Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, I tried the paper back trick to no avail. I started with an unscented pinky first, then brained, then scented. I waited one day in between each attempt. She still won't eat. What is my next step? Check previous thread for other things I have tried. Thanks for the help.

Where do you live? Can you get your hands on any Sceloporine lizards? I don't even bother feeding my babies mice anymore... They all start on lizards. It's MUCH easier and once their digestive system is primed up they seem much more prone to switch to scented or even unscented mice. If you can't get your hands on Side-blotch lizards, Earless lizards, Fence Lizards, or Tree Lizards, see if you can't get your hands on a Meditteranean Gecko. They work well too. Just put the snake and the lizard in a deli-cup and let 'em be for half-an-hour. I think a consistent diet made exclusively of mice is untimately a bad thing anyway... too much fat. Over the long-term it seems to manifest itself in kidney stress, wrinkled and thick scales, obesity, lowered fecundity/fertility etc. They're lizard predators primarilly and keeping them's easier if you're not fighting an uphill battle trying to feed them something most aren't predisposed towards feeding on initially.

I live in Texas, north of Houston. Where can I get any of these lizards? Do you know of someone who has some? Do I use them as feeders or for scenting? My snake is very small and needs small food. Thanks for your reply.

Here’s my feeding experiences with 29 offspring hatched out this year, including 5 offspring from the wc female from Dryden (alterna #5) and 7 offspring from the wc female from E. Sanderson (alterna #6): so far, three have not taken a meal, twenty-six are feeding. I’m going out this weekend and running down a few “live” earless lizards for the three holdouts. They’ve been offered F/T utas, urosaurus and earless lizards, as well as live utas and urosaurus. Only three of the remaining twenty-six baby alterna are taking scented or unscented pinkies. The rest are eating lizards, the majority of which are F/T utas. About twenty-five percent of the lizard eaters had to have a live lizard - then another twenty-five percent needed a F/T earless lizard, when a F/T uta or urosaurus would not do. The other fifty percent took a F/T uta without a problem. I don’t know how a mass production facility like Ric Blair does it. Damn, I’m worn out

Maybe one of the benevolent and magnanimous Texas herpers from this forum will toss you a few lizards so you can get her started. Just a thought. RP

Only one left that hasn't taken a meal. Yesterday, I was able to noose a live urosaurus and one live young cophosaurus of appropriate size, as well as 20 utas (my daily bag limit). The live cophosaurus was taken by a hatchling that refused live utas and urosaurus, and the live urosaurus was taken by a hatchling that refused live utas. Next weekend, I plan to visit Tucson and noose up to 20 appropriate sized holbrookia for the deep freeze (holbrookia are much more approachable than cophosaurus IMO). RP

If you live north of houston you are in ground skink country bigtime. Just go to any woody lot where you can lift some boards or just walk thru the woods and you'll see the little brown skinks running around. After a few meals of those you shouldn't have any problems switching it over to pinks. Good luck. Kevin

OK Two things to try. One is a old favorite. If you have other snakes that are feeding on adult mice you can cut the tails off and tease/force feed the tails easily. The trick is to wet the tail and put it in from the body end first so that you follow the hair. In other words the same way that it would go down if it was still attached to the mouse.

The other is a little easier. Just take the snake along for a long ride. Obviously don't let it get to cold or hot. It seems to be the movement gets the snake in the mood to eat. I think that we keep these snakes in to small of a cage and the exercise of being in a bumpy car and trying to stay upright seems to get the snakes enough exercise that they eat. I know of a few breeders who sell off all their non feeders cheap at shows and online. They have told me that 70 percent or better end up eating when they are offered food by the new owners. I don't think it is that high of a percentage but I do bring my non feeders to shows with me and when I get home a few more eat after each show.

Good luck

Oh and don't try more than once a week. Every other day is gonna stress the snake out and kill it. It will also make the snake not feed.

Later Jason

The "taking snakes for a ride" thing might sound strange to someone new, but it really does work. I can't begin to estimate the number of picky feeders I've had that went full circle after being shipped or taken on a trip.

BTW- I've had similar success with putting the critters on top of a running washing machine/dryer for a few loads! LOL

If not, here's something that worked for me on my grayband when I first got him (he'd eaten once for me, then stopped like yours has). After warming up the pinkie, I used tweezers to show the pinky to the snake, then have it slowly back away from the snake. He hesistantly followed, then got more aggressive and false-stuck it. I had it back up further, then he actually took it and ate it. Did this little "mouse dance" with him for quite awhile, but it worked. As long as the snake is following the mouse, he's interested and getting up his nerve to strike.
I've also just held the pinkie still in front of a snake, then slowly turned the tweezers half a turn clockwise then counter clockwise (still slowly) and gotten another snake to eat that way.
I think it's movement, but slow movement that doesn't frighten the snake and triggers feeding response in timid feeders.
Don't know if that'll work on yours, but thought I'd pass it on in case she's still not eating.
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1.0.0 Dumeril's Boa, Bruce
1.0.0 Mexican Kingsnake, Vincent
1.0.0 Graybanded Kingsnake, Boris
1.1.0 Ball Pythons, Pete & Frank
2.3.0 Bearded Dragons, Bela, Sally, Caijun, Phoenix & Spook
0.1.0 Fattailed Gecko, Sahein
2.0.0 Rats, Captian Howdy & Despero
1.0.0 Pushy Lovebird Baxter

Sorry, no luck yet. I can't seem to find anyone with the appropriate lizards. We have had some cool weather here and I have not had any luck locating any geckos yet. I will continue to look every day. In the meantime, I'll try to see if she responds to movement like you say. Thanks for your input.