Still not eating

[molly]

This is a follow up to the 'new to this' thread.
I tried Dave with a pinky again last night and he didn't eat it again.
I thawed it at room temp, warmed it slightly in tap water and put a slit across the throat.
I then just placed it in his viv close to his hide. I then went to bed.
Got up this morning, it was uneaten
How many days shall i leave it til i try again?
He is now 17 days old. He shed 6 days ago.

[Vicki]

Leave it 3 days then try again.

Just to let you know, I currently have 6 hatchlings, all of them hatched around 20th sept and only 2 have eaten so far. Also with the last clutch, some went for 10 weeks before they ate.

At first we presume that they are still feeding on the yolk they have absorbed from the egg, this can last them a while.

But sometimes they do not recognise the pinkie as food. The next stage for you will be to try and tease feed this little guy. To do this you will need some tongs, warm the pinkie as usuall, then wiggle it around in the snakes home occasionally touching the snakes body. This should cause him to strike (hopefully at the pinkie). It sometimes takes a while, maybe 30 mins, but once the snake has the pinkie in its mouth it will usually follow through and eat it. If they do attempt to eat it then keep really still, a few of mine just let go again at the slightest movement from me.

I would wait another few feeds then try this. Beware though, they like to try and dive out the boxes!!

I know you are probably really stressed now, but just to reasure you, hatchlings can go 2-3 months in some cases before they start to accept food. I have had a few like that this year. Now they eat happily and are almost ready to go to new homes.

[jason]

Hi Molly, I am having the same problem with non-eating as you are. Out of the two clutches this year, the first all fed within 3 weeks, but the second clutch who hatched a little quicker than the first are proving tricky to feed this year. There were 13 in the clutch, two fed after their first shed, seven more a week later and I now have four that are proving awkward and today is day 17. One thing I did notice was that they were very active and growing, so I don't think there is much to worry about. Hang in there.

Vicki's idea of aggrevating the snake a little by nudging his body with the mouse is a good one, I tried that on the last clutch and it worked for them, but these latest are daft, one of them fell asleep on top of the pinkie

I'm sure my four and your one will feed when they're ready.

[Shrimply]

I really feel for you.

I have been really unlucky and been through more problems than most casual pet keepers go through in a life time so I know just how stressful it is.

Never give up hope and eventually when you least expect he will surprise you.

[molly]

Thanks for all the advice.
Yes, I'm beginning to stress a little but listening to your advice is keeping me calmer.
I'll just be glad when he's had something to eat.
He seems quite lively and is moving around his home lots.

[molly]

I'm going to attempt feeding tonight again as it is 3 days since the last try.
I'm going to try the same as last time. Just defrosting and a slit over the throat and leaving close to the hide.
Unless anyone recommends different??

[molly]

Forgot to say.
He's still very active in the evenings.
Just like Vicki said, we go in the room where he is which is dimly lit in the evenings and he's always out about 8pm.

[Shrimply]

Good luck.

[Vicki]

Good luck hun.

I have 6 at the moment, two have had 3 feeds, 1 fed for the first time last night (after 3 previous attempts) and 3 still havent eaten. Im still just putting warmed pinkies in. Thought that may ease youre mind a little

[jason]

One of my four that had not eaten for 17 days since hatching ate last night, while the other three showed little or no interest. I figured the one that did eat would be the most difficult to feed, as whenever I tried in the past he would just curl up into a tight spiral and not even move. Just goes to show that they'll eat when they want to and on their own terms.

I also had two that had fed once but refused food on the second and third feeds, so I tried putting them into a really small container I picked up from the supermarket. the container is cylindrical, about 3 inches in diameter and about 4 inches high with some air holes drilled into the lid. I plopped in a warm pink, persuaded the snake with some degree of difficulty that it was for it's own good to go into the tub, left it in a warm dark place and after 20 minutes of this technique both snakes had little fat tummies. You never know, it may be worth a shot, but I'm hoping you won't need to.

[molly]

I tried Jason's suggestion with the container and it worked.I left him for just 20 minutes, sneaked in and looked and he had a big fat tummy.
When do I feed again and shall I use the same method?
I'm really pleased

[Shrimply]

;D ;DBrilliant
Looks like your little guy on the way to making a great pet. I would probably feed in five days time but you had better let someone with more experience direct you.

[John Pilling]

I would say feed again in 4 or 5 days time, but once eating regular stick to 5 days. Vicki, what do you suggest at this stage?

[jason]

Totally awesome! - Great job Molly!

You're right, now that he is back in his house and resting, it is time to plan his next feed...

I would guage the next feed on three things; time, poop and activity. Our hatchlings typically hide for a few days after a feed, so when his activity increases and you find some evidence of poopage and at least five days have passed since the last feed then try to feed him again. My hatchlings are monsters and they only get fed once a week, but if you want him to grow a little faster then I personally would aim for five days between feeds as a minimum.

This is what I have always stuck to without any problems

Hatch -> 4 weeks 1 Pink every seven days
4 -> 7 weeks 2 Pink every seven days
8+ weeks fuzzy every seven days

after that I use the girth of the snakes belly as a guide to what size food to buy. If I can't get the correct size of food then I tend to go for two smaller mice, and I use that rule for all stages, so if a hatchling is still on large pinks and I only have micropinks(tm) then I'll double up.

One extra thing I just thought of, keep an eye on the heat, make sure he has a zone around 85f, perhaps even creeping up towards 90f at the extreme end of the heat gradient as it will help him digest his meal.

[Vicki]

I totally agree with Jason. With the first feed I always make sure it passed the last feed before feeding again. He sould do this with in the first few days.

As long as they have done this I feed them every 5 days.

I am so pleased he fed for you. I hope all goes well from now on. I would still keep handling/disturbance minimal until it has had at least 3 feeds ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[molly]

dave ate meal number 2 yesterday.I did the same method of putting him in the pot. Next time i will probably just leave it in is viv with him.

[Vicki]

Well done Im so glad you have him eating. After his third meal you should be able to start taking him out for a short time. I usually just take them out for 2-3 mins at first when I clean them out. They clam down quite quickly once you have hold of them