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feeding neonate eyelash vipers

bc422 Sep 25, 2006 09:25 AM

does anyone have any experience feeding baby eyelash vipers if so what do you feed them? do you have to force feed them? can they eat insects?

Replies (8)

SnakesAndStuff Sep 25, 2006 11:30 AM

They'll usually take pinky heads/day old pinks/pinky parts etc. Unless you bought it from someone else that already had it feeding when they sent it to you (and even then, sometimes they go off feed due to shipping etc) you might have a pretty tall learning curve to overcome (assuming this is your first small arboreal hence the question that was asked).

It may require tease feeding/assist feeding etc to get it started. These are all things that are somewhat of an art (some people just have a knack for getting the small arboreals to eat).

If it doesn't readily accept pinky heads/day old pinks get in touch with whoever is mentoring you in keeping venomous snakes and ask them to show you how to tease feed the snake (it is tricky b/c if you tease too much you stress the snake out and lose progress).

phobos Sep 25, 2006 07:44 PM

Hi:

Watch this video I shot of a Western Bush Viper juv. Tease the eyelash viper like seen in the video. Remember 2 things:

1) It's a pit viper so make the food item hot, not enough to burn it's mouth but a good heat signature.

2)Tree vipers have an extraordinary strike range, make sure your tweezers are long enough to stay out of it's jaws.

Good Luck,

Al
Western Bush Viper Feeding

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Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

Kestrel Sep 25, 2006 11:54 PM

Those videos are great! I really need a digital camcorder. lol. And I thought MY squam was bad. haha
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Brienne Earnst


DeviantArt Photo Gallery

Keeping mostly Morelia and Elaphe ssp.

phobos Sep 26, 2006 05:04 AM

Thanks Brie,

Your photo gallery is fantastic

Al
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Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

Kestrel Sep 26, 2006 02:33 PM

Thanks. I have some photos of my squam in there somewhere but they're prolly a ways back lol.

Man I just got done watching every single one of your videos. You crack me up. LOL.
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Brienne Earnst


DeviantArt Photo Gallery

Keeping mostly Morelia and Elaphe ssp.

bc422 Sep 26, 2006 09:56 PM

wow great footage how did the imported wagleri turn out.

ive heard gabbys have incredible speed but thats the first time i got to see them in action thanks. by the way what is there strike range and can they really strike from all angles and do head over tail "flips" or is that an exaggeration

juksu Sep 27, 2006 01:15 AM

I didn't really get the idea of that squami video? OK the snake is really pissed off when you poke it with a stick, so? Thats what they do best..
Jeah I quess it's quite funny when they try to bite you ( I got couble of squamigeras so I know how nervous/aggressive they can sometimes be).

The chlorechis video was nice beautiful snake you got.

Best wishes Sami
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-- www.nothingtosay.tk --

JimH Sep 26, 2006 12:13 PM

Phobos has great advice. Years ago I got 50 out of 53 neo schlegs to take heated pinky heads. The pinky heads were dipped in hot tap water for about 5 sec. before tease feeding. The only inconvenience was once I got the baby to grab the head, I had to sit very still so as not to cause the snake to spit the head out. Took me over 4 hours at a time to individiually feed those babies. Once they could handle whole pinks, they were on their way.
Best...
Jim

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