Baby Kenyans...

[danh]

Hey! I haven't posted anything in a while, but I've been having a little feeding problem. I've got three '03 kenyans and two '03 spotted pythons that are being pain in the a$$ feeders. With the kenyans I've tried a F/T pinky in a paper bag overnight, then leaving f/t pinkies in the terrarium overnight, then braining the pinkies, then live overnight ina paper bag. Nothing. Now I've got them in individual containers with some sand and a live pinky and I've left them overnight. I'm pretty much at wit's end. Any ideas would be great... Thanks.

dan

[Stockwell]

Dan, who's Kenyans did you buy? couldn't wait for mine eh?LOL
Kenyans are ambush feeders as are most sandbuggers.
They feed best on live pinkies, placed above them in a particulate type substrate. Beta & Alpha chip is what I use, but sand is OK .
Get the temps hot, up to almost 90F and offer the pinky on the surface just before lights out. They eat in total darkness. Keep them in small deli containers with only a few holes. This concentrates the scent molecules and also allows them to feel the movement above them.
Water is important with baby Kenyans. If they get dehydrated they will not eat.
Offer them water by putting them in a low dish or putting their head right into a bottle cap of water.
If weeks pass, and still no eating you should force feed, or try Leopard gecko scenting.

Spotteds are a bit different. If the animal will strike, try slap feeding. This often works but takes patience and technique.
Use live prey , once again and gently slap the snakes snout with the prey. If it strikes and consticts they will usually finish the job, but you must remain motionless after the strike, as any movement will make them let go.
If the snake is very thin and weeks go by, once again , I recommend force feeding. If you don't have a pump, you can use sections of mouse tails.
They will often swallow it on their own, once its in the back of the mouth

[danh]

Thanks, Roy. BTW, the kenyans are not mine, they're Menagerie's. I don't know where they got them, but I heard you've promised your stuff to Grant... For some reason, when we get new snakes at Menagerie, it becomes my responsibility to get them feeding, and they have to feed before we can sell them. We have a pinky pump at Menagerie, but I have yet to figure out how to use it, LOL.

dan