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Ivory Soap and Problem Feeders?

Hey! I use Ivory! lol!

I haven't tried this on my non feeders yet, but I have been having pretty good success with the other methods. I'm FRESH out 'o pinks right now but have a big shipment from the states coming in tomorrow, so first thing I'm gonna do is try this with those last few stubborn feeders ;)

A HUGE thanks again to Rich Z for making this forum a reality. Isn't it AMAZING what we as a community can figure out for the good of our animals when we put our heads together?? :)

Please, EVERYONE keep posting on here their results using this method!

Rebecca
 
Ok, out of 4 clutches, I have only one clutch that has a few nonfeeders. So I just washed 4 tiny pinkys and I am going to make an attempt to feed the lil stubborn brats. It is not Ivory but I just cant wait to try this. I will be getting a bar of Ivory today and try a few on that too. I will keep you all posted seeing as it looks like there a few of us hanging on every word on another nonfeeder to feed method. Wish me luck :rolleyes: .

Smiles,
PJ & Jay :wavey:
 
Just wanted to mention - Ivory makes dish soap too which may be easier then a bar. Apparently dawn works as well. Cheers.
 
I tried this today the soap doesn't seem to matter (I used liquid hand soap) and had a 20 day won't even look at food any more eat again in no time.
 
Since no one has really specified, I'm wondering if one should assume not to use any scented soaps (citrus breeze, fruity doody whatever, etc)?

But rather, just standard unscented antibacterial soaps?

(alright, I'm allowed one stupid question for the day)
 
This is amazing, especially if it also works on lizard eaters. I will definitely have to try this with any non-feeders I might get this year.
 
Also, this is pure speculation, but I wonder if antibacterial soap would not be the best option. I dunno if it might kill off their gut flora if you happen to not rinse it all off. :shrugs:
 
I tried with 4 non feeders last night with no luck. I used Dove soap - which I noticed later was the "exfoliating" variety. Well the pinks probably had nice skin but they did not get eaten! These are non feeders that are skinny but looking otherwise fine after more than 2 months of non eating and trying almost everything. (I have not tried to get hamster bedding to scent them with!) I am amazed they are alive but will go get some Ivory to see if it works!

As to the antibacterial effect on the gut flora it is an interesting idea. I don't know what they use that makes it antibacterial but I wonder if it would get broken down by acids and enzymes in the snakes stomach before it even got to the intestines where the bacteria live.

Jo
 
Round Two...
I had 8 more non-feeders to try washed pinkies with. I put them in at about 10:30 am. I checked on them about 10:45 and two were eating. Now, at 1:30, 3 of them have eaten, one of which was the Albino House Snake that some of you might know about. Another was a Speckled King that wasn't looking so good. It had only eaten once and it's been a while since then. I am very happy :)
 
Joejr14 said:
Yah, who owns Ivory? Has to be the NASTIEST soap on the market.
Click to expand...

Ivory is awsome because it floats. I use Irish but Ivory is good if your taking a bath. Ivory does something neat if you microwave it too.
 
LOL! Ok... concidence? :shrugs: I don't know.

I've never had a refusal until today. My Blizzard male did not eat, this is the first time I've ever had that happen to me, so of course I took it abit harder than those who have experienced it I'm sure.

I did some looking around then remembered this thread... went upstairs, took another pink out of the freezer, washed it off with Joy dish soap and rinsed it off under the running water until it was thawed, opened the deli cup, took out the old pink, put in the "clean" one.

BAM... 5 minutes later it was gone.

:shrugs:

Dunno if it was the method... or what... I'm just happy he ate. :)
 
Joejr14 said:
Yah, who owns Ivory? Has to be the NASTIEST soap on the market.
Click to expand...

Au contraire, Joe. Dial is the nastiest soap on the market. I speak from experience - my mother having washed my mouth with it on more than one occasion. :grin01:

Unfortunately, the "washed pink" was also refused last night. *sigh* ... Back to dig up a few more tricks.
 
I had a non feeder that was so tinny I was going to set to sleep..
After reading this thread I gave it a last chance and guess what!!He took the washed pinky like there was no tomorrow!! :cheers:

Thank you all guys!!I bet if the little guy could talk he would have said the same!

I'll try the soap method also with those who only take live pinkies.



