Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had my two baby Borneos for six weeks now and the male is the only one who has eaten (and man, has he eaten!).

But the female still won't eat...I separated the snakes two and a half weeks ago and left her alone for a week before trying to feed her. She didn't eat, so I left her alone again until last night...I gave both of my Borneos a mouse and the male ate his, but the female didn't eat hers so I relucantly left it in overnight (with mouse food). I got up this morning and still...she had not eaten her mouse.

When the mouse is in there, she crawls around like she might be halfway interested in it, but she doesn't go after it and if it walks by her, she'll sit there and do nothing...or crawl away...

I've contemplated force-feeding but I don't want to damage her esophagus and cause her to get mouth rot (plus just the stress on her from forcing food down her throat). I also don't know how to force feed...

When the mouse is in there, she crawls around like she might be halfway interested in it, but she doesn't go after it and if it walks by her, she'll sit there and do nothing...or crawl away...

I don't know what to do...I really don't want to force-feed her but I don't know what else I can do...help me please

thanks-
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.Owen.:.

Go Tulane Green Wave!

"That Owen kid...man...he really loves that snake of his." ~Owen

0.1 red blood python (Daphne)
1.1 Borneo pythons (Augmented and Diminished)
1.0 Okeetee corn snake (Ozzy)
0.1 ball python (Caroline)
0.1 common snapping turtle (Fluffy)
0.1 Gulf Coast spiny softshell turtle (Smeagol)
1.0 fish (Hannibal)
1.1 dogs (Beowulf and Honeysuckle)

They can be stubborn.They can go a few months without eating.I've had one go a month before eating.I wouldn't leave a live mouse in with her though.This can be stressing her out.I would try a rat pup next, if that doesn't work try the old brain split method.I have a sarawak that was stubborn on switching to frozen thawed and I accidently tore the skin and she stuck her nose right in it and bam she ate it.I would try fresh kill mouse or fresh kill rat pup and if she doesn't take it, slice the skin open a little bit and leave that in over night.Give each feeding 3-4 days before trying and see what she was eating before maybe it was rat pups?Man I hate when they do this so frustrating.Good luck.

Fish pretty much covers all my suggestions I would just also double check temps and setup and if your keeping them together you may want to seperate maybe there is some extra stress from that
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Kevin
I am lost w/o spell check
"Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself."-unknown

Yes the stinkier the better, try cutting open the head on a ft or maybee chicken broth (I usually have better luck with this in older animals with rats tho). How is the cage set up? And are there hides? She could be just taking a little longer to get acclimated to her new surroundings (they have changed a few times after all) so I would definately try to leave her alone as much as possible. Best of luck, keep us posted on changed etc so we can help ya.

J
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"It's my snake, I trained it, so I'm going to eat it!" - Mad Max, The Road Warrior

She's in an 18-qt Sterilite bin with cypress mulch under which she buries herself. She's also got half of a small clay pot which I've never seen her use...temperature's fine and humidity's fine.

I'll try a rat pup soon (one of my rats just had babies) and maybe braining or chicken broth...

thanks everyone
-----
.Owen.:.

Go Tulane Green Wave!

"That Owen kid...man...he really loves that snake of his." ~Owen

0.1 red blood python (Daphne)
1.1 Borneo pythons (Augmented and Diminished)
1.0 Okeetee corn snake (Ozzy)
0.1 ball python (Caroline)
0.1 common snapping turtle (Fluffy)
0.1 Gulf Coast spiny softshell turtle (Smeagol)
1.0 fish (Hannibal)
1.1 dogs (Beowulf and Honeysuckle)

Hello, thought I would offer something that works for me. I also hate the idea of having to force a meal down a baby snake, but I have done it to save the snake. However there is a shortcut that works great for me and not half as gross as having to force feed. I just hold the snake so it can't spin or twist, and then push the meal into the snake's mouth just far enough back that the meal gets set into the teeth a little, then let go and step back. The trick is to place the meal in the mouth and let go as fast as you can so the snake doesn't get too stressed out. At first I will see the animal trying to decide what to do with this big mouthful and then most of the time they will go ahead and eat it down. If this makes no sense to you, it would be my fault. I could show you real fast how easy it works, but writing it down seems a little harder. Best of luck with both of your animals. Hate it when they don't want to eat. Happy Holidays

If it comes to that, I might try it...

but I want to know
How to I get the snake's mouth to open? Is there some way I have to manipulate the jaw or do I kind of force it to open by pushing the food in?

thanks
-----
.Owen.:.

Go Tulane Green Wave!

"That Owen kid...man...he really loves that snake of his." ~Owen

0.1 red blood python (Daphne)
1.1 Borneo pythons (Augmented and Diminished)
1.0 Okeetee corn snake (Ozzy)
0.1 ball python (Caroline)
0.1 common snapping turtle (Fluffy)
0.1 Gulf Coast spiny softshell turtle (Smeagol)
1.0 fish (Hannibal)
1.1 dogs (Beowulf and Honeysuckle)

I push the food into the backside of the mouth and then when they open up for it, set it in straight like it would be if they were eating on their own. I don't use a lot of force when doing this, the name of the game is lift, push food in, and let go. The faster and smoother the better. If you ever need more info at that time, feel free to email me with a phone number and I can call and explain it better I hope Best of luck with all you animals. jody