Requesting personal exp in regard to the pinkypump

[Shmoges]

I am trying an open dish with a live pinky rat instead of a closed dish to see if this guy will eat. I think the closed dish method is stressful because all he does is hiss and try to get away from the wriggling pinkies. Later today I will try scenting with my frogs lol. I am at the point now where I have to consider force feeding because he is losing weight and its very noticeable. He is big enough that I believe a pinky pump would work and I have administered meds in the past via syringe with no problems. I could try hand forcing but I don't have much exp with that.

[youngster]

What kind of snake is it?
Sorry I can't help.

edot: Nevermind just realized this thread is in the hognose forum.

[Shmoges]

Hognose sorry

[Shmoges]

Well I tried hand force feeding and it didn't go well as I expected. The hognose made a bloody mess out of the pinky and I tried laying him down and holding him head up but he just kept fighting and fighting so I gave up. I'd rather try a pinky pump instead of letting him die. On second thought I may just get a large srynge and some clear tubing as suggested by John Hollister, Feeding Tubes and methods.

Cheaper, but I found 2 different kinds of osteoform theres the one for humans and for animals I'm guessing he ment osteo-form for animals?

I am very concerned about getting it into the lung though...

[Gungirl]

How was this snake being fed before you got him? How long has it been since he last ate?

[Shmoges]

When I first got him he ate weekly and preferred live. Its been like 6 months.

[Gungirl]

What did he eat? how was he being housed? Any chance he could need a vet visit?

If you recreate how he was being housed and offered food I would think he would take it.

[SpOoKy]

For some reason I seem to recall reading somewhere that tuna scenting works wonders with hoggies. Pretty sure it was western hoggs, don't know what you have but I think you should try. I think they are also supposed to be hibernating this time of year. that could be a main reason why it doesn't want to eat. Definitely try the tuna though. Good luck

[Shmoges]

Nothing has changed. I even tried to hibernate him for a month to see if that would get him hungry.

I made this, the srynge may be too small. Now I'm off to buy baby food.


Yeah it could be that time of year but he is so small and losing weight.

[SpOoKy]

I think you would be better off grinding up some pinks and feeding if you are going to go that route.

[Shmoges]

baby food with a calc supliment should be ok from what I have read besides have you ever ground up a pinky? It stinks and is messy.

[SpOoKy]

baby food with a calc supliment should be ok from what I have read besides have you ever ground up a pinky? It stinks and is messy.

i was thinking more or less the taste of the ground up pinky may spark an appetite again

And yes I have ground up many in my time and yes it is horrible...thats why I have a specific "feeder" grinder

[SpOoKy]

I would still try the tuna scenting though. maybe even after you get some food in and some strength up

[shaunyboy]

imo,force feeding with a pinky pump,is the same method as giving meds

when giving meds i use.....

an infant feeding tube cut to size and a syringe

load the syringe,put tube on,press syringe plunger to bring the liquid/paste to the end of the tube (you don't want to inject air into the snake)

then have someone hold the snake firmly on a hard flat surface

keep a firm grip of the snake just behind the head where the jaws end and two thirds along the body (effectively pin the snake to the floor)

gently prize the mouth open with a wooden pencil,used horizontally

then slip the infant feeding tube roughly 3 to 4 inches down the throat (since its a small hognose)

then take the pencil out leaving the tube in place,partly down the throat

with adult carpets i put the tube in 6 to 8 inches depending n the size of the snake

the tube should always be cut to match the size of the snake your using it on,also it must go far enough back the throat,again depending on the size of the snake

re assist feeding
hold the snake firmly with your right hand

grab the left jaw with your right hands thumb

grab the right jaw,with your wedding ring finger,but on your right hand

your right pinky finger,can be used to go slightly under the right jaw,to provide more encompassing of the snakes head,face,neck

use your index finger and the finger next to it,to hold down the top of the snakes head

use the back of your palm to hold the whole back of the neck and head in place

when the snakes head is firmly secured,so it cannot thrash about.....

gently prize its bottom jaw down,until its mouth opens enough,to get the pinkys head in

hold the pinky gently in place in the snakes mouth

at some point the snake should bite down on the pinky

i would wait no longer than 4 to 6 minutes,depending on how i see the snake reacting to the pinky,before i let the snake spit it back out

after the snake bites down,keep a firm hold of the snake but let go the pinky

with luck the snake will start to eat the pinky,if this happens ease your grip on the snake,then just lay the snake into a pre pepaired tub to finish eating

i hope you get the wee guy feeding mate

the forg scenting may well do the job,i've had to scent pinkys with lizards,to get young carpet hatchlings feeding

i wish you all the best next feeding day

you may already know all of the above,but i thought i'd write it for newer keepers to see,how to give medications or assist feed

cheers shaun

[Strutter769]

Best of luck to you. Un/Fortunately *knocking on wood* I don't have any experience force feeding a snake. Bearded Dragons.... that's a different story.