Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My baby Pueblan milksnake has not eaten for over a month and I've tried different ways of getting her to eat but nothing has been successful. She losing a lot of weight and she's fragile and weak. I'm very frustrated and becoming more and more worried about her everyday. I've considered getting a pinkie pump and force feeding her. I'm worried that if I don't do something soon that she might starve to death. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on the pinkie pump.

Thanks,
Furlo

Hi. My advice would be to take your snake to a qaulified reptile vet or a local breeder who can show you how to use a pump if that is what you feel you must do at this time. It can be a dangerous procedure if not done correctly.

Have you tried feeding anoles, or anole scented mice?

Marisa
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Marisa
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I have alot of nonfeeding graybands and have very good success doing this: Ibought a baby food blender and made a pinkie and Gerber baby food chicken mixture.It sounds gross but it works well.I then fill 5ml syringes with the mixture.I'll use3 syringes per feeding and freeze the rest. Each snake gets approx. 2mlper feeding.Your first couple of feedings should be 1ml until it starts filling out.I got catheter from a vet I think it is a #6 or #8 french.french is ameasure of the diameter of the tube.Icut mine down to about 6 inches long.Ilube it up with veg. oiland insert it about 2 inches and very slowly feed the snakes.I've heard horror stories about pinkie pumps that are difficult to squeeze the food out and when it does it blows the snake up.I've been doing this for years and have never had a problem.

have you tried the old bag trick , just put snake and pinky in small sandwich brown bag paperclip top and leave for at least an half hour the darkness helps my greyband still won't eat if i watch good luck

Hey, dont use the pump, my first snake i used it on messed up his jaw. And they are very hard on your hands, not to think about the snake. But when my milks dont eat i just the non-eater in a snake bag over night and it is all most all ways eaten in the mourning. Well good luck.
Philip

Let me resay that, The snake all most all ways eats the pinkey by mourning in the bag. It sounded like the bag eats the snake lol.
Philip