Update: Adelina

[NennaMeerkat]

(I hope people don't mind me making new threads when talking about my hoggie...if so let me know and I will stop)

Went to the expo (will post pictures soon) to the breeder to show off my hoggie to the breeder and get her opinion and do the trade. After seeing the overall size of her the breeder decided to keep trying to feed her until March when she will be at a more local expo. If she doesn't eat by then the breeder then said that she would do the trade for sure.

Also told me to "brain" the frozen pinkies or try to scent them with tuna or salmon. Not only that but after hearing our setup, temps, and whatnot she also said to just take out my heat lamp altogether and just stick to my UTH on the dimmer. Not sure how much I am gonna do that however what I am gonna do is take some test temps using my new temperature gun (bought at expo) with the light on and off. Might end up putting the light on the dimmer and keep it on but really really low.

The breeder seemed really adamant about me not having a lamp and keeping the temps at the low 80's in the hottest part of the aquarium. Since she is a successful breeder for a long long time I am gonna do what she says to be sure. Some of you might not agree with this but please at this point I am not up for discussion on temps.

So no I didn't trade her in. Tomorrow gonna try to feed her a "brained" pinky to see what she does. Still unsure if I am gonna feed her in or out of her tank...but for now I will try inside. She so seems to stress when she isn't in her tank.

[Corni_snake]

with any snake its better to feed it out side the tank, although you do that espessially with an hatchling, but I know its a hassle to take them out to feed but it saves mess, prevents the snake from getting substrate into its digestive system that can cause problems o.o (N) and you dont really want that?:/ just my opinon and been told by some friends that work in zoology?

But put some pics up! =] (Y)

[serpentshideawa]

Thats probably the first time ive heard someone say to feed outside the tank i dont cus to me its safer on the snake syress wise to not constantly switch homes for it just to feed but thats me neena on this subject do as you will its advice and peoples point of view for the matter and if the breeder gabe you advice it might be worth a shot

[NennaMeerkat]

with any snake its better to feed it out side the tank, although you do that espessially with an hatchling, but I know its a hassle to take them out to feed but it saves mess, prevents the snake from getting substrate into its digestive system that can cause problems o.o (N) and you dont really want that?:/

But put some pics up! =] (Y)

I will be editing pictures tonight and posting them up tomorrow. Got some awesome shots to be sure, thanks to my husband :)

As for her getting substrate in her system I found out something really interesting talking to a lot of the breeders that were there. Many, not all, said that unless a snake is already sick or kidneys and such compromised then the substrate should pass through their system with no problem. Impaction because of substrate is a secondary issue...more like a symptom of something much worse. And so many breeders can't be wrong right?

Now at the same time that doesn't mean I want that chance to happen BUT I will do whatever is less stressful to her considering that she hasn't eaten in 5 weeks.

[CanadianEryx]

Why not try feeding her in her viv but put the pinkie on a plate? This will take care of the stress issue as well as the substrate isssue. Good luck and, just to let you know, my ksb finally ate last night after 7 weeks of not eating!

[totheend]

Something else to consider trying......put her in a deli and put the food in with her. When I say deli, I mean a container that she just fits in. They can't get away from the food. I have had success with this method before.

[Sapphyr]

with any snake its better to feed it out side the tank, although you do that espessially with an hatchling, but I know its a hassle to take them out to feed but it saves mess, prevents the snake from getting substrate into its digestive system that can cause problems o.o (N) and you dont really want that?:/ just my opinon and been told by some friends that work in zoology?

But put some pics up! =] (Y)

Snakes are picky eaters. Some just prefer to be in their tank over being out. There's honestly no difference between the two. If you're responsible and handle your snake often, it's not(for the most part) going to develop a feeding response to your hand.

As Nenna stated, getting an impaction via swallowed substrate is uncommon. Most snakes do fine, even with digesting a little bit of their substrate. That's another reason why it doesn't really make too much of a difference if you feed in their environment or out of it. If you're still paranoid, though, just do as A-vdberg stated, use a plate.

At any rate, Nenna, I really hope she eats for you. :c Good luck! Be sure to keep us updated.

[shaunyboy]

with any snake its better to feed it out side the tank, although you do that espessially with an hatchling, but I know its a hassle to take them out to feed but it saves mess, prevents the snake from getting substrate into its digestive system that can cause problems o.o (N) and you dont really want that?:/ just my opinon and been told by some friends that work in zoology?

But put some pics up! =] (Y)


imo its much better to feed in the tank it will feel more secure

cheers shaun

[NennaMeerkat]

Why not try feeding her in her viv but put the pinkie on a plate? This will take care of the stress issue as well as the substrate isssue. Good luck and, just to let you know, my ksb finally ate last night after 7 weeks of not eating!

Congrads on your own snake eating after a long while. Honestly Adelina seems to spazz right now about anything new that suddenly descends into her home. But I will try to see what happens.

[Lankyrob]

Congrads on your own snake eating after a long while. Honestly Adelina seems to spazz right now about anything new that suddenly descends into her home. But I will try to see what happens.

In my humble opinion this is one of the problems with keeping snakes in an aquarium rather tahn a front opening vivarium. Lots of snakes are predated by hawks and thereefore their main point of threat is from above. With a vivarium opening from the front you are always coming toward them at their level rather than from above.

The only attempt my GTP has EVER made to strike me is when i approached hi with my hand above him rather than below.

[NennaMeerkat]

In my humble opinion this is one of the problems with keeping snakes in an aquarium rather tahn a front opening vivarium. Lots of snakes are predated by hawks and thereefore their main point of threat is from above. With a vivarium opening from the front you are always coming toward them at their level rather than from above.

The only attempt my GTP has EVER made to strike me is when i approached hi with my hand above him rather than below.

Well thankfully I normally put the plate in a few days before the food and then when I do feed her I wait until she is in a hide so I can get the food in without her seeing the whole "death from above". Though I will say she is the first snake I have had, fed, or seen that really gets nervous about me coming in from above. But she is still a baby so it is understandable at the same time.

[ineedsoap16]

Even is she sees u and gets nervous, if you leave the food item and it is something that looks good to her, she will adventure out and get it. PS, the salmon thing makes them go nuts for food. Jut warm up the mouse and dip it in Salmon juice and tada.

Ryan

[NennaMeerkat]

Even is she sees u and gets nervous, if you leave the food item and it is something that looks good to her, she will adventure out and get it. PS, the salmon thing makes them go nuts for food. Jut warm up the mouse and dip it in Salmon juice and tada.

Ryan

Thanks Ryan you are the first person that has mentioned the salmon since I read it. Gonna buy a couple of cans of salmon today to freeze and use later. I feel sorry for the live pinkie that gets dunked though!

This next feed I plan on half frozen and half live. If she eats both then I will move on to just frozen that is scented. If she only eats live...well that is okay as well.

[Marica]

From my post in your thread "Feeding f/t techniques"

...scenting with canned tuna or salmon (I found a post from a hognose breeder that has had success with rubbing f/t prey on canned salmon that they froze)...

Good luck with the salmon scenting/dunking :)

[NennaMeerkat]

From my post in your thread "Feeding f/t techniques"



Good luck with the salmon scenting/dunking :)

Thanks! Tomorrow is the big day to find out if it works! Gonna be dunking one live and one frozen. I will be giving and update tomorrow good or bad.

[NennaMeerkat]

Well for those of you who care or see this...

I put Adelina with 2 live pinkies in a fold up little box that the pinkies came in. Sealed up the box with a bit of tape (no worries she can breath) and have left her in there. Been in there for about an hour but so far the only thing she has tried to do is get out of the box. The pinks are both slightly scented with some salmon. Later on tonight I will get her out and I will let everyone know if she has eaten or not. Hopefully she will give up getting out and concentrate on eating instead.

[Aaron_S]

I'll be looking forward to the update.

[Sapphyr]

Really hope she eats for you D: Keeps us posted!

[NennaMeerkat]

Checked in on her, still hasn't eaten but isn't trying to get out of the box anymore. Gonna leave her in for a couple more hours. If still nothing then gonna call it a day for another week. I will say that she seemed annoyed when I opened the box...flattened out her head and hissed a little. Got my doubts she is gonna eat.

[NennaMeerkat]

Okay so another week of her not eating. However she is still doing that chewing motion with her jaw. I am thinking of taking her to the vet but I am not sure on my cash flow ATM. Tax money will be coming in but not sure when. Probably not until mid march. I think in the end if she doesn't eat by the time the next expo comes in for my breeder I will just go through with the trade that I didn't do this past weekend. Dammit.

Ended up putting the pinkies in her tank with her will take them out tomorrow if they are still there. Which I am sure they will be...

[serpentshideawa]

i hope she eats and soon