Best way to wean a snake...

During April, while I was still in school, someone brought a captured hatchling that was identified by my biology teacher and me to be a corn snake. The snake was caught in fayette county WV. He seemed to be doing fine, except that you have to force feed him pinkies, which i know is stressful for the snake. I did a test and found that he prefers anoles to pinkies, but considering a pinky from rodent pro is like 27 cents with shipping, and that anoles at my local pet shop are $4.99, this is not a very economical meal. What is the best way to wean him from anoles to pinkies? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks !

P.S. I have two corns that i bought from rich earlier this year and they are doing great (they were a 1.1 anerys). They are incredible little snakes, and feed with much happiness! they usually take the mice from my hands before i sit them in thier feeding tanks! Thanks Rich for the great snakes! I have also added a ball python to my collection recently.

have you tried to scent the pinky with an anole? By this I mean rub a pinky on an anole, then try to feed it to the snake. I have heard of some people who have a frozen anole that they use for this. Just a suggestion...GOOD LUCK!!!

There is a product on the market called Lizard Maker that you can put on a pinkie to make it smell like an anole. I am not sure of the cost, but I did have to use it once with a problem feeder hatchling. Check the herp sites for it.

About Lizard Maker, the bottle costs around $7. It's worked for some people, others have had no success with it. I think rubbing a frozen anole on mice works well - cheaper than buying anoles all the time.

lizard maker...

i'd say try the anole also. lizard maker is iffy at best. i've had the same anole in my freezer for ?8 months? and they never seem to fail me. also seems easier to wean from scented to unscented using the anole. if rubbig with the anole doesn't work try breaking off part of the tail (anole, not the snake ) and smear the fluid from the tail on the pink. gradually decrease the amount you rub the pink and try braining the pinks as you slowly move away from anole scent. good luck... jim

WOW 7$$ hehe ther are hundreds of them here! hehe i could get rich ans supply my new corn addiction!!!

Funny thing is when i was a kid i use to wear them as earings....they clamp on and dont let go (cuz they scared) well it was funny when i was 10 ok i was a tomboy!

We have herds of them here too. Once I get in the new house, I may have to have a roundup for market. LOL

Peter