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Fat Paul
Egg
United Kingdom
67 Posts |
 Posted - 02/05/2009 : 18:52:58
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I've got 10 babies all of which have shed and 9 of them have taken 2 pinkies each since then. However I have one stubborn baby who wont eat - suggestions???
I've brained the pinkie. |
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Tizzy
The Corn Snake Moderator
United Kingdom
1202 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2009 : 19:01:06
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| Pinky smoothie? involves blending one with his water and getting snakey to drink it to get the flavour. Grim i know but possibly worth trying. |
3.2.0 corns 0.3.1 Leopard Geckos, 0.1.0 Mad Staffys 1.0.0 Moggie. 1.2.0. Devils in training.
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Fat Paul
Egg
United Kingdom
67 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2009 : 19:46:09
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| Do you just mush it up with a bit of water? |
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Tizzy
The Corn Snake Moderator
United Kingdom
1202 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2009 : 20:50:44
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Not tried it myself but you have to stick a pinky in a blender with water, then you put that in the viv instead of his water dish so it's the only water in there.
The idea is that snakey gets thursty and then gets use to the taste of mouse guts. As i said, no personal experiance just something i read about but cant hurt if your getting desperate. (just don't tell anyone else if they also use the blender ) |
3.2.0 corns 0.3.1 Leopard Geckos, 0.1.0 Mad Staffys 1.0.0 Moggie. 1.2.0. Devils in training.
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Fat Paul
Egg
United Kingdom
67 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2009 : 22:13:40
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| already buggered that one up, asked my wife and she wont let me anywhere near our blender - may have to go out and buy a little one! |
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gingerpony
Queen Bee
United Kingdom
10455 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2009 : 22:44:45
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a little tub, put the stubborn snake in it overnight with the pinky. i'd try that 2 or 3 times before trying another approach.
other tactics include scenting with chick, other rodents like rats/gerbils, rabbits, even GALS slime has worked for the odd individual! |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos
Location:Leeds/York/Selby area |
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Kehhlyr
ǝʞɐɔ sǝʌoן
United Kingdom
8173 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2009 : 03:08:24
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I've done the pinky smoothie before.
Best way to clean the blender is with Doritos.  |
-=Kehhlyr - The Resident Loon
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Tizzy
The Corn Snake Moderator
United Kingdom
1202 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2009 : 12:59:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Kehhlyr
I've done the pinky smoothie before.
Best way to clean the blender is with Doritos.
Yuck!
More to the point did it work? |
3.2.0 corns 0.3.1 Leopard Geckos, 0.1.0 Mad Staffys 1.0.0 Moggie. 1.2.0. Devils in training.
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Kehhlyr
ǝʞɐɔ sǝʌoן
United Kingdom
8173 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2009 : 20:35:23
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He had pinky water for a few days (nothing else), then he ate after that.
So if it was the pinky water, or him just deciding to eat, I don't know.
But he ate, so I'm claiming it was the water.  |
-=Kehhlyr - The Resident Loon
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n/a
deleted
125 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2009 : 09:30:41
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ive copy and pasted this
this could help you out
There are several things that you can try in order to get your little corn snake to eat. Most hatchling corn snakes, even the smallest babies, can usually manage to eat a newborn pinky mouse. One of my dear friends, Peg, raises hundreds of corn snakes, and she said that she once had twin baby corn snakes hatch from one egg, and these two were able to eat a pinky shortly after hatching.
But, if you don’t think your little snake can manage a pinky, you can try several things. First, we must make sure that he is being maintained at the correct temperature. Temperature ranges should be between 77 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 67 to 75 degrees at night. Humidity should be between 30 and 70 percent relative humidity. Your new snake should have a hidebox, and it is probably best to not handle him often until he is eating well. Make sure he also has a low water bowl so that he can drink and soak. Most breeders won’t sell baby snakes until they have eaten at least once, to make sure that they are healthy.
It can be difficult to get some baby corn snakes to start feeding. If you truly don’t feel that he can handle eating a newborn pinky mouse, you can try “braining” a pinky. This is kind of gross, but it often works. Cut open the skull of a pinky and squeeze out a bit of the brains out the nose or through the cut, and cut the pinky in half, so that the snake only has to ingest a portion of the pinky. Place this pinky portion into the snake cage. Often once a snake “tastes” the brain tissue by flicking its tongue, it will often consume the pinky portion.
If he won’t strike at a pinky, and you still think that a newborn pinky is too large, you can cut the pinky in half, take a piece and use it to aggravate your snake. This is called “tease feeding.” Holding your snake or having him in his cage, gently and repeatedly tap your snake on the nose with the pinky part (or an entire pinky) until you get him to strike at the pinky. Once he strikes, you may need to hold him until he has consumed the pinky, or if he is in the cage, just let him eat the pinky. You can try “braining” the pinky first and then tease feed it.
If you think that your snake is really too small to consume an entire newborn pinky (and you would be surprised by how a tiny newly hatched snake can often manage to consume a newborn pinky mouse!), you can try to purchase a baby spiny mouse or baby pygmy mouse. These newborns are much smaller than a regular pinky, making them easier to consume.
