milksnake not eating!!!!!!!!

farmboy · 07-20-13, 11:30 AM

I caught a baby eastern milk snake about 2-3 weeks ago in my yard and he hasn't eaten anything. About 4 days after I caught him I tried to give him pinkie mice, I left it in my 20 gallon aquarium for 30-45 minutes and I could tell he tried biting the pinkie mice but not much. He's about 12" big and has shed it's skin about a week ago still nothing. So I put the snake in a tuberware container with the pinkie mice and left him over night to see what would happened still nothing. It is a VERY DOSILE SNAKE it never tried to bite me ONCE it just wraps it self around my fingers. It would kill me to have to let him or her go. Should I try crickets that are smaller cause the pinkie mice looks to big for him? My mom said "I could keep a snake if I take care of it my self" and this is a crap sandwich without bread if it cant eat, so what should I do?

Robert

formica · 07-20-13, 01:26 PM

stop moving him about and handling him, leave him to settle into whatever enclosure he will be living in, theres no need to put him in another box to feed, its just stressing him more

give him another 5 days without any interference at all, dont pick him up or try to feed him - then try a pinkie, in his enclosure, not in a diffrent box, if he doesnt eat it, give it another few days and try again, and still dont handle him - get a few meals into him before you think about handling him again

....tbh I'd just let him go free and get a captive bred one myself, he's probably very stressed right now, and wild caught snakes really need someone with a little more experience imo

farmboy · 07-20-13, 01:34 PM

Thank you so much for answering.
I will try to remain patient.
Although he doesnt seem to be stressed from my info hes a very relaxed snake.
I will take your advice, see if it works.
Thanks

mygabriella · 07-20-13, 06:20 PM

My friend had one that I gave him. He feeds it grasshoppers, and it ate a garter snake... he didnt realize that he couldnt put them together. Ive seen them with frogs in their mouths. They also eat wild bird eggs. Maybe try something other than a mouse, it might not have been feeding on mice????

mygabriella · 07-20-13, 06:22 PM

They dont usually bite, they just do their peeing thing and spray you with nasty stinky pee junk haha... like my informational terms? haha

farmboy · 07-20-13, 07:12 PM

Should i start that grasshopper thing NOW? Instead of pinkie mice till IT gets older?Or do that for main feedings?

Robert

milk man · 07-20-13, 08:03 PM

Are you feeding him live or frozen pinkies? How are you heating the cage?

They are opportunistic feeders but insects aren't their normal diet. They don't have enough nutrition to help them grow. Milk snakes can eat pinkies right after hatching so I don't think its to big for him.

You could always let it go and get a captive bred one.

farmboy · 07-20-13, 08:58 PM

There frozen pinkies.I put them in a bag out to thaw then when it's almost thawed I put in a cup of hot hotter.Im not heat

farmboy · 07-20-13, 08:59 PM

Ing the cage but I was getting heating pads for the winter. should I get them now?

milk man · 07-20-13, 09:30 PM

First get a under tank heater for one side of the cage. Snakes must have heat to digest. They need a hot spot between 85 and 90*F. They don't like to eat if they don't have that option. It could cause them to regurgitate their meal. After you get the heating taken care of try live pinkies.

Do a Google search for a care sheet. Google is a very useful tool in any hobby.

Lankyrob · 07-21-13, 07:00 AM

You can easily get a well feeding milksnake from a breeder for not a lot of money, release this one, get a viv set up and running well then get yourself a captive bred one.

mygabriella · 07-21-13, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmboy

Should i start that grasshopper thing NOW? Instead of pinkie mice till IT gets older?Or do that for main feedings?

Robert

yeah, try a grasshopper now. see if he likes it. Try mice later on.

Starbuck · 07-21-13, 09:19 AM

Make sure you are gettinf your grasshopper from an area where no herbicides or pesticides are used......
I agree with everyone who has said release it.

farmboy · 07-21-13, 10:12 AM

I put in 2 cricketts and i grasshopper and it looks interested.ill see in 20 min.

farmboy · 07-21-13, 12:53 PM

Nothing but ill wait a day,by the looks of it it looks interested