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Eat, damn you!
- Thread starter Nastassja
- Start date
Cat_Eyed_Lady
New member
ass funny as that might sound.... it Can actually work for some... well, in my experience anyway 
took the ride... fed the next day... little deli cup container with a really hot pinkie and left alone 2 hours.... of the 6 .. 4 ate right away... was shocking.... only thing that changed was the 20 minute ride from my house to my moms I hope you find something that will work for him. I has got to be very frustrating.... I know with my last little holdout... whew yep.... just thinking about it makes me tense So beleive me when I say it.... I Wish you All the best of luck!!
took the ride... fed the next day... little deli cup container with a really hot pinkie and left alone 2 hours.... of the 6 .. 4 ate right away... was shocking.... only thing that changed was the 20 minute ride from my house to my moms I hope you find something that will work for him. I has got to be very frustrating.... I know with my last little holdout... whew yep.... just thinking about it makes me tense So beleive me when I say it.... I Wish you All the best of luck!!
Nastassja
New member
We called all the local petstores to see who had anoles to try anole scenting. One petstore was out of anoles, and the petsmart refused to sell us an anole if it was to be used for scenting, told us they were "pets only" animals. The manager of the petstore that's actually in our city told us the last time we were there that he knew how to forcefeed and would help us with Calcifer if it came to that... Well, because the manager is only in the store on Sundays, the snake's owner decided to take it in to the pet store and have the manager have a go at force feeding him. I attended..
The manager came back out with Calcifer, and here's what he told us:
"I got the pinky pretty much halfway down his throat, but he was giving me a lot of resistance. The more I pushed it down, the more he pushed back- he refused to keep it down and coughed it up anyway. I've never seen one REFUSE to eat before, it's really strange. But he actually looks fairly decent for not having eaten for the length of time he's been without food, so I'm willing to bet that he's eaten at least once before you got him."
He afterwards told us that they have a pinky press there and if it's something we want to try, we can do a pinky press to feed him.
Calcifer's owner really wants his snake to live, but both of us are frustrated with him and don't know what to do. :headbang:
The manager came back out with Calcifer, and here's what he told us:
"I got the pinky pretty much halfway down his throat, but he was giving me a lot of resistance. The more I pushed it down, the more he pushed back- he refused to keep it down and coughed it up anyway. I've never seen one REFUSE to eat before, it's really strange. But he actually looks fairly decent for not having eaten for the length of time he's been without food, so I'm willing to bet that he's eaten at least once before you got him."
He afterwards told us that they have a pinky press there and if it's something we want to try, we can do a pinky press to feed him.
Calcifer's owner really wants his snake to live, but both of us are frustrated with him and don't know what to do. :headbang:
Cat_Eyed_Lady
New member
well, if you read the thread 'feeding the unwilling' you will see that there are some of us that Do have to force feed... the person you gave your snake to that tried to force feed ... well, to me it sounds like he didnt do it right... you cant just push the pinkie in part way and expect the snake to finish swallowing it... that wont happen. I have never tried a pinkie pump. I think there are a few on here who have :shrugs:
hartsock
New member
I think force feeding can and is a viable option, I just don't like the idea of giving it to someone to take in the back room without doing it in front of you....if the pinkie pump is used, you need to see what is happening, or else you are going to end up with a guy coming out of the back with a dead snake saying it just must have been from stress and the lack of eating. I learned this the hard way with a vet who looked at the Amazon Tree Boa I brought in and said, "wow, what kind of snake is that!" I should have left then, but after a trip to the back to consult with another vet (and a shot that wasn't done in front of me) the guy started to regurg blood on the way home and when taken back had to be put down. Try the anole thing again, DON'T TELL THEM WHAT YOU WANT IT FOR!!!! Geesh, our Petsmarts and Petcos don't even ask you such questions, don't give out info on the fate of the anole if you don't need to. And I agree with Cat_Eyed_Lady, you don't just shove the pinkie down their throats.
Cat_Eyed_Lady
New member
lol well, you kinda do.... but not Part way down... all the way down and hold their mouths shut. Sounds bad and it is.. its very hard on the snake And the human.... the first time I did it..... I cried... and my mom had chest pains... its a very awful thing for all. Also, you cut the pinkie into peices, making it easier to go down. I wish I could help you more, I really do.
Nastassja
New member
Well, tonight we tried another live pinky in really close quarters, and still no go. When we first put the pinky in there with him, he gave it a sniff, and was very still.. Then he turned around and went about looking for a way out, and the pinky just became an obstacle in his way. 5 hours alone with it and it's still there.
