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going crazy over here!!!!!

4riscorn

4riscorn

ACR#774 NevaeH Reptiles
I am having major feeding issues this season. I had a few that didn't eat last year and nothing I did, including force feeding worked. That was only a hand full of hatchlings though and some eventually ate, some didn't and died. This yr however I am very concerned. I have 57 hatchlings and out of those, we have only like 20 that will eat and only 3 of them have eaten more than once. The first clutch was hatched out in May and some of them still aren't eating. And the subsequent clutches aren't eating either, one clutch has no feeders. We've tried just pinky heads and they just won't eat. We have tried to force feed them and they won't even take the pinky or pinky head, down. They sit there and hold it in their mouths then drop it. We have tried cutting them, making them very hot, etc. Haven't tried scenting because I didn't know what, besides lizards, which we don't have access to, (the crested geckos won't work) to use. I am very worried I won't have any feeders this year. We have 2 shows coming up, one in two weeks. And I don't like to sell them until they have eaten a few meals. What can I do to get them to eat? I even tried putting them in the incubator (we have the stand up type) where it is a steady warm temp, and that hasn't worked. Have tried deli cups, feeding in their containers, frozen, live and still nothing. Anybody have any other tricks I can use?
 
Gini, there are two really easy things to try. First, try boiled pinks. Thaw the pinks as usual and then drop them in just boiled water till they turn white and rubbery. It just takes a minute. Then feed boiling hot, with the babies in delis, covered up.

If that doesn't work, thaw the pinks, then, with them in very hot water, swirl in about half as much liquid Ivory Original Scent dish soap. Let them set, then rinse in super hot tap water, but don't rinse completely; leave them just a tiny bit soapy.

I would attempt your feeds at night, and with the babies in delis, covered up.
 
Nancy.. I've tried the really hit pinkies and even live ones. I leave them overnight each time and wake up to nastiness where they have slithered all over the dead mouse in an attempt to get away from it. I haven't tried the ivory lliquid yet. May I ask why the ivory brand? And why not wash all the soap off? Doesn't that make them sick?
 
Well

They probably arent ready to eat yet, give them some time while watching the babys. when you start seeing them cruising there containers at night that usually means they are starting to look for something to eat thats a good time to try and feed them.
 
4riscorn said:
Nancy.. I've tried the really hit pinkies and even live ones. I leave them overnight each time and wake up to nastiness where they have slithered all over the dead mouse in an attempt to get away from it. I haven't tried the ivory lliquid yet. May I ask why the ivory brand? And why not wash all the soap off? Doesn't that make them sick?
Click to expand...

Gini, there is a HUGE difference to the snake between really hot and actually boiled.

Snakes, for whatever reason, show a preference for brand of soap. While some people report success with Dawn blue and Joy, the most success has been had with original Ivory. The point is not to wash scent off the pink with the soap, but to scent the pink with the soap.

I have two threads covering my experiences with non-feeders last year. OMF Three Babies Ate and Diary of a Non-Feeder.

You could also look at the slap-feeding video down in Susan's forum. I've had good luck with this method (using frozen pinks, not live). You can also get a 1-1.5" section of tail down a hatchling very easily. But, watch the video. Then, I've discovered, there's a spot on a hatchling's neck, down just a bit from the head, that if you jab them right there repeatedly they almost cannot help striking. So you do that over and over and over and over until one time the snake holds onto the pink. Then you absolutely freeze and do not move and hope the swallowing instinct takes over.

I usually try one "trick" such as boiled or Ivory washed or chicken fat scented, and if that doesn't work in about an hour, in a covered, tiny deli, then I tease feed.
 
Nanci...I have been trying to do the tips you gave about the ivory and none took it that way. I've had 2 die so far. We are force feeding heads, body parts, anything to get in them. I've had a few take off but not most. I guess I should be glad they are getting food in them. Is this normal for them at this age? May-July hatchlings...I've told people at my shows that they are picky eaters and will take some time. I'm so worried about my babies going somewhere and not eating at all
 
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