Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Would someone re-post the lists of suggestions for getting the stubborn hatchlings started on pinkies? I have seen them on here before, but can't find them.

Thanks.
-----
Kent

0.1 Hypomelanistic striped cornsnake
0.0.3 Hypo (het lavender, striped) cornsnake hatchlings
0.0.5 Normal (het hypo, lavender, striped) cornsnake hatchlings
1.2 Gray-banded kingsnakes, blairs phase
1.1 Oregon rubber boas

Here's a thread that might help:

forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1832531,1832531

-
Mike

Thanks.
-----
Kent

0.1 Hypomelanistic striped cornsnake
0.0.3 Hypo (het lavender, striped) cornsnake hatchlings
0.0.5 Normal (het hypo, lavender, striped) cornsnake hatchlings
1.2 Gray-banded kingsnakes, blairs phase
1.1 Oregon rubber boas

Well, out of 8 hatchlings, 6 are eat f/t pinkies with gusto.

Number 7 finally ate a f/t anole, with a pinky chaser, a week after it shed. Now it is eating anole scented pinkies. If I offer an unscented pinky its no go. If I rub that same pinky on an anole, he takes it from my fingers without hesitation!

Number 8 ate one pinky right after its first shed, two weeks ago, then nothing. Its not even interested in an anole.

I'll try again in a few days.
-----
Kent

0.1 Hypomelanistic striped cornsnake
0.0.3 Hypo (het lavender, striped) cornsnake hatchlings
0.0.5 Normal (het hypo, lavender, striped) cornsnake hatchlings
1.2 Gray-banded kingsnakes, blairs phase
1.1 Oregon rubber boas

I get a lot of them to eat by tease feeding if all other tricks like split brain, and scenting don't work. Just to give you an example I had 13 Miami Corns hatch out. 2 ate on thier own with no help. 8 would eat tease feeding them and a couple refuse everything. Soon it will be time to either buy a pinky pump which I used to own but don't have anymore, or force either a small anole or a fuzzy tail down the hatch. Here is a video I did on tease feeding. I posted it a while back on the Kingsnake forum but it works with corns too most of the time.

-----
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Jorge, the one non-feeder I have is making me crazy. How do you force that little mouth open to try force feeding? Any suggestions on how to do it without causing any harm?

This one did take a f/t pinky right after its first shed, but that was on 8/13. Since then I have tried live, f/t split brain, anole, anole scented, salmon scented (I know people suggest tuna, but I like canned salmon better!)

This morning I spent about 10 minutes trying tease feeding, with a split brain f/t. Messy, but unsuccessful.

The rest are doing great, and getting ready to shed for their second time. One still requires lizard scent, but thats no problem.
-----
Kent

0.1 Hypomelanistic striped cornsnake
0.0.3 Hypo (het lavender, striped) cornsnake hatchlings
0.0.5 Normal (het hypo, lavender, striped) cornsnake hatchlings
1.2 Gray-banded kingsnakes, blairs phase
1.1 Oregon rubber boas

" How do you force that little mouth open to try force feeding? Any suggestions on how to do it without causing any harm?"

Kent,....corns are really easy to pry open compared to some of the other types of snake hatchlings. If you force-feed a tiny anole, you can simply use the very tip of the anole's snout to force the corns mouth open, then gently shove it back into it's throat a good bit and very gently loosen your grip on the snake.

You can use a very small pinkie too, but you have to gently pry the mouth open with a thin blunt object like a tooth pick, or thin sexing probe, etc...Then puch it back a into the throat a bit, then gently tug it back forward slightl to get the hatchlings teeth latched on good to lessen the chance of it releasing it.

If the "assist" method fails, and they continue to spit it out, you can do as mentioned before, but then continue to gently shove it ALL the way down with a blunt instrument such as a bit thicker sexing probe as to avoid spearing through the soft tiddue of the pinkie. Lizard's skin is much tougher, and is easier to shove down without spearing through.

Good luck!

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

....man!,..I should have read that over before posting..geesh!..LOL!

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Thanks guys. I will try force-feeding a small anole in a couple of days.
-----
Kent

0.1 Hypomelanistic striped cornsnake
0.0.3 Hypo (het lavender, striped) cornsnake hatchlings
0.0.5 Normal (het hypo, lavender, striped) cornsnake hatchlings
1.2 Gray-banded kingsnakes, blairs phase
1.1 Oregon rubber boas

....Do the assist method first, that way you can see if it gets the idea to munch one down on it's own first. THEN if that doesn't work after a few very gentle motionless tries, ony THEN would I do a force-feeding. If you force feed it, make sure you get it way down, or it will be too easy to spit it back up, then you have to do it all over again.

The key here is NOT TO MOVE AFTERWARDS or they will immediately spook!!..LOL!

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Good video Jorge showing folks a good technique to get stubborn hatchlings to feed.

Don't ya just LOVE those pain-in-the-arse snakes??..HAHAHAA!!

I really like the caption from the snake.."like I am doing" about not swollowing the pinkie!.....priceless!!..LMAO!!!

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com