Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Jimmy,

OK...fed all 3 snakelings last night....anery & first amel ate again, no problem, but the 2nd amel still did not touch the pinkie(F/T & brained). I did, however, notice for the first time a small amount of fecal material and definite wet pool of urine on the paper towel lining his shoebox. This particular snakeling is larger than the other two and came out of a much larger egg. I'm wondering if it's possible that he had an equally larger yolk sac and started off with more initial stored energy than the other two and hence his disinterest in eating? If this is so, then could the emptying of bowel & bladder get him going in the direction of hunger and eating? Maybe I'm way off base here, it's just a theory that seemed to make sense. Anyway, should I wait another week (they hatched on 9-04-04)to try again or should I try something else sooner? Thanks......

David

David,
If it defecated and urinated then it had to have something in it's stomach. May very well have been from the egg sack.
seems possible to me.
I was hoping you would try a live pinkie. That can sometimes do the trick.
I think since this little guy has gone three weeks without a meal you might want to try the next time in about four days.
If you can, try Wednesday with a live pinkie. Might even want to poke a pin hole in it's head to expose a little brain "ooze".
Is there any way you can get an anole or skink?
If this next try doesn't work you might want to try scenting with a lizard but we will get to that, if needed, after Wednesday.
As I think I mentioned I have two anerys that have never eaten on their own and one that has only eaten a couple of times on its own and these were born in April.
Well, I tried all the tried-and-true tricks with force feeding in between. I have rotated through scenting and braining and the others a couple of times now.
They have grown and when I force feed I feed them a whole pinkie.
Well, last Saturday I was going back to the list of tricks
starting with lizard scenting again (skink).
Well, one of the non-feeders that had never eaten on it's own actually ate a f/t pinkie scented with skink. The other two didn't eat but I will try again tomorrow night.
If you do it right and get food in them they can go a long time.
I had a rescued butter and a rescued Everglades rat that both went four months before finally eating on their own. They have each eaten four or five times now.
Be patient. As long as you don't see signs of the snake loosing weight and getting emaciated things should be fine.
The trick is just finding what the trigger will be.
Jimmy
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Thanks......you've boosted my confidence....I will get this guy eating one way or another........I 'll let you know how it goes.....good luck with your own ornery eaters....

David