Serious feeding advice needed

[Derek1]

Got a Western late last year. Female. She ate great the first few feedings. Then went off feed. Which is normal and I understand Hogs can be a PITA as far as feeding goes. But not this big of a PITA.

Anyway. Her last feed was mid December. I try and try to feed but she's having nothing to do with it. I've scented with fish and nothing. She's even shed during this time. Changed enclosures. Had her in a 10gal glass and now a small critter cage.

Far as size and weight she looks fine. She's cool as hell and fun and easy to handle. Which as been rare as I want her to feel comfortable.

Need advice on what to do.

[Albert Clark]

First I would stop offering on a frequent schedule. I think it would be a better strategy to only offer once a week. If it's refused , then don't offer food again until the following week period. Try scenting with either rosy reds or f/t frog legs. Most fish markets carry frozen frog legs. Give this a try and see if it helps. Good luck. Oh, maybe she is ready to breed? Think about brumating her if she continues to refuse food.

[Derek1]

Wow! Got her to eat tonight! Not quit what I would call a force feeding, but I hand fed her. I tried the same last week and got her to bite softly and thought she was going to take it down, but didn't.

Last week and this week I hand held her and lightly rubbed her mouth with a f/t pinky. Last week she slightly opened her mouth as if she wanted to eat, so I slowly filled her mouth with it. Got a good response and thought she would take it down. But she backed out and was done.

But tonight I placed the food in her dish and I knew damn well she wasn't going to eat it after and while. So I tried to hand do it again. I rubbed her mouth with the f/t and she opened up to let me put the f/t in and I just cupped her and she gobbled it down.

When I say opened up. That's the forced part. She didn't do a 180 open feed me. It was a 3 ok with interest. And I used that interest to open and get the head in the front and want that full flavor.

I probably did a lot wrong, but I'm happy she ate. First time in 6 months and I never gave up on her.

[Eggplant]

Good on you!

As for feeding, I heard braining the food is very effective. I cut open my mouse a little bit after it's warmed up nicely when my hog doesn't want to eat (which is like never these days.. Her appetite has gone through the roof).

Also, I heard snakes are instinctively put off by dead food so remember to warm up your pinkies good and wiggle them to perk the interest of your hoggie. I use tongs to feed and I wiggle my fuzzies so they look more tasty I guess. After my hog bites I "pretend struggle" a little (but careful to not hurt their teeth) it seems to make mine wolf it down faster.

Good luck!

[Minkness]

Originally Posted by Eggplant

After my hog bites I "pretend struggle" a little (but careful to not hurt their teeth) it seems to make mine wolf it down faster.

Good luck!

Not a hog, but I do this for my BP and it works surprisingly well! I sometimes 'play' with him like a cat, letting the mouse peek around things and taking it just out of reach then bringing it back. He will track it the whole time till he strokes. But if I just but it in front of him and wiggle it, he looks, tongue flicks, then has no interest... and heaben forbid it cool down AT ALL....sometimes I have to reheat it if he doesn't take it in the first few minutes x.x

Silly snakes being so picky...


That said, I hand feed my hoggie. I place the oinky (or fuzzy now) right against his mouth/nose and he sooooo sloooowly opens his mouth and sucks it down. But if I wiggle it, he has no interest, and if I leave it in his enclosure...it takes him 2 days to decide to eat it. So, I just hand feed him every time and he hasn't missed a meal yet. I may just be lucky though o.o

[Eggplant]

Originally Posted by Minkness

Not a hog, but I do this for my BP and it works surprisingly well! I sometimes 'play' with him like a cat, letting the mouse peek around things and taking it just out of reach then bringing it back. He will track it the whole time till he strokes. But if I just but it in front of him and wiggle it, he looks, tongue flicks, then has no interest... and heaben forbid it cool down AT ALL....sometimes I have to reheat it if he doesn't take it in the first few minutes x.x

Silly snakes being so picky...


That said, I hand feed my hoggie. I place the oinky (or fuzzy now) right against his mouth/nose and he sooooo sloooowly opens his mouth and sucks it down. But if I wiggle it, he has no interest, and if I leave it in his enclosure...it takes him 2 days to decide to eat it. So, I just hand feed him every time and he hasn't missed a meal yet. I may just be lucky though o.o

Yes I make my hoggie hunt for her f/t sometimes as well . My hognose used to be a very reluctant eater as well when I first got her. I did notice that she used to be easily put off when she sees my tongs. But over time her feeding response has become increasingly stronger. She now strikes at f/t's

[Albert Clark]

That's great Derek! Problem solved.

[Little Wise Owl]

I got all my stubborn babies to eat by putting them in much smaller enclosures (big sandwich tupperwares) with one hide and deep substrate (sani-chips). Couple days after they were put in there they began eating with no fuss.