New Hognose Need Advice

[NennaMeerkat]

Thanks much for that CH^4 (interesting name BTW). I can leave my baby alone but my husband is the one that is acting like a big baby and all pissy when it comes to it. He loves snakes and the such. Such a big kid LOL I am happy enough to just let her get used to the noise and smells of our busy home.

Now my next question(s) would be about feeding the thawed rodent pinkies. I have ALWAYS fed live to my corn snakes (sadly don't have them anymore) without any problems. Nice active hunters they were. But since hognoses aren't constrictors I have to do the thawed route. Never done it and am a bit wary about it since I have to participate in the feeding more than just putting in a few live pinkies. I don't want to scare her or make her not want to eat.

So what is the tried and true method to painlessly feed thawed mice?

[shaunyboy]

its only carpet pythons i work with but as a rule i give them all 1 to 2 weeks to settle in before trying to feed

dont get me wrong some snakes will eat the same day you bring them home as a rule i feel its more productive to let them settle in and feel secure

make sure she has plenty hides etc to help her feel more secure

my mate bred hoggies a while back and if i remember correctly it took a few weeks to get some of the hatchlings feeding on pinky mice

have you asked the person you got it from when it last ate and what type of prey was used ?

i'm sure someone on here with hoggie experience will be able to give you some help

i had a really bad feeding carpet hatchling once after trying everything it was lizards that got her feeding after 10 month

she now eats frozen thawed rats has never missed a feed.

i wish you all the best in getting her to eat

cheers shaun

[Ch^4]

Originally Posted by NennaMeerkat

Thanks much for that CH^4 (interesting name BTW). I can leave my baby alone but my husband is the one that is acting like a big baby and all pissy when it comes to it. He loves snakes and the such. Such a big kid LOL I am happy enough to just let her get used to the noise and smells of our busy home.

Now my next question(s) would be about feeding the thawed rodent pinkies. I have ALWAYS fed live to my corn snakes (sadly don't have them anymore) without any problems. Nice active hunters they were. But since hognoses aren't constrictors I have to do the thawed route. Never done it and am a bit wary about it since I have to participate in the feeding more than just putting in a few live pinkies. I don't want to scare her or make her not want to eat.

So what is the tried and true method to painlessly feed thawed mice?

Good luck with your husband!

Thanks, my name was created a few months back when I had 4 snakes. All of their names start with the letters "Ch," and being an engineer, it was only natural to do: Ch*Ch*Ch*Ch = Ch^4. Kind of geeky! After X-mas though, my collection will be up to 8, so I'm going to need new names for the babies...I might have to change my name to Ch^8..LOL

I think Shaun and Rob covered F/T food pretty good.

I simply put the frozen prey in a plastic bag, which is then put into a very hot bowl of water. I change the water about every 15 minutes. After 30-60 minutes, depending on the size of the prey, I feel the prey item to make sure it is warm throughout (I squeeze it everywhere--if it's not mostly soft, it might not be thawed completely). If it is, I run it under really hot water for about 30 seconds, remove it from the bag with tongs, and drop it into their feed box.

If they don't find it themselves within about a minute or two, I will pick it up with the tongs and get their attention--they usually strike by then, but it may take some more "zombie dancing." (Essentially teasing the snake by making them think the item is alive).

Hope that helps!

[NennaMeerkat]

Thanks to EVERYONE for all the good advice and my worries have really be put down...for now. I am leaving her alone until next monday which would be a week before I try to feed her. Gonna pick up a 3 pack of frozen pinkies Thursday to get ready for the event. I also saved the container the breeder had her in when we first got her...gonna use that to feed her in since it isn't overly large...and another breeder I got in touch with said to put her and the food box in a dark room with no "stimuli" for an hour. If she doesn't eat I will wait another week.

Hopefully this will do it and then I won't come running back here in proverbial tears all worried again.

And CH^4 or CH^8 as you will soon be, you have been most helpful and most delightful to talk with! Look forward to doing it again soon and seeing some pics of your new acquirers.