Still won't eat :(

[ChristinaM]

I've tried everything I can.

I don't have access to a feeding tube thingie....unless I can maybe get one from the pharmacy?

I've tried everything suggested in the tips to get hatchlings to eat post, nothing works.

frustrated :(

[Simon]

You've tried everything?
Could you tell me what you have tried?
Cause there are ALOT of different methods to try and get a hatchling to start feeding~~

[ChristinaM]

everything that has been listed in the tips to get hatchlings to feed post.

- slap feeding/tease feeding whatever you call it ( used mary's method as described in the tips post )
- live
- ft
- braining
- putting snake and prey in small container overnight
- scenting with smell of gecko/bearded dragon
- followed instructions in the cornsnake manual

yes temps are good ( 85-88F warm spot )
water available
dark hide.

don't know what else to try :( it's been so long. snake hatched almost 4wks ago now :( I'm not skilled enough to pry open its jaws to force feed him. Nor am I in the best of health at the moment so all this and I am really at my wit's end.

[mathaldo]

I don't have any cornsnakes, nor any snakes, but is there any other thing you can feed it other than a mouse? Maybe a huge silkworm, or another small mammal. I don't know, just a suggestion.

[Simon]

What is the feeding intervals that you are feeding it?
Cause it seems like that you have already tried a lot of methods but in such a short period of time.

Maybe you have been feeding it too regularly and its stressing it out.

Now you said that you have tried these methods:
- slap feeding/tease feeding whatever you call it ( used mary's method as described in the tips post ) (did you try live and f/t?)
- live
- ft
- braining (live and f/t?)
- putting snake and prey in small container overnight (live and f/t?)
- scenting with smell of gecko/bearded dragon (live and f/t?)

Have you also tried scenting with anoles, chicken broth, rats? Other than scenting you can also try bringing a piece of gecko skin and stick it to the pinky mouse (lol..a little operation is needed, this helps bring the scenting a lot stronger than the rubbing)

If all fails and you would like to try force feeding, bring it to me if you want and I'll help you out there~

[marisa]

It's only been a few days since your last post about this. IMHO you are trying too often.

My one non-eater didn't have its first meal last year until five weeks old. He went on to outgrow some of his sibs. I think the snake needs a full 7 days....no cleaning, no checking, no nothing...maybe even a towel covreing most the enclosure. Then day old live pink introduced VERY late at night in the dark. But I agree with Simon for the most part when he mentioned trying too often.

Marisa

[Simon]

LOL
I had a little stubborn one that broke most of my records...
he did eat for the first 5 and half months of his life...born in Sept and started to eat her first meal in mid Feb......LOL~

Oh welll~
some little ones really need to go through the cooling period before the 'feeding switch' starts to click....LOL

[ChristinaM]

k, will try waiting a week and then see what happens. thanks.

[ChristinaM]

Originally posted by marisa
It's only been a few days since your last post about this. IMHO you are trying too often.

My one non-eater didn't have its first meal last year until five weeks old. He went on to outgrow some of his sibs. I think the snake needs a full 7 days....no cleaning, no checking, no nothing...maybe even a towel covreing most the enclosure. Then day old live pink introduced VERY late at night in the dark. But I agree with Simon for the most part when he mentioned trying too often.

Marisa

Was going by what was in the cornsnake manual as far as timing, especially now that the snake is 4wks old. Don't want the poor sucker to die like my first amel did :( But if the majority think waiting a wk before trying again then I will do so.

Why live tho and not ft?
should I scent it as well? ( got lots of dragons and gecko's around )
when should i check to see if it was eaten or not?

thanks for your time.

[kidchameleon]

when i got a hatchling corn, it went 6 weeks without eating, but then it started accetping pinkies.

[ChristinaM]

Originally posted by kidchameleon
when i got a hatchling corn, it went 6 weeks without eating, but then it started accetping pinkies.

good to know. thanks :) glad I ain't the only one.

[Derrick]

I had my first clutch of corns a month ago and of the 13, 2 have yet to feed. They are still really fiesty and look no worse for wear. I'm not to worried about them. I did have feeding trouble with one of my JCPs when I got it (2 months no food) and think thats helped me to deal with the corns as far as paitents goes.

Good luck and keep pluging away