Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just got a pinky pump, trying to feed 7 reluctant baby pueblans. Its assembled, the tiny pinkies thawed but the pump appears to be clogging.....Any tips, advice?
Thanks!
Tourmalinequeen

This might sound to you as graphic, but you should chop up a couple pinkies (with some scissors)and then insert the chopped up mass into the pump. This will allow the pieces to make it through the small holes at the bottom. Let me know if you have any other problems.

Best to use several small pinks(rinse well and keep wet) and run em' thru the first time. Put back with forceps and begin the "feed" process. Make sure you don't use too much and also hold them upright to make sure they swallow.
Before using this method have you tried the following:

1- place inside covered paper coffee cup with live or df . pink. Always use forceps to handle pinks
2- "Brain" the pinks.
3- Using fluids from a processed pinky, dip a live or df. pink before placing inside coffee cup.
4- If you have corn snakes, try rubbing a pink with musk from the corn.

The pump should be a last resort and you should wait about 2 months before trying this method.

Mike

>>Just got a pinky pump, trying to feed 7 reluctant baby pueblans. Its assembled, the tiny pinkies thawed but the pump appears to be clogging.....Any tips, advice?
>>Thanks!
>>Tourmalinequeen

it's unusual to have to resort to that with pueblans. what temp are you keeping them at?

If you DO proceed with pinky-pumping, i'd endorse the idea presented here, that you pump the pinkies through once first to get thej chopped up, then reinsert the chopped-up matter for a second run thru the pump.

by the way, i've used #1 (finest) baby food, beef or chicken, as a medium for tubing medications, i think that's a much easier--and equally useful--method of getting food into a snake. just a suggestion.

terry

The babies are being kept at 80-82 degrees with an area in the cage where they can go to be cooler if they prefer. Have tried the pinky in the deli cup, brained pinkies, all the usual. Kind of bummed about the pump as its always touted as being an easy way to feed reluctant feeders but in my opinion, its sort of junk. It doesn't really mash the pinkies well, I've been told to chop them up first, it clogs constantly. I am thinking the baby food thing is the way to go. Thanks for the idea.

I'm a veterinary student at Iowa State, and there is a product out called Carnivore care that is used for rehabilitating wildlife. Your local vet should be able to get it for you. Its a very fine, egg based powder, which makes it easy to feed when mixed with water.

It might be more difficult than running to the store and getting baby food, but if you want something actually made for carnivores, its worth looking into I think.

http://www.oxbowhay.com/link.sp?page=CarnivoreCare

I found a flavor injector syringe at Walmart that works great with a small flexible hose connected to the end. This way I can insert the hose a full inch into the snakes throat without damage.
For the food mixture, I use chicken baby food, soft boiled egg and a little Reptamin powder.
I only use this as a last resort on animals that have not eaten in a month or so. I have found that after a couple tube feedings, some will start to eat on their own interestingly enough.