Corn snakes usually consume rodents, but you may get an occasional snake that prefers lizards. A baby anole or Cuban anole might entice a reluctant snake to eat. However, wild lizards often carry parasites, so this might introduce parasites to your snake. Parasites can be handled by your herp vet, should this occur. Another way to get a baby snake to eat a pinky is to scent the pinky (or a half pinky) with lizard. First, wash the pinky with dishwashing detergent, and rinse it very well, then dry it off. If you need to half the pinky, do that next. Then, grind up some lizard or skin part of it, and wipe the pinky with the lizard scent, especially around the head, which is usually the first part consumed. This might entice your corn snake to eat.
As a last resort, you can be shown how to use a pinky pump to force-feed your snake, but this should be performed initially by your herp vet, who can then show you how to do it should that be necessary. I would only recommend this as a last resort, when all other methods have been exhausted. Force feeding a hatchling snake can be dangerous and can even prove fatal to a baby snake. Because it is a natural instinct for a baby snake to want to eat, given the correct conditions and prey animal, it is best to find out a way to get your little guy to eat on his own. Make sure you are keeping him warm enough, resist the temptation to handle him until he is eating well, and try some of these suggestions. You should have your little guy eating in no time!
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Edited by - n/a on 04/05/2009 09:31:07 |
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Fat Paul
Egg
United Kingdom
67 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2009 : 17:11:50
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Cheers dilly415 - thats pretty comprehensive.
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n/a
deleted
125 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2009 : 20:06:11
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your welcome
im just sorry it was prob hard on your eyes .
ive learnt a thing or 2 there my self.
later all |
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gingerpony
Queen Bee
United Kingdom
10455 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2009 : 22:42:44
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ok i don't exactly agree with all of that so here's the bits i object to....
quote:
Originally posted by dilly415
67 to 75 degrees at night.
there's no real need to drop the temps overnight
quote:
Originally posted by dilly415
Your new snake should have a hidebox
your new snake should have 2 hides
quote:
Originally posted by dilly415
you can try “braining” a pinky. Cut open the skull of a pinky and squeeze out a bit of the brains out the nose or through the cut, and cut the pinky in half, so that the snake only has to ingest a portion of the pinky.
braining a pinky is just that, cutting it in half is different it's... er... cutting it in half!
quote:
Originally posted by dilly415
“tease feeding.” Holding your snake or having him in his cage, gently and repeatedly tap your snake on the nose with the pinky part (or an entire pinky)
and scare it to death?? how would you like to be repeatedly tapped on the nose? tapping the tail is much less stressful and much more effective!
nothing personal dilly as you already said you copied and pasted |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos
Location:Leeds/York/Selby area |
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n/a
deleted
125 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 16:17:52
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no problem gingerpony.
i never had this problem
so i just googled it
anyway did any of it work??
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Edited by - n/a on 05/05/2009 16:26:43 |
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Fat Paul
Egg
United Kingdom
67 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 18:38:12
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none of it has worked so far.
I now feel really bad as I tried the nose tapping thing, I gave up because he looked scared!
I asked at the reptile shop that I sold the others to how long a baby can last without eating, he says he's got one thats not eaten for 2 1/2 months since hatching!
This ones only been a couple of weeks, but he's still very lively (so I'm hoping that I dont have to worry too much a the moment).
He's just not interested - thought I might leave him alone for a few days and then toss a brained pinky in to see if we can start afresh.
Thanks for all your sugestions/help - I'll let you know when he eats (and what tempts him) |
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gingerpony
Queen Bee
United Kingdom
10455 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 21:24:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Fat Paul
none of it has worked so far.
I now feel really bad as I tried the nose tapping thing, I gave up because he looked scared!
i'm not surprised! but don't feel too bad i'm sure he'll survive, there's so much cr@p on the internet it's hard to filter though it all to get the real facts!
they can survive a remarkably long time without eating. i'd attempt a feed every 3-4 days for a hatchling that's not eaten yet, and i'd try the 'small tub with the pinky' method 2 or 3 times before resorting to anything else. scenting would be my next approach. keep us posted or ask if you need any more ideas or help |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos
Location:Leeds/York/Selby area |
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Jennet
Hatchling
United Kingdom
305 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2009 : 19:32:52
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Holding their nose till they turn blue and then when they gasp for breath, shooting the medicine down their throat with a syringe always worked well with me for my kids  .... on the other hand, I'm against cruelty to animals, so I'd try pinkie water or scenting first.
I believe Kaz has had some luck with scenting with cod liver oil for her hoggie... and a work colleage told me the other week that he had a couple of youngsters that were really difficult starters that he did a similar thing to Kehhlyr but scented the water with cod liver oil and then moved on to scenting the pinkies with it and leaving them in with them overnight..... just a few more options! |
www.thecornsake.co.uk
www.thehognosesnake.co.uk
www.theamphibian.co.uk |
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n/a
deleted
1 Posts |
Posted - 24/07/2009 : 19:49:13
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hi
I have 3 babies, one feeding well, the other two not touching anything, tried almost the entire previous list, how much cod liver oil would you use? |
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Topic |
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How to make a baby eat???
