Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm new to the hognose forum here. I've been browsing the forum for some time now, and have never gotten around to signing up to post anything. Anyhow, I currently own 2 western hoggies, and one southern. Pics to come.

Anyways, I got my first southern virtually right out of the egg last Fall. Needless to say, I was not able to get him to feed soon enough after and decided I would be best putting him down for the Winter. I did this and when Spring came I finally began trying to feed him again. I tried scented (Bufo's and spadefoots) pinks, both live and frozen with no luck. I also tried Hylids, toad legs, etc. still no luck. As I was really beginning to worry I read somewhere to try slimy salamanders and finally he began feeding great. Once he got a few meals down, I decided to try pinks again this time scented with slimies. Still no luck, so I cont'd to try scenting with frogs and toads, tried scenting with tuna as well and still no luck. Now he is feeding on small American toads and slams them but I would really love to get him on pinks before it is to late. Any additional tips you all have had luck with.

Also, tried removing water for a few days then trying to get him to drink and then swallow, tried starting with toads and switching them with scented pinks and he will have nothing to do with them.

Note: Once I scent a pinky on a toad, he will not even eat the toad!

The only thing I have not tried is splitting the pinkies head but quite frankly I don't see this working either.

I am interested to see what others more experienced than me say to this post also - i too have a bit of a problem feeder hatchling Tricolor hognose - one eats scented pinks great but the other is a 'problem eater.' Like you , i have tried live pinks, dead pinks, bufo scented, fish oil scented - nothing. Finally i fed him a couple of toads to get his digestive tract woring and perhaps raise his appetite -- apparently he loves the toads and refuses to eat anything else.

Some additional things i tried (none of which worked for me) which you may try include:
1) brain splitting dead pinks and dead scented pinks,
2) nose splitting dead pinks and dead scented pinks,
3) pinky scenting toads (as a transitional food - no luck),
4) feeding dead toad (categorically refused - he only eats live ones)
5) chain feeding (feed him a salamander immediately followed by a pinky -- just keep them touching and he will grab it and usually swallow it -- mine ALWAYS spits them and it is very annoying - next time i chain feed him i am considering trying force the pinky down his throat carefully so that he realizes they are tasty and nutritious!

That is all I know and none have worked for me at all -- hopefully someone will share a nugget of wisdom with us

Try washing a f/t pinkie in soap & water before scenting it. Be sure to rince it well to get the soap off. I havnt had to go to those extremes with baby southerns, but had to wash pinkies before scenting with fish to get a baby watersnake to eat them. My Baby 09 southern hogs started eating pinkies scented with chorus frog right away, & after about 4 times scenting they started eating unscented, & still do.
BTW guys, more southerns just hatched! I'll get some pics soon.

Dan Eby

The soap and water may have done the trick for a reluctant western I acquired. I thawed a fuzzy as normal, washed and rinsed it well and then soaked it in about 2tbsp of tuna juice for 15 or 20 minutes, gave it a quick rinse and dry and the hog (male, mostly grown) snapped it right up ending a 3 month feeding strike.

I honestly couldn't be sure if it was that process or something else (length of off-feed, time since last offering, temp change or whatnot) but I'm definitely adding it to the list of things to try.

Two things that have worked for me. Now this is not for the people with uneasy stomachs. I take a bunch toads and/or chorus frogs and freeze them, then thaw them out and make a frog slurry in the blender. I add a 1/4 cup water and then pour the slurry in to an ice tray and freeze. When defrosting pinkies i defrost them in this slurry after washing with soap and water.

Here is my normal routine for my Tri-color hogs

Techniques

1.F/T pinkie, I try this for 1 week every other day
2.live pinkie I try this for 1 week every other day

usually this works by the end of the fourth week, if not my next step.

3. scented F/T pinkie I try this for 1 week every other day
4. scented F/T pinkie(in slurry) I try this for 1 week every other day

again I use this for 4 weeks.Ok now they are being really stubborn if they still refuse.

Now, I try all 4 techniques every other day for 2 weeks, by this time they have not eaten for 10 weeks.?? Worried yet??
Now comes the heavy artillary. Mouse tails or small rat tails I have found this is less stress than trying to force a pinkie down the throat. and they usually start swallowing by themselves 1/4 of the way down. I still offer food every other day, with a two day break after a tail.

These are just my experiences and hope this helps you out. I have had a snake not eat for 3 months and then turn on to food and will eat everything in site.

PS Its nice to have some real animal garbage cans around during this time. I also have a lizard slurry that sometimes works.
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Jimmy Tintle

Thanks for the responses.

I had never considered the chain feeding technique, I tried to pull the switcharoo but hadn't thought about the chain technique. If that doesn't work, its on to the scented split headed pinks and we will see how that goes. If I dont get any response I think the amphibian "slurry" doesn't sound like to bad of an idea. Now I just have to go get a nice mess of amphibians! If they do not work on the first try I guess its time to go for the four week plan, b/c that seems to be the only thing left.

Again, thanks for the input and I will keep you updated.

Thats about all you can do ,the mouse tails work like a champ,after three or four tails there on there way.

Brent
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Brent Bumgardner
bwbumgardner@aol.com
703.431.1776
Superconda Website

So I had a couple of toads in the freezer and decided to skip the other stuff and just make a toad smoothie in the blender, which you are correct doesn't look to appealing. After washing a f/t pinky (a seemingly critical step, that I never really thought about for some reason) and soaking it in the juice for about 45 min. I put it in front of the hog and she almost instantly devoured it. I'm feeling pretty good about it all now. Again, thank you guys for all the advice, it has definately helped in the present and probably will in the future too.

Great news! I must try to use that toad coctail myself! -- i am wondering if it will still work if the hognose has refused dead toads!?

I have soaked live pinkies in it also for those real skittish hatchlings that are afraid of everything. Just leave it in there usually take it by seeing the movement and tasting the cocktail.
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Jimmy Tintle

Congrats!!! 1st step complete, step 2 is usually easier weaning off the toad cocktail and onto just pinkies. I usually keep up the toad cocktail for about 6-8 feedings and then try one without the juice. If no interests then try after another 6-8 feedings this way they see the same approach and know its food coming and before you know it they will be devouring unscented.

Again Congrats!
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Jimmy Tintle

Toad saliva works..... without the blender...
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

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