Leaf-Nosed Snake Help

[BWSmith]

Most of the time when rescues come in, they are fairly common in the pet trade. I have read all that I have on this little guy. He is a Leaf Nosed Snake (any help on exact species is appreciated). He was purchased by a local pet shop who, to their credit, realized that they could not take care of it. So they asked me to take it.

Here is the kicker. One of their ex-employees who fancied himself a herp expert decided that even though it was taking pinkies on its own, it should be eating lizards. So he started FORCE FEEDING IT ANOLES! Why force feeding? Because the poor little guy would not eat a lizard on his own, he wanted pinks. So now after all of that trauma, he will not eat or drink on his own and is emaciated and dehydrated.

I soaked him in pedialite immediately, but he did not appear to drink any. I went ahead and gave him 1 cc of my "slurry" (veal baby food, some water, pedialite, vitamens, and a dash of injectable B12 for appetite). He kept it down fine and is nice and active. Once I placed him in a rack with towels, he immediately burrowed underneath and seems quite content. With the little jolt of nutrients and a quiet, dark cage he can hide in, I am hopeful he will eat for me in a few days. But I like to know as much as i can in case he doesn't.

So any experience or tricks with this species is appreciated.

Well, Here the little guy is.

[Vanan]

Don't they eat spiders in the wild too? Or issit just Gyalopion?

[BWSmith]

I have not read anything about them eating spiders, just lizards and lizard eggs. It is a cool little animal. If you look in the closeup, you cannot see his mouth. He has a very small lower jaw that is olmost concealed. It reminds me of the mouth of a Hammerhead Shark. He is definately well suited for a fossorial lifestyle.

[jjaj02]

Wow, hes sooo cute. Thats pretty shi**y of that pet store employee to do that. What was he thinking. At least he is in good hands now. I hope he starts eating for you. Best of luck with him.

[Vanan]

Might try tube feeding some raw egg. Not as stressful as forcefeeding and would help it gain a lil weight at least. Sucks that such a beautiful creature has to suffer so. Sometimes I wish snakes weren't kept in captivity and we could enjoy them only in the wild.

[JD@reptiles]

i think those mainly eat inverts and some skinks. when i saw "Leafnose snake" i was hoping for a langaha! lol. anyways i would just pinky pump it. i had a pair of shovel nose snakes eating rodents with out a problem. i just left pinkys in the cage over night.

Good luck!
Jordan

[BWSmith]

From what I have read, they primarily eat Banded Geckos and their eggs.

[JD@reptiles]

cool. try somthing like that than. maybe baby leopard geckos?

[BWSmith]

I am going to try some of the methods I used to switch Scarlet Kings over to pinks.