if the basic husbandry and dietary needs of the animal are being met while the animal is maintaining a reasonable weight.

It sounds to me like you might be overreacting a little for just the short time you've had her. Just keep monitoring her weight on a weekly basis and try waiting a week between each offering rather than trying every day or even every couple of days.

Only if she starts losing any significant amount of weight would I really worry. And only then should you then try scenting methods and ultimately forcefeeding if totally necessary as a last resort. Having said that of course, you don't want to wait until your snake has lost half of it's weight either and is close to death. But if you have a 6-8 gram snake and it loses a gram but still looks full and healthy, it's usually not a total cause for alarm although you will want to monitor her more closely.

I have several clutches of South American hognose that have refused every pinky and scenting method I've tried using pinkies which after several months finally had to be forcefed. One small clutch I waited almost 5 months until I succumbed to having to forcefeed them. And for those 5 months, none of them had eaten a single thing nor showed any interest. They didn't look all that great after their 5 month fasting period and they all went from 4 grams initial weight down to 3 grams, but they were an experimental group that I was trying different methods of feeding and after all of those failed, forcefeeding was my last option. But they have since regained weight and I have not lost a single specimen despite still having to forcefeed them on a weekly basis. The bottom line is, snakes can go a long period of time without food (although I'd never recommend waiting 5 months) before you should have to take any drastic measures, hatchlings included.

However, in the event of having to forcefeed, it's nice to have several different sets of hemostats (curved, straight and different sizes), speculas and a pinky pump. All very useful tools when needed for such events.

Just give her some time to adjust and if she's been accustomed to eating f/t pinkies, then I would just offer her only those. Depending on your source though, you might want to try washing them with soapy water in case there's a scent on yours that is throwing her off.

I hope any of that is helpful.

Good luck and keep us posted on her progress!
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Troy Rexroth
Rextiles

MOTORHEAD Sep 13, 2009 05:46 AM

What he said
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Brent Bumgardner
bwbumgardner@aol.com
703.431.1776
Superconda Website

SugarFox03 Sep 13, 2009 09:50 PM

Troy,

Thanks for all the info. I really appreciate you taking the time to explain.

Just as an FYI...I did not attempt to feed her for a week after bringing her home. I then left town for a week (so she was not bothered by anyone for an entire week) and attempted to feed again when I got home. That didn't work, so I decided to use other methods. Only the past week have I attempted to feed her every 2-3 days, using the different methods as listed.

I have researched hogs for many years prior to getting this baby. I knew they were difficult feeders, but was not expecting this. I have heard from several people now that babies can go months without eating, so I will not be so worried. I would feel much better though, if she would just eat, as you can imagine.

Thanks again for the information. I'll leave her alone for another week and attempt another f/t mouse pink (unscented) as the breeder told me she had taken for him.
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BALL PYTHONS
1.0 08 Mojave
1.0 08 Cinnamon
1.1 09 Het Caramel albino
1.1 09 Het VPI Axanthic
0.1 09 Piebald
0.1 09 VPI Axanthic
0.1 09 Orange Ghost
0.1 09 Black Pastel
0.1 09 Pinstripe
0.1 08 Spider
0.2 07/08 Pastel
0.4 Normal
OTHER SNAKES
1.0 Albino Boa
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Western Hognose
1.2 Corn Snake
LIZARDS
1.1 Bearded Dragon - Orin & Sierra
0.0.1 Red/Blue Hybrid Tegu - Jackson
MAMMALS
0.1 American Bulldog - Maui Rose
0.1 Shiba Inu - Mako (Starlite's Shark Attack)
1.0 American Pit Bull Terrier - Magnum TT, CGC, TDI
2.0 White DSH Cats - Lucaya (Luke) & Fiji
1.0 Cinnamon Pinto Hedgehog - Niles

John Q Sep 13, 2009 09:15 AM

Thought I would add a little to the excellent information you already received from Troy.
There's lots of post in this forum about feeding and starting hatchlings. Spend a little time scrolling through the post, read them and soon you will find common suggestions and results. When you have solved your problem, come back to the forum and post the information so others can learn from your experience. The Search function on this site is rather weak.

Your comment "I was told by the breeder that she had taken mice pinks. I'm thinking I got ripped off." is typical of a newby that does not know what they are doing. If I was that breeder I would be pissed. You didn't mention their name in the post but I would bet you have in conversation. Why bash the breeder? Why not call the breeder or email them for assistance? You didn't have that negative opinion of them when you made the purchase. You should have asked them for assistance before making so many attempts to feed and stressing out the animal. My receipts have my email address and phone number at the top and I point this out to buyers. Along with some advice to get in contact with me right away and not wait until it's too late. Usually they are not feeding the same way and that is the problem.

Hope you contact the breeder and solve the problem.
Best of luck.
John Q

SugarFox03 Sep 13, 2009 09:33 PM

Unfortunately there was no receipt, the card I grabbed got lost in the trip.

Thanks for the information.
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BALL PYTHONS
1.0 08 Mojave
1.0 08 Cinnamon
1.1 09 Het Caramel albino
1.1 09 Het VPI Axanthic
0.1 09 Piebald
0.1 09 VPI Axanthic
0.1 09 Orange Ghost
0.1 09 Black Pastel
0.1 09 Pinstripe
0.1 08 Spider
0.2 07/08 Pastel
0.4 Normal
OTHER SNAKES
1.0 Albino Boa
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Western Hognose
1.2 Corn Snake
LIZARDS
1.1 Bearded Dragon - Orin & Sierra
0.0.1 Red/Blue Hybrid Tegu - Jackson
MAMMALS
0.1 American Bulldog - Maui Rose
0.1 Shiba Inu - Mako (Starlite's Shark Attack)
1.0 American Pit Bull Terrier - Magnum TT, CGC, TDI
2.0 White DSH Cats - Lucaya (Luke) & Fiji
1.0 Cinnamon Pinto Hedgehog - Niles

jocephus Sep 13, 2009 09:58 AM

Hi, just wanted to chime in with a method that has worked for me several times in the past. I withhold water for about a week, then offer a pink mouse dipped in water. Often times the snake will start to drink the water from the pink and almost as a reflex they will take the mouse. Make sure to replace the water if this technique doesn't work for you, the last thing you need is a dehydrated baby that won't eat.

Worked for me, I hope this helps.

Joe

chelseynicole21 Sep 14, 2009 09:56 AM

I have the same problem with my little guy not eating. I even got some little frogs, but he just wont eat. Did you find any good info?

rottnbull02 Sep 22, 2009 01:58 PM

I had problems with mine for a few weeks when I brought it home. He skipped probably 3 weeks of pinks. I moved him to a smaller cage and made sure he had adequate heat. Once I did that he has eaten just fine, everytime. Now when I open the cage with a pinkie in hand he is there mouth wide open.

Maybe your's just feels overwhelmed in to big of a cage?

Stephanie

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