I think that I am going to try my hand at force feeding him a pinky head in the next few days. I read through jaxom's feeding the unwilling thread entirely and I think I know pretty well what I must do... But I am afraid of hurting him! He is so small and fragile...
I think that I am going to try my hand at force feeding him a pinky head in the next few days. I read through jaxom's feeding the unwilling thread entirely and I think I know pretty well what I must do... But I am afraid of hurting him! He is so small and fragile...
Cat_Eyed_Lady
New member
It is very scarey.... but I do agree that you need to get something into him. I did just as Jaxom said... and it does work but you need to be calm and relaxed (like that is possible huh?? ) but do the best you can. Really to get a head down is easier than trying a whole pinkie. If you have help... that will help Alot!! I couldnt do it alone like Jaxom does. I am just not that talented or something? But once you get the mouth open and the pinkie head in the mouth... It doesnt take alot of pressure to get it into the throat.. so dont push too hard.. then after it is in the throat, gently hold the mouth shut and use your other hand to help the head move down abit... once it is down about 1/2 inch you can Usually let go of the head abit and then help the head move down the body.... make sure that you get it atleast 3 inches or so down the body before you put him back... that will help to insure that he wont barf it up. If you want or need to talk to someone about it, just let me know and I can either give you my number or you can give me yours (I have free long distance) and I can try to kinda talk you through it.... sometimes vocally is easier to understand over text I wish you alot of luck!
) but do the best you can. Really to get a head down is easier than trying a whole pinkie. If you have help... that will help Alot!! I couldnt do it alone like Jaxom does. I am just not that talented or something? But once you get the mouth open and the pinkie head in the mouth... It doesnt take alot of pressure to get it into the throat.. so dont push too hard.. then after it is in the throat, gently hold the mouth shut and use your other hand to help the head move down abit... once it is down about 1/2 inch you can Usually let go of the head abit and then help the head move down the body.... make sure that you get it atleast 3 inches or so down the body before you put him back... that will help to insure that he wont barf it up. If you want or need to talk to someone about it, just let me know and I can either give you my number or you can give me yours (I have free long distance) and I can try to kinda talk you through it.... sometimes vocally is easier to understand over text I wish you alot of luck! Sorry to hear you snake isn't eating. I know it can be a stressful time. I was in a similar situation when my 3 month corn rufused to eat for nearly 4 weeks. The method that worked for me and I will explain in detail was the tupperware method.
1) I purchased a tupperware container slightly 3x the size of my corn when he is coiled up. In this case the container was about 9" long and 5" wide.
2) I drilled holes in the lid for obvious reason; not wanting my corn to sufficate.
3) I covered the bottom of the container with paper towels.
4) I thawed my pinky by leaving it in the fridge 2 hours prior to feeding. I then placed the pinky in a bag and ran it under warm water until it was heated up.
**from hear on everything was done with a dim light**
5) I placed my corn in the tupperware container followed by the pinky which I had warmed and then punctured the head to release the aromas.
6) I closed the lid and set the tupperware in a dim area.
7) I was wiling to leave my corn over night, but fortunately he had eaten within 30 seconds of being kept in the tupperware container
1) I purchased a tupperware container slightly 3x the size of my corn when he is coiled up. In this case the container was about 9" long and 5" wide.
2) I drilled holes in the lid for obvious reason; not wanting my corn to sufficate.
3) I covered the bottom of the container with paper towels.
4) I thawed my pinky by leaving it in the fridge 2 hours prior to feeding. I then placed the pinky in a bag and ran it under warm water until it was heated up.
**from hear on everything was done with a dim light**
5) I placed my corn in the tupperware container followed by the pinky which I had warmed and then punctured the head to release the aromas.
6) I closed the lid and set the tupperware in a dim area.
7) I was wiling to leave my corn over night, but fortunately he had eaten within 30 seconds of being kept in the tupperware container
MerlinsPop
New member
After reading yours and other stories, I can't say that Vern was much trouble, even though he rejected the first two f/t pinkies I tried. The third attempt I used a live pinky in the paper bag overnight trick and that worked for me. He's accepted f/t fine since then. It's like he didn't know what they were for at first. He does now.
Nastassja
New member
Thanks for all your support and kindness guys.
Tonight I went home to visit my mom and went with her to the PetCo to buy dog food, and they had juvenile anoles there for 7 bucks, which was a steal! I picked up a little one who's body was 1 inch long excluding tail, so we're going to give the anole a shot tonight, instead of force feeding.
Ready set goooooo~
Tonight I went home to visit my mom and went with her to the PetCo to buy dog food, and they had juvenile anoles there for 7 bucks, which