Picky Neonates

[Feebo]

One of my baby Western Hogs has yet to feed and I think, being as it`s been a month or so, now is the time to start trying scenting and the like. Can anyone offer any advice on this subject? I`d persuade a pinky into his mouth but I`ve never been able to open Westerns Hogs mouths, that wish bon jaw just makes it impossible. I`ve searched for frog scent on Ebay, I wonder if I can get it elsewhere, hmmm...... Well now`s the time to start thinking about all this I think, any ideas? Thanks guys and girls :)

[gonesnakee]

Are they all individually housed? If not they should be.
How often have you been attempting to feed?
Should be only once a week tops & its best to wait at least a full week or even 2 after first sheds.
So by rights this snake should have only been offered prey 2 maybe 3 times tops.
How & when is prey being offered?
It should be offered at night & presented to the snake in its small enclosure alternating between a live pinky one week & a dead one the next.
A month is NOTHING! Do not be continually pestering it with various prey & scents etc.
Do not try assist or force feeding, these are last resort things that should be maybe attempted at around the 3-4 month mark IF the snake is becoming thin & lethargic.
Baby snakes can go months EASY with no prey & the longer one waits before the initial attempt the better the results will be.
Pestering it too often with various prey etc. is more likely to hinder than help & will turn most young ones off of prey even longer as they view it as a source of annoyance not food.
I find they tend to eat once they are hungry & have kept many species that go every year anywhere from 2-4 months prior taking anything & then taking everything ever offered after that.
Patience is the key. No handling until snakes are feeding & small individual housing is a must & feed in the enclosure. No stress from being moved around & delicupped etc. etc. Mark

[Feebo]

I`m not new to snakes dude lol ;D Of course they`re individually housed yes, in small tubs and still in the incubator they were born in. They`re being offerd a single F/T pinkie, at night, each week. Live feeding is illegal in the UK unless you`re a zoo. Western Hogs shed immedeatly after hatching, they were given thier first food one week later. I`ve just checked my dates and sure enough, they`re one month old. I know they can go a lot longer than a month and I`m not worried about losing that one AT ALL at the moment. Along with the fact they can go six months properly hydrated, he`s plump and alert. I just thought now would be a good time to start looking into the whole scenting thing as it`s entirely likely I`ll have to give it a go, Western hog neonates being famous for refusing to start eating. I don`t want to leave it until I need to start doing it and then be dunking pinkies in tuna jars while totally unprepared lol ;D Can anyone offer any experiences on this subject? :)

[gonesnakee]

Sometimes they like "grosser" food as well LOL
Like a pinky thawed out the day before thats started to get a bit ripe already.
I have had success with this in the past.
Another thing of course is "braining" where you make a small slit in the head & expose some grey matter so to speak LOL
Of course there is always the washing the pinkies method which can work as well.
Just use liquid dish soap & be sure to rinse it really well & then do not handle it as you do not want your scent on it.
As far as scenting goes I have only ever had to do so with Eastern Indigos as they go crazy for baby cornsnakes & can be started on snake scented rodents easily.
I have a buddy that has had great success with tuna juice as well or using fish scent from feeder GF, something pungent anyhow seems to help. Mark

[Feebo]

Ooooh I tried the ripe one! lol it squirted sticky pinky juice all over the place in the end lol I thought the first thing I`d try would be the easiest to obtain and that`s tuna juice. I have to wonder if I can get hold of frog scent though..... :)

[shaunyboy]

live feeding is not illegal in the uk feebo.

if you want to cover your backside then all you have to do is speak to a vet.once you tell them all the methods of feeding you have exhausted where live is the only method left,the vet will tell you to go ahead and live feed.the rspca take a view that if its for genuine reasons and obviously your snake will die if it dont eat then thats perfectly acceptable in their eyes and the eyes of the law.it is ok to live feed as a last resort.
cheers shaun