Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys,
I'm looking to get your opinions on the pinky press. I've actually never used one. I've just made slurries and administered them with a syringe and ball tipped feeding needle. This is a major pain because even the smallest chunks get lodged in the feeding needle.
I've been checking out Midwest's site and it appears that the "professional pinkie press" has been discontinued. The standard pinkie press is still available though. I want to make my life a little easier but not at the expense of my hatchlings. Are these things pretty safe to use if you're careful with it?
I'm a little concerned about the length of the feeding needle on the pinkie press. It just seems way to short. My seperate feeding needles are approximately 3" so you can insert them a little deeper to prevent regurges.

So what do you think. Is it a good tool or more trouble than it's worth?
Thanks,
Chris

The other problem with them besides the needle being too short is the fact that they squirt the liquified pinky rather suddenly into the throat area. A buddy of mine has used a pinky press with a small French catheter tube attached to the business end with good success. It adds length and slows down the food spurt. Another thing I tried with a difficult snake last year was whipping up an egg and then using the ball tip dosing needle w/syringe with that. It isn't a mouse, but it has worked in a pinch and tends not to clog as long as you wash it out promptly after feeding before the egg can solidify. Hope it helps.
Robert
PS: the '04 female you sent me is thriving and growing quite nicely.

Awesome! Thanks for keeping me posted on her Robert.

The slurries that I make consist of egg yolk, grinded up pinkies, nutri-Stat, and Pedialyte. (sometimes I'll grind up some small fish as well.) If a snake has to remain on this diet for a while I'll add a tiny bit of Minerall since under normal circumstances the snake would have graduated to mice with more of a skeletal system than a pinky has.

I've heard that with the professional pinkie press you can control the pressure a little easier than the standard pinkie press but I guess it's no longer available. It works more like a caulking gun.
The french catheter is a good idea though....I may try that.
Thanks,
Chris

I have used the pinky pump several times. Both with decent results. However IN MY OPINION, if a snake in my collection refuses to eat, then I will not force feed him in order to keep him alive. Seems cruel, but I have seen boas that, having been force fed when young, had to be force fed throughout their entire lives because they WOULD not accept a suitable sized meal, even under ideal conditions(Hunger, prey size, temps, hidebox, live/prekilled etc) and had to be force fed as an adult.

Im sorry but in my opion only, if it doesnt eat on its own, I am not going to pump it, it will regrettably end up in the freezer.

Not condemning those that do pump or force feed, but afer a number of years I have found it to be not worth the headache.

Sincerely,

Fred Albury

I can understand the logic in not force feeding a snake if it does not feed voluntarily. However, last year I had a couple of baby snakes (one corn and a gophersnake) that just refused to feed on their own. I force fed them each one meal, and it was like somebody flipped a switch. Both inhaled food every time it was offered thereafter and have never turned back. I don't think I'd force feed a snake for its entire life, but sometimes its worth a shot for a reluctant feeder that might just need a little nudge. Just my opinion though
Robert

Wow, I'd have to strongly disagree with that. I had to assist feed 18 of my 23 BT's last year and now everyone of them are great eaters on unscented mice/rats. It was frustrating but I'm glad I didn't give up on them because now they are all thriving.

Actually, what I learned from last year is not to wait so long to start assist feeding. I think snakes are more likely to start eating when they are healthy and not weak from a lack of nutrition. I try to keep it quick and as low stress as possible.

I'd agree that after a certain amount of time it may be time to give up but I'm not sure what that amount of time is because I had hatchlings that were assist fed for months before something just clicked and they started eating on their own.

Chris

I should mention that I have almost no experience with boas. They may not respond to assist feeding as well as some of the colubrids that I have had experience with.
Chris

I had to assist feed my cb04 uni for several weeks and now he is a beautiful 4 footer and growing. I used a syringe with air line tubing attached. And fed egg yolk mixed with gerbers baby food and vitamins. He actually put on alot of size while being fed this way.

Hey Chris,

I have used them in the past and have in most cased had good luck. HOWEVER, I had one very bad experience about 8 years ago when feeding one of my favorite rosy boas.

As already mentioned, the slush comes out very abruptly. Well without thinking, I did something very stupid... I ran a pink rat through it & the extra pressure required to depress the plunger only added to the problem. Bottom line is this. I ruptured the poor boa's esophagus & had to have surgery done.

Luckily the boa survived & ended up doing very well!

Eric
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If Jesus is your co-pilot, you'd better change seats!

Thanks Eric,
I've heard stories similar to yours which is the reason I'm a little concerned.
Gerald (Oldherper) and I were looking for the professional "caulk gun style" one in Daytona last year and although Midwest was out, there were a couple other dry goods vendors that had the cheaper immitations. Gerald and I were both under the impression that you could attach a feeding needle to the end of it and we both passed on it when we found out you couldn't.

I'm just glad that all my baby cantils are eating fine on their own. It would have sucked to have to mess around with those little devils
Chris

Hmmm, force feeding venomous. Sounds like lots of fun!

Eric
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If Jesus is your co-pilot, you'd better change seats!

Sounds vaguely nuts....lol.

Better you than me, ..my luck..I'd get bit in the face while holding the pinkie pump and be found dead on the floor the next morning..STILL clutching the pinkie pump in my cold dead fingers....

graphic eh?

lol

MacabreFred

What are you feeding?, What is wrong with the hatchlings so that you need a pinky press anyway?

Pinky pumps are safe to use if you are careful (more accidents probably happen between handler vs. snake rather than snake vs. press)

I would urge you guys to do away with the "needle". It's rigid and increases the risk of blunt trauma to the esophagus. Find a red rubber catheter of the appropriate size for the species and use those in place of the needle. It's soft, pliable and can be inserted much further without trauma. You can find something at almost and farm and ranch store with vet supplies.
Also, when using raw eggs you run the risk of Salmonella. You can just boil the egg. It whips up just fine when mixed with a luricant, like fish or frogs..
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Carl W Gossett
Garage Door Herps
Monument,Colorado...northern territory of the Great Republic of Texas

"Find a red rubber catheter of the appropriate size for the species and use those in place of the needle."

Carl, I like French catheters and I've used them on adult snakes when administering Panacur, etc. I'm a little nervous about using them on hatchlings because the holes are on the side of the tube. I would worry about food being pushed out the sides of the tube against the sides of the esophagus rather than coming straight out the end. Does this seem like a problem to you or am I worrying about nothing?

"Also, when using raw eggs you run the risk of Salmonella. You can just boil the egg. It whips up just fine when mixed with a luricant, like fish or frogs."

That's a good point. I haven't had any problems so far but I'll give that a try next time I make a slurry.
Hopefully all this discussion will be for nothing. 15 out of 20 of this years BT hatchlings ate the first time I offered a meal the other day. Most took tuna scented large pinks but a few took live unscented. To say I was thrilled would be an understatement.
Chris

I could see your concern, but I doubt anyone puts too much pressure on the plunger. I like the red ones because the tip is nice, rounded blunt. But I think you're just as good with the other.
The salmonella question is just theoretical for the most part, but when you look at the cost of a Dry baby vs a theoretical disease that could cause seriuos harm up to death, it's probably worth the 10 minutes to cook that sucker!!
I have always found fish or frogs to be the best (at least most successful) in getting these babies to eat quickly and I think that's the big key. After a couple of meals they're ready to eat anything usually and it's easy to "scent" a pinky with a fish!!
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Carl W Gossett
Garage Door Herps
Monument,Colorado...northern territory of the Great Republic of Texas

Nothings wrong with them but sometimes cribo hatchlings can be very difficult to get started. Some will eat fish or fish scented rodents right out of the egg but others need to be helped out until they decide to eat on their own.
Chris