Reptile & Amphibian Forums

To those I didn't respond to personally with my last frenzied thread, many thanks. You guys are the best and your opinions and techniques are sooooo appreciated. I've tried again with some of them and called the store to see what options I had with them in terms of refunds and suggestions should my wee girlie pass. They suggested that I take her back there and let them try to feed her. I declined thinking the upset in her habitat would cause more stress than it was worth. I after all, have you super people to converse with and most of you have had W. Hogs for years.

So, still no luck but I do have a few suggestions RE: the previous thread. They *do* have fire belly toads at my local petstore but I was hesitant until I talked to you guys first. I'm unsure of their origin and didn't want to buy one because I wasn't sure if they were toxic to Hogs. As well, I found some stuff called "Herpcare" by Mardel and it's an electrolyte/appetite stimulant with vitamins and minerals in it. I read the directions/instructions and they said that it is OK to use with certain breeds of snakes but I thought again, that I would ask you guys first. It is specifically made for stressed or newly purchased reptiles so I thought I'd see what the general concensus was before I went ahead and bought it.

Thanks again in advance!
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Know first, who you are, then adorn yourself accordingly....Epictetus

Even if you somehow HAD to use a toad, it would be VERY unwise to use a non-native toad. ALL amphibians have glandular skin for secreting toxins at some level, and you don't want to expose your snake to toxins it may be naive to. Secondly, you certainly don't want to use one with aposematic coloration (=very toxic). Firebellies would be your last choice.

Electrolytes couldn't hurt too much, but unless you are experienced with this don't try it, it's only going to add to the stress level (of the snake of course).

Just give your hog more time.
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"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."
Governor George W. Bush, Jr.

"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)

Okey dokey....just wanted to check. I didn't think a fire belly was indigenous to the W. Hogs habitat but well, thought I'd ask first.

I've moved her to a much smaller container now and am going to wait for a couple of days before attempting to feed her again with a f/t pinkie. I believe that Herpcare stuff I mentioned in my previous post is water soluable and that you can coat the pinkie with that to stimulate the feeding reflex. I see her drinking quite a bit, (really hilarious the way her wee head expands as she gulps), so I might try that in her water. I just want to make sure she's alright and getting *something* nutritious in her belly.
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Know first, who you are, then adorn yourself accordingly....Epictetus

I have first hand experience with fire bellies and how bad they are for hognoses. I stupidly tried to feed one because I didn't believe what people said and the snake almost died - he took a bite, spit it out, and then produced lots of thick gooey saliva and laid low for a couple of days. He is ok now, but I learned my lesson . . .

Ok....NO firebellies. Done and done. As soon as spring ever hits Ontario, which is where I am, I'll be out rooting for local toads.
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Know first, who you are, then adorn yourself accordingly....Epictetus

I keep pacman frogs and rub the rat/mouse on those and this often helps, also the slime from any freshwater fish, i know someone who has used slug slime too(eeeuuuwww!) Have you tried braining?
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www.hognose.co.uk

Yep, tried braining, tried tuna water, tried rosey reds, tried live pinkies, I've even tried a few crickets just to see if *anything* would appeal to her. Notta.

I've got her in a much smaller enclosure now, (put her in yesterday), so I'll attempt to feed her again tomorrow night. Gonna try the unscented soap thing.
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Know first, who you are, then adorn yourself accordingly....Epictetus

Have you tried enclosing it in the smallest pot possible with a live mouse, that often works for me.
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www.hognose.co.uk

She's in a really small *box* right now. I have some substrate and some paper towels in there as well so she can still burrow and hide. When I've attempted to feed her before, I always put her in a really small dark box, still nothing.
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Know first, who you are, then adorn yourself accordingly....Epictetus

sound like my baby female lol
you know try this it worked on mine,
i got an anole live and put it with her she ate it and before she finished i gave her a pinkie {live} she took it sense then she never stoped eating.

hmmm.....live anoles around here, (I live in Southern Ontario), are about $20 a pop. If she doesn't eat in the next couple of weeks though, I'll spend the dough and see if she goes for that. I'll pretty much try anything at this point. The worst that can happen is that I'll have *another* pet to keep. *L* She's pretty small though....maybe six to seven inches at best. The anole might be bigger than she is.
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Know first, who you are, then adorn yourself accordingly....Epictetus

did you try the mouse tails I suggested the last time you posted?
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The Crawl Space

Nope, not yet. If this unscented soap thing doesn't work out tomorrow night, I'll try the tails thing next time. Thing is, with all the great ideas and suggestions I've received, I haven't had the time to try them all without adding more stress to her life. I attempt to feed her every 4-5 days and have only had her since Feb. 24.. Yeah, I know, I'm a little panic driven...*L*, but this forum has alleviated most of my fears when it comes to her not eating, and I thank you all again.
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Know first, who you are, then adorn yourself accordingly....Epictetus

For some reason, Kingsnake.com moderators deleted a post I replied to about finding feeder toads, but didn't delete my reply.
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"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."
Governor George W. Bush, Jr.

"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)

You might try GSE, I've had some success stimulating feeding with it. Here's a link to a post I made on it some time ago.
Report on GSE

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Tim Madsen

Nobody cares how much you know,
Until they know how much you care.