Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm having problems feeding one of my hatchings. I need suggestions of things to try, and some idea of a schedule which balances not stressing the snake, offering food, and not letting her starve to death.
The situation so far:
Egg laid May 1
Hatched July 3
First shed July 8
First Pinky July 9
Taken to Pet store for popping (probably stressful) July 14
She has refused to eat since
I keep the snakes in 6" square plastic boxes with bedding, a water dish and a hide. I put them in cottage cheese containers for feeding.
So far I have tried
Wiggling the Pinky for her
Tapping her with the pinky to cause her to strike at it.
Leaving her with the pinky overnight
Braining the Pinky
Ignoring her for three days (we went camping) and then offering food
Dipping the Pinky in Chicken broth prior to feeding
The next things I can think of are to offer live food or to force feed. Can anyone think of other things to try before these? (getting a lizard to rub the mouse with is not easy).
How often should I be offering food at this point (It's been nearly 2 weeks since she's eaten). How long can a newborn go w/o eating before they starve to death?
Everyone else from the clutch understands what to do with a mouse just fine, it's just this one holdout.
Corinne
dragonfly@w-link.net

I've a female Miami Phase who refuses mice and will only eat Rats. She would have starved as well if I hadn't tried them. You could offer a rat pup head?

I would suggest trying feeding her in her container (depending on substrate. I am doing this now with baby Children's Pythons in Carefresh. The bedding seems to add security) I would also suggest f/t left overnight.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron