Problem feeder......

electrochix · 02-05-04, 06:43 AM

I've recently got my 1st snake, a Sinaloan milk snake. He's only 6 weeks old and hasn't been eating very well. The breeder I got him off of was brilliant and made sure he'd had 3 feeds before I got him. The breeder has been holding him to feed him and annoying him with the pinkie until he strikes. I managed to get him to do this 10 days ago, so he has had 1 pinkie since I got him, but have been trying again for 3 days now and he won't even strike the pinkie. Also worried he'll begin to associate getting held with getting annoyed until he has to strike. Any suggestions?

sapphire_moon · 02-05-04, 08:09 AM

well for one stop pestering him every day. Stick a schedule. Once a week (since he is a problem feeder). Personally I've never had anyone sell me a snake that has under atleast 8 feedings.
Just leave him alone for a while, then try.

try a f/t

brained
cut the nose off
dip the head in hot water
dip the entire body in hot water
dip the head in chicken broth
leave in cage overnight with the snake (if it's on paper towel)
put in a small bowl (with air holes) with a f/t over night.

and lastly try a live day old pink (only as a last resort)

There is also a milk/king snake forum on here if you scroll down a little further. They might be able to help you better.

Also, why are you handling him while trying to feed? He should be left in his enclosure or put into a feeding tub/bowl. Did you wait for him to settle at the bare min. 1 wk (without feeding) BEFORE you attempted to feed? What is your temps like? And how are you reading these temps?

And tease feeding I think (Not sure so don't quote me) is used to start hatchlings out, since he was only fed 3 times I would assume he is about 3-4wks old, unless he has refused several feedings.

electrochix · 02-05-04, 11:04 AM

Only handling him while feeding cause that's what the breeder was doing + he suggested this. Not keen on it myself. He was left 5 days in the new enclosure before offering anything and refused then fed ok 2 days later. Temp is average of 80 degrees F with one thermometer at cool and one at warm end. The breeder gave me a diary of feeding and he was fed every 7-10 days before I got him. 4 feeds off the breeder and 1 from me. If I tried him today how long should I wait to try again? Don't fancy braining a pinkie, have been offering it warm anyway and have also left it overnight so might try the chicken stock idea.

One thing (excuse my ignorance). What do you mean by f/t?

Auskan · 02-05-04, 11:20 AM

f/t means frozen/thawed

marisa · 02-05-04, 11:33 AM

You don't need to try any tricks yet.

From today on leave the snake alone for a week. No handling, no cleaning, no anything. Covering up 75% of the enclosure can make it feel more secure as well.

In a week, leave a frozen thawed pinky in the cage overnight. If that doesn't do the trick, wait a few more days and try leaving the snake with a frozen thawed pinky in a small tight sexcure box overnight.

If both those fail, THEN move on to the tricks. That's my HO.

Marisa

Tim_Cranwill · 02-05-04, 11:42 AM

Get a live pinkie mouse and leave it with him over night in a small container. Once he's eating, it will be easy to switch him to f/t mice. None of my sinaloans eat off the tongs. They all eat when the f/t mouse is left over night.

Or you can just wait it out. He should eat eventually. They can go a few months without food even at your snake's age.

Good luck!

electrochix · 02-05-04, 03:18 PM

Thanx guys. Great advice. Just so worried cause he's my 1st snake. Got tarantulas and lizards already. Glad none of them have problems eating. It's so worrying.

Tim_Cranwill · 02-05-04, 03:54 PM

Don't worry. Snakes skip meals ALL THE TIME especially when they have been stressed by a move and a new environment, for example.