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I had a few problem celaenops this season, I'm happy to report that they are all taking f/t pinks. Out of four hatchlings, one took pinks immediately, the other three, I had to train. The second pic is the runt, he was about half the weight of the others, it took him 45 minutes to get this pink down.

great looking hatchling, what method worked on them eventually?

Nice to hear!

I'm guessing it was "teasing". That worked on mine. My problem eater now gets hand fed. I hold the pinkie with hemostatic forceps (think thinner, scissors-like, needlenose pliers) by the tail or back leg. With the king snake in my left hand, I tease. She's still a little shy, but shows great interest. Eventually she strikes, then eats it right down while I hold it. When she gets to the back leg, I release the forceps and let her finish. Once the pinkie slides down to her belly, I return her to her cage and we leave her alone for a couple days.

This last pink must've either been somewhat large for her or she had a bad angle on it, because it took FOREVER for her to get past the head. I thought she'd split in two! (she has a thin neck) Once she got past the skull, the rest went down very quickly!

Walt

The previous pic isn't the problem eater (my son's king snake). It was my Jalisco Milk.

Here's the Xmas Grey Banded that wouldn't eat for the first 3 weeks we had her.. now eating regularly (weekly) and shed for us.

Walt

I put the hatchling and a live adult house gecko in a plastic bowl that has a small hole in the lid, just small enough to pass a pinkie through. Once the snakes feeding response is triggered, I dangle a washed and dried F/T pinkie from a piece of thread. The snakes have gone for it every time. I tie the pinky on so the thread comes off when one piece of the string is pulled. After the snake has the pinky half way down, I take the gecko out.

I tried just scenting the pinks with gecko but it did not work, the snakes seem to be triggered by the movement of the gecko. One of the snakes actually caught the gecko, but I intervened and saved the gecko and the snake took the pinky right out of my hand.

The snake still do not like unwashed F/T pinks, I have to wash and dry them.

Should've just given that one a pinky head. That mouse is freaking huge compared to him.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake
www.freewebs.com/badyear2005