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Baby Kiki still won't eat on her own

smigon

smigon

Old enough to know better
The little kinked Orchid I have is still not eating on her own, but every 5 days I have been able to force feed her a pinky head, forcing it down with tongs.

She has good energy and her eyes are bright and other than not being interested in a pinky no matter what I do to prepare it, she still shies away from anything offered regardless of where it is (in viv, in deli cup, covered, uncovered, etc).

Olivia has caught a lizard for me, I am crossing my fingers that that helps.

If not and I still have to hand feed her, is the head to right piece to feed her? It is the easiest since I can stick one forcep up in the head cavity and it goes down nose first, but I am not sure what the most nutritious part of a pinky would be. We are talking 5g, her neck is 1mm (obviously stretching for the pinky) and her body 2-3mm at the widest point.

Should I look into a vitamin supplement for her?
 
I'd keep going the way you are. I'd try leaving heads in with her overnight, though, the night before you feed her, and alternate various scents. My TERRIBLE non-feeder just ate out of the blue one day, and since that day, now he eats perfectly. It's like a switch just turns on and then they feed. We are starting to believe it might be related to reaching a certain amount of weight gain. Also, I'd keep attempting to tease feed her, too. Give her a couple opportunities before force-feeding her.

You _may_ be able to get a tiny head and shoulders down her. Also, boiled is much easier to tease/force feed.

What's happening with her weight?
 
Her weight is fluctuating between 4-5g. This was the first time I didn't leave her in a deli cup with the pinky (which I usually cut up into 4-5 pieces for her to choose from) but I did, as usual, tease her with it. This was also the first time I didn't boil the pinky just thawed to room temp, but next time I will try to get more of a length piece with one arm down her.

I love reading success stories on non-feeders, I TOTALLY love this little wee one and talk to her all through the process, telling her how much I want her to do this and gain weight and grow up to be big and healthy, and she stares at me like she understands which makes me feel better, I really would be crushed if I lost her. I really appreciate your help, Nanci, it makes me feel like I have a really good coach!

Oh, would a little piece of deli sliced chicken maybe help for scenting? I don't have chicken broth and keep meaning to get some, but we do have lunch meat.
 
I've had success with a few non-feeders by 'marinating' them in a baggie with chicken liver. I can get a container of them for about $1 around here, so it's pretty cost efficient. It's not pretty to look at and gets a bit messy, but it's worked on at least 9 non-feeder babies, and a couple stubborn older snakes that had decided to 'fast' at one point or another :)
 
Ooh, that's one that I hadn't thought of, I will give that a try in a couple of days. I know I am doing everything right, and I have decided failing this little wee peanut is NOT an option. The power of positive thinking has to help!
 
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