OH I"M SOO HAPPY!! :crazy02: :crazy02:
 
Serpwidgets said:
This is amazing, especially if it also works on lizard eaters. I will definitely have to try this with any non-feeders I might get this year.
Click to expand...
I might be able to let you know in a week or so. I've got 1.1 Upper Keys het 'C' from Rich's out of the egg sale that would not eat. Tried scenting with an anole but didn't want to give them one. $5.00 each a week is to rich for my blood, but to avoid having to feed the resident hawk a $300+ meal I threw one in and it was gone in 15 minutes. They took the next meal OK, pinky with a piece of anole skin on the nose. I'm going to try this weekend with no scent and if they don't take it, Ivory soap it is!:cool:
 
I have a feeling the ivory soap market is going to be booming now. I am for sure getting some this weekend and am very excited to try it out, thanks everyone for sharing, and I will share my results as well.
 
makes a note to buy some of this stuff when I come over to the U.S next year so I have some ready if and when I need it.
 
Well, here are my results...

I had 13 non feeders.
4 out of 13 ate with the soap method,
however of those four, two had actually eaten on their own once each two weeks ago. One of those had refused I'm sure due to the fact he was in blue, the other just refused last time.

So although it's terrific that it worked on two who have never eaten, I wished it would have worked better for me.

Maybe it was my method of washing the pinkies? What I did was wash my hands and rinse twice with Ivory soap, then I put the pinkies in my hand and lathered up more soap, really scrubbing them, lastly I rinsed with lukewarm water until no bubbles at all were coming off the pinks. I did drop them on a paper towel <that I hadn't touched> before they made it in to the containers of the snakes. Maybe this interfered?

What methods have those that have had success been using? Do you drop the wet pinks into the containers of the snakes you are trying to feed?

Next time I will try this method and put them in deli-cups overnight. Maybe the close corners no paper towel, no hides, no watercups will help...

Rebecca

ps- I fed and then left them absolutely alone in a dark quiet room for 3 hours before going back.
 
So all in all, I offered washed pinkies to 18 non-feeders, most of which had never eaten. The snakes that had eaten, only ate once or twice out of about 12 offerings. Of the 18 non-feeders that I offered washed pinks, 7 ate. Less than half, but I'm still quite happy. These were all snakes that had refused f/t, live, brained f/t, lizard scented f/t, lizard scented live, tuna scented f/t, and tuna scented live. Most of them ate within 30 minutes.

Next feeding, I am going to try another experiment with this group. First off, I am going to offer the snakes that still refused another washed pinky meal. I might try half of them on washed, and the other half washed and scented. I might also try some of them on washed and brained.
Also in the next feeding, I am going to offer half of the snakes that ate washed pinks this time around, unwashed f/t pinks. Just in case, I am only going to offer unwashed pinks to the snakes that are in better shape. The rest will get washed pinks. I want to try and see how long it takes to get these snakes weaned from the soap.
pgr8dnlvr said:
Well, here are my results...

I had 13 non feeders.
4 out of 13 ate with the soap method,
however of those four, two had actually eaten on their own once each two weeks ago. One of those had refused I'm sure due to the fact he was in blue, the other just refused last time.

So although it's terrific that it worked on two who have never eaten, I wished it would have worked better for me.

Maybe it was my method of washing the pinkies? What I did was wash my hands and rinse twice with Ivory soap, then I put the pinkies in my hand and lathered up more soap, really scrubbing them, lastly I rinsed with lukewarm water until no bubbles at all were coming off the pinks. I did drop them on a paper towel <that I hadn't touched> before they made it in to the containers of the snakes. Maybe this interfered?

What methods have those that have had success been using? Do you drop the wet pinks into the containers of the snakes you are trying to feed?

Next time I will try this method and put them in deli-cups overnight. Maybe the close corners no paper towel, no hides, no watercups will help...

Rebecca

ps- I fed and then left them absolutely alone in a dark quiet room for 3 hours before going back.
Click to expand...
Seems like a good idea to share my method :)
I thawed the pinks first in very warm water (like I normally do.) After they finished thawing, I filled a small container with soapy water and put the pinks in there. I let them soak for about a minute. After they soaked in the soapy water, I rinsed them thoroughly with warm water. After rinsing, I dried them with a paper towell, and put them in with the snakes. I left them in a dark place (my bathroom cabinet.) I let them be for about 30 minutes before checking on them.
 
Just to add a twist here, it was washing live pinks that finally got Lil eating voluntarily. I dicovered this after she had pooped on her (unwashed) live pink and eaten it after I washed it. After the first three times I finally figured it out, and washed the pink before offering it, and she ate without the poop garnishing. So others might like to try washed live pinks too?
 
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