Any more ideas?

[Christina]

Well we were really excited when our African House snakes hatched.
Our first clutch and we succesfully had 3 new little dew worm size snakes.
One died which did not surprise us because it did not seem to great when it hatched. It came out upside down if that has any significance.
I lost one don't ask I am still kicking my ***.
The third one is still here thank God.
BUT I cannot get him to eat at all and I am really upset it was born at the end of June had its first shed a week and a half after it hatched and has eaten NOTHING!
We have tried rat pinky steaks, freshly newborn rats, pinky mice, I even cut a rat up alive (yuck) and tried just the head with the brains hoping that would entice the little boog, we have provided a hide spot, covered its container completely, opening its mouth and placing it there and all with NO response at all.
Any other methods techniques that can be provided would be greatly appreciated. I am afraid this little one is cloose to death now :(
Thankyou Christina

[gonesnakee]

Assist/force feed it a small newborn pinky mouse. If you are not comfortable doing it, look for someone with experience doing so to help you. It is required to stimulate the feeding response sometimes & even if the snake doesn't take it with assistance, forcing it to take it will put a meal in its belly. Some people won't force feed & just let nature run its course, but sometimes it only takes one or 2 assist/force feedings to start a snake feeeding on its own that would otherwise starve to death. Mark I.

[vanderkm]

Another option is to try feeding mouse tails - not something I have done personally, but know of people who use just the tail of an adult mouse, insert into the snake's mouth so that it will go down easily (base of tail first so the hair is going the right direction). They don't have much on them, but they can be easier to swollow than a pinky if you don't have any luck force feeding the pinks. The tails may be enough to give them some nutrition and get them into the idea of swollowing.

mary v.

[Christina]

Well I have to boost success.
I force fed it two pinky legs :)
Was a little nervous but if I messed up it would of died either way.
But things went our way and it ate!
Christina

[reverendsterlin]

good job, the cap of a Bic pen makes a nice rounded pusher for the end and shouldn't damage the throat. Hope ya don't pop too many pinks, slow and easy. I usually offer the pink in a small tub for 30-60 minutes before every forced feeding in hopes the message made it thru their brainpan lol.

[Christina]

I will give that a go next time ty for the advice !
I figured I should wait a couple of days considering the poor thing was in poor health to begin with.
I made sure not to let it go too long but I didn't want to do anything unnecessary to quick to the hop either.
Thanks again
Christina

[lordkovacs]

congrats...must feel good that you got it to eat. that's great.
MIKE