Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just wanted to let everyone know that I tried the "tuna scenting" feeding method today on some baby Eastern Hognoses and it does work! The key is to thaw the pinkies and then set them in a cup of tuna juice and wait until the pinkies cool to room temperature. After that, the baby Easterns will take it from there! These babies were also on toads before I received them, so do not think that the switch cannot be made... so to those with picky Easterns, there is hope, ha ha!

Jennifer

Thank you for confirming a couple of things...1) tunafish, among many others is suitable scenter; and what I have been preaching for years now... 2) that Easterns DON'T HAVE TO EAT TOADS.

Thanks!
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...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)

Not only are you NOT killing a toad by doing this, but it is much more economical... pinkies are cheap and so is a can of tuna. One small can of tuna has lasted me through 25 pinkies and I still have much more tuna juice left over. There is just no "down side" to giving this method a try! I must re-emphasize, though, that the pinkie does have to be room temperature or the Eastern will not touch it. Anyone who has an Eastern should give this a try as it is totally worth the miniscule amount of extra effort over feeding the snake a toad.

Jennifer, may i ask what brand of tuna , in spring water or oil,albacore or regular tuna? thanks tom.

I would think the oil would work best,but it probably doesnt matter,toads around my house seam to be kind of smart,much more then a frog,i have a handycap ramp at my place and one always comes up to the top every night...has cool orange coloring on it

Tom,

I used Starkist albacore tuna in spring water (low sodium). This is the first type that I tried so I am not sure if others would work as well or even better. If you try anything else and have any notable success, please keep me informed!

Jennifer