Feeding these guys (and lots of other arboreals) can be lots more of an "art" then a "science" They can be a royal pain in the rear (as if you didnt know that). Some things that have worked for me...

1- use just a pink head and try to get them to strike it. It sometimes seems that if the food item is heavy they dont want to hold it even though they could.

2- take the pink head in forceps and tap the neonate on the tail with it. For some reason this often elicits a strike when waving it around in front of them or touching the snakes head wont. I imagine its an instinctual response to something heading for the caudal lure.

3- put the pink head in hot water to heat it up and then try the above.

4- if they just wont strike, take another pair of forceps, pad the tips with bandaids or somesuch and hold the baby a bit behind the head (not right behind the head) then present the food with the other pair of forceps. Being restrained often elicits a strike response. (make sure you have long enough forceps to do this safely)

5- if all eles fails use a sponge or foam rubber to press the baby down with its head right at the edge of the pad and present the pink head to the front of its mouth and they usually will grab it. (mind your fingers!)

6- once you get the food in the animals mouth you need to get back and stay totally still in the hope they will swallow it. Sometimes you have to do this again, and again and again till you think it will never work.

I would not reccomend putting your hands on them to assist/force feed...the risk is just too high that you will slip up and have one attached to your finger. I have used a pinkie pump on baby Green Pit Vipers and it was way too close for comfort on several occasions. Its just not worth it.

Hope some of this helps

Peter
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Peter and Sara
Beouf River Reptiles

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