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stubborn hogs not feeding-HELP!

goliath127 Feb 16, 2004 10:39 PM

I purchased 1.1 w. hogs in November. They ate unscented frozen/thawed pinks(brained) once a week for a about a month and a half. Then they refused until January when i started scented w/tree frog. That worked for about 4 feedings. Now they won't eat again. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Brian

Replies (3)

woody4238 Feb 17, 2004 12:36 AM

When was the last time they shed? Has any changed within their environment such as temp, new enclosure etc.??

PAL Feb 17, 2004 12:13 PM

Here is what I did for a similar problem: Spring 2 years ago I purchased a male hog (hatching). He ate off and on -- often skipping 2-3 weeks. Each skipped feeding I fretted and did end up buying a tree frog to scent-- that seemed to work for a while. Then October arrived. He stopped taking anything. I tried every trick listed on this forum. I decided he needed a "toad" scent rather than frog-- bought a western toad which promptly died. Eventually I mail ordered a southern toad, which grew from a tiny baby to a 4inch toad. Still no progress with eating. Took the snake to the vet twice- tube fed once gave a course of antibiotics. I finally gave up in dispair and assumed that the snake would die. Suddenly on day 6 months after his last meal he began eating again. He now eats when he feels like it and not a minute sooner (he cooled for 2 months this winter and has not resumed feeding yet.
the bottom line is: you can buy frogs, toads , visits to the vet or you can just wait until they are ready to eat (it is not of course unreasonable to check your temps, try the "ususal" stuff- braining, warming, etc). I suspect that tranquilizers (for myself not the snake) would have made last winter easier!

Colchicine Feb 18, 2004 08:25 PM

>>the bottom line is: you can buy frogs, toads , visits to the vet or you can just wait until they are ready to eat (it is not of course unreasonable to check your temps, try the "ususal" stuff- braining, warming, etc). I suspect that tranquilizers (for myself not the snake) would have made last winter easier!

Ha ha, I really liked this post. It is a perfect explaination of what to expect as a hognose owner. I plan to reference this post in the future!
-----
...the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)

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