Any tricks for finicky eaters?

Ciddian · 12-03-03, 11:09 AM

Hello again!
Well i figured out my snake is an eastern milk snake....that's all good. But i know he hasn't eaten for a some odd two weeks now.
I waited because he was going through a shead, which went perfectly.
Now he's in a separate container with a pinky that is more that the right size. Last night i covered up the container so it would be nice and dark....but still he wont take it.......the pinky keeps cuddling with the snake...O_o

Any tips? One thing i was concerned with is should i put a heating pad under him and warm him up a bit? My apartment isn't vary cold....but to a snake i dunno... :medbugged

Thanks!!

~*Ciddian*~

chuck911jeep · 12-03-03, 01:55 PM

What is the tem insider is container? Try to give him a snake or lizard scented pinkie...

Vanan · 12-03-03, 04:55 PM

If it's a hatchling which hasn't had it's first meal, or if it's a WC, then you need to go with a lizard. Either baby skinks, anole tail or something. I'm sure Mark (crimsonking) would have lots of pointers in getting a lizard feeder to eat. Easterns are notorious for being lizard eaters as babies.

crimsonking · 12-03-03, 10:30 PM

Yep, I'd say make sure his temps are at least in the mid 70sF to mid 80sF, then try a lizard(s) until you see some interest or he eats it. Then use that ssp of lizard to scent a very small pink. If you really think he's big enough to eat a small pink, then: freeze/thaw the pink, split the cranium of the pink with a razor and place it and the snake in the smallest brown paper bag you can find (tightly secured) overnight. I put the bag and snake in a small rubbermaid too to make sure of no escapes. A wc snake may be reluctant to feed on anything but native frogs, snakes or lizards at first, but when you find what he wants, THAT is your scent source. Good luck, be patient and keep us posted.
:Mark

Ciddian · 12-03-03, 10:45 PM

Thanks Guys....
I'll go and pull out one of my anoles, get that temp up and sent the pinkie with my male anole....
That should do the trick......
ugh i hope i don't have to brain that pinkie LOL...
Thanks again!

~*Ciddian*~

gonesnakee · 12-04-03, 05:39 PM

Tis the season for snakes not wanting to eat. Biggest thing is not too worry unless worry is warranted. Most people don't realize that snakes can go months without food no problems & do so yearly both in the wild & in captivity. If the snake is showing no signs of suffering, it isn't. If you have a proper enviroment for it (proper husbandry is essential always) & offer it appropriate prey (which may very well involve braining, scenting, containing overnight & every other thing you have ever heard of) don't worry. I breed baby graybands & Mtn. kings & they very rarely even eat prior to their 3rd or 4th month of life. The little suckers are much more durable than you would ever imagine. To be concerned is fine, but make sure that you don't worry for no reason & most importantly DO NOT FORCE FEED IT unless you are sure it is starving. FF is a last resort. Assist feeding (poping the head of the prey into the snakes mouth & letting it do its own thing) is OK & is still very stressful. FF has killed many snakes due to stress & probably a large # of them would have ate fine by themselves if given their own time to do so in. Futhermore sometimes assist or FF will help turn them onto food, but in other cases the overall stress of it could turn them completely off food for an even longer period of time. Not worth the stress if it is not warranted. My thoughts Mark I.

Ciddian · 12-04-03, 11:54 PM

Ahhh Thank you... i was unsure of the whole FF option but that is the last thing on my mind. Iam not in any rush to feed but i want to make sure he's alright...since i wasn't sure of the last time he had eaten.
But .....i wasn't surprised...he just went through an awsome shead and he was kept at a cooler temp hiding in a basement.

Thanks again.........but if i do need to brain the pink......who wants to come over and -do- that for me??!! LOL :medopen:

C.m.pyrrhus · 12-05-03, 12:10 AM

This is why I collect as many lil' lizards as I can..lol. Some of my young crotes need a bit of coaxing for their first meals, which usually is after 4 weeks of birth. Usually after 3-4 meals of lizards and scented pinks they wean completely over to mice and even rat pinks when they get big enough. I only worry if they seem to get dehydrated or lethargic. I have bnever had to FF and hope I never have to. In that case it may just be natures way of saying it does not want to make it.