Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I need some advice. I have a female extreme which will not eat on her own. I have forced twice now to keep her going. I have tried live, frozen, deli-cup, cage over night, split brain, scented, tease everything I know.

She is now about 2 months old, has plenty of energy but just shows not interest in eating.

I have been doing this for years so I know the ropes, but this girls is driving me crazy. I was hoping someone out there may have another idea.

Hey John,

I have a hondo that is now a yearling but was one of my toughest guys. But he ate eventually with this method I did. Let me try to describe it as much as I can.

I fashioned a little hiding place shaped like an igloo (actually, in my office when we get a new fax toner, the cardboard round shape thing that holds each side of the toner inside the box is perfect for such a hiding place). But anyway, the idea is this hiding place should be placed on top of the warm area of the cage. Make sure that the shavings are not present inside that hiding place so that none will stick on the live pinky when he tries to eat it. This cardboard hiding place should just have that little hole for the hondo to get in and out of it. Put a live pinky in there and the carefully allow your hondo to get in through the hole. As you are allowing him to get in, put your other hand on top of the cardboard hiding place (the idea is for the hondo not to try to get out by "digging" under the insides of the cardboard. When he is settle with the live pinky inside, slightly cover the opening and gently close the cage...and then leave him overnight. I usually discover the next morning that the pinky is gone and the hondo has a lump in his midsection.

See of that works for you.

Thanks,
-----
RAY

What did you use to scent with? I've found that skink scent works pretty well (either ground skink or 5-lined skinks).
-----
Paul Weaver
Carolina Herps

Had a pair of campbells that kept refusing everything for 3 months. Tried scenting pinks from my baby corns also. Used the pinkie pump every 4 days. They finally came around a few weeks ago on live pinks from my breeding colony and now feeding on df pinks. Never used lizards: too hard to obtain. The pump is always less stressful than force feeding for me.

Mike

John, I've successfuly used cod liver oil as a scenting agent for the odd problematic feeder.

Get the cod liver oil capsules from any drugstore, spread the oil over the pinky head prior to force feeding. You do this once or twice and then gradualy reducing the cod oil scenting every feeding until your hondo feeds on no scent.

I find they go nuts over the cod liver oil scent and get weaned fairly quick after that.

A friend working with Hognose had similar results using Tuna juice.

Good luck
-----
Marc Bouchard
Selectively Bred Serpents
www.selectively-bred-serpents.ca

How are you doing buddy?

Were you able to close the deal on the guy I referred to you this summer? I'm not sure if that is a done deal and turned out favorable for both parties.

Send me an email when you get a chance.

Thanks,
-----
RAY

Had the same problem this spring with a male extreme, he unfortunately is no longer around. Brings back memories. Best of luck.
-----
"Colubrid-aphilia", adj; An inordinate love of Colubrids.

John have you ever tried mouse tails or for hondos rat tails. They are easier to force feed and are less stressful because they go down quicker. I have done this with alterna and other problem feeders. The only draw back is that the first few times they eat pinks on their own it is usually backwards. LOL Just make sure you start from the end closer to the body so you are going with the hair.

As far as tips for getting them going I can't think of anything that I would think you wouldn't know.

Good Luck

later Jason

Um I should have said that once you get the tail in their mouth you should try to let them eat it on their own. It seems that you can put the tails in less and less each time but the whole point is to let them swallow as much as you can. Kinda teaching them how to eat I guess???

Later Jason

n/p