baby western hognose not eating! please help! - Page 2

sharthun · 11-04-14, 03:09 PM

IMO, i wouldn't listen to your breeder's advice. There is no need to soak your snake provided he has a water dish. 1. You have to get the husbandry right and 2.the snake needs to feel secure with adequate cover/hides. When these conditions are met your snake will eat. At least 3 of us agree that your temps are too high. Good luck!

kuester · 11-04-14, 03:42 PM

the hot side is now at 90. I have him in a 10g now with 3 toilet paper tubes, a log hide, a water dish, a treasure chest, he doesn't even use his hides he lays direct against the glass... do you think my hognose is going to die?

I cover his deli cup so its secluded and dark when I try feeding him, the only light he gets is from the small window in the room. he has only ate once and that was when he regurgitated. so cmwells90 do you think I should try feeding tomorrow or no?

Cmwells90 · 11-04-14, 03:47 PM

If he's regurgitated recently then I would give him about 3 or 4 days to relax, it can take a toll on the snake and trying to feed again may get the same results. I wouldn't worry about him dying though, a few weeks wont hurt, one of my Hognose is only about 4 months old and he just went a month without feeding, so you'll be fine. Like I said this may be normal because of the winter months, so he may just not be eating due to seasonal effects, all you can do is continue to offer food and meet the conditions, but I don't think he's at risk of dying because of this.

kuester · 11-04-14, 07:22 PM

he regurgitated on 10/14. I tried feeding him 10/24, 11/2 and 11/3. hes thin and it makes me worry. I got him on 10/7 and he hasn't eaten for me ever!

not sure when the breeder last fed him that's why im worrying

**EL Ziggy** · 11-04-14, 09:42 PM

No need to panic. You're on the right track kuester. I think it was a good job lowering your temps a little. What's your cool side like with the smaller enclosure? Can you post pics of the snake and set up? I'd get the t-stat asap and wait him out for a couple of more weeks. If he refused today try him again in 5-7 days with the deli cup and every 5-7 days thereafter until he catches on. If he refuses 2 or 3 more times consecutively you could try a live feeder. Do you know how old he is?

kuester · 11-05-14, 11:26 AM

hot side is 91 cool side 73. I don't have a camera or a camera phone, so I cant post pics... I did walk into the reptile room this morning though and he as soaking and drinking water! I haven't seen him do that yet, so that made me smile. hes still hissy and lunging though. ill ask the breeder if they know his hatch date and last fed date. hes not very old though, hes only 6 1/2" and about the width of a pencil.

kuester · 11-05-14, 11:27 AM

when I do the deli cup should I keep the cup on the hot side, cool side or the middle of enclosure? I usually have it on the hot side. how long does it take a baby snake to grow up if eating properly?

Cmwells90 · 11-05-14, 11:43 AM

Honestly this is going to be something you'll get use to, them going off feeding. It's just a thing some snakes do. As for the hissing and lunging that's completely normal, he's trying to look scary so you wont bother him, if he's in a glass aquarium I would advise covering 3/4 sides with paper towels or something, it helps them because they're not visible from all sides. I would offer food every 3-4 days, but don't offer every day, he needs time to relax and not be scared, which is probably why he's not eating, stress. It doesn't really matter what side the deli cup is on, it probably wont make a difference. As long as your temps are correct and your set up is good, then it's only a matter of time till he eats. I would just let him be for a few days, and try to feed him Saturday, leave him be and let him relax, then try, if he doesn't eat, do it again, leave him alone and try again. If he's in a busy part of your house you might want to try relocating him to a less active area, at least till he grows up. Once he starts eating he'll grow pretty quickly, they reach their adult size after 3-4 years, good luck, lemme know how it turns out.

kuester · 11-05-14, 01:23 PM

my adult corn eats 2 small rats every week and a half, and baby sand boa is eating every four days or so. I have a towel draped over half the cage but hes always on the open side laying against the front side of glass. should I try feeding him today? or no just try Saturday? breeder thinks I should try today. I know hes not eating because of stress but im confused as to why hes still stressed...

well I currently understand its because I switched cages yesterday. hes in my reptile room I go in there a few times everyday to check if cages are soiled, monitor temps, humidity, check on all the reptiles, ect. also do you think I should try splitting the pinkie mice down the middle and just try feeding him half a pinkie?

kuester · 11-07-14, 10:08 PM

so I put my hognose in his deli cup just now 10pm 11/7 and will remove him 930am tomorrow(11/8) I split a pinkie down the middle im hoping and praying he eats tonight. after a month of having him and him not eating im very concerned. im worried he will die if he doesn't start eating soon! a month without eating is a long time for a 6 1/2" snake that should be eating every 4 days or so! I feel bad picking him up to put him in deli cup as he hisses and lunges and I know he wants to be left alone but I need him to eat I wish he could understand that im trying to help him for the better... do you think he'll die soon if he doesn't start eating? Im guessing its been about 42 days since his last meal but im not sure cause the breeder discards those records when the snake is sold...

kuester · 11-08-14, 09:41 AM

sigh he did not eat again...

I fear the worst for my baby... I will try again in 5 days if hes still alive :'(

**EL Ziggy** · 11-08-14, 12:58 PM

Try offering a live pinky. That might get him going.

kuester · 11-08-14, 04:58 PM

no where around here sells live pinkies...

Snakeguy5 · 11-08-14, 05:48 PM

My $0.02 -

First of all, I wouldn't sell a hog that had only eaten twice, unless it was to an experienced hognose keeper. Most breeders usually say 5-10 feeds.

If the snake is in a 10g that may still be to big for it. Try something like a small Kritter Keeper cage or even a small plastic food container with air holes.
Put the hot spot somewhere between 90-95 degrees. They like it hot, a hot spot temp in the 80s is not warm enough and they will only eat once in a while if even eat at all.

Don't try to feed again for a few days. Then try feeding him in the cage. You can put the mouse on a piece of paper towel, newspaper, cardboard, etc so the snake won't eat any substrate. If he doesn't eat, then try some different tricks: You can leave him without water for several days then offer him a wet mouse, or try scenting with sardine, tuna, salmon, Vienna sausage, frog, toad, lizard, or boil an egg and give him some of the whites and if he eats that then scent the mouse with it the next time.

If he looks dehydrated, put him in a deli cup with moist paper towels overnight.

Also, if it's only been around 42 days since he ate, he should still be fine. I have a hog that when I acquired her had only eaten twice in six months. She ate first try for me with a scented mouse and hasn't stopped since. Now, all snakes are different and I don't know how long your hog can go without food, but he should still be fine for a little while at least.

Hope this helps, and hopefully he'll eat for you soon.

kuester · 11-09-14, 11:38 AM

really? so you think I should bring that up to the breeder? how can I heat just one side of a tiny enclosure? would it be safe to put him in another new cage? thatll be 3 cages then since I got him... his hot spot is 92 and cool side is 74. should I move him into a smaller enclosure today then try to feed him in 3 days in the tiny cage? snakes can eat egg whites? strange im willing to try anything to keep him alive but id like a step by step process. thank you for reassuring me he wont die like this week or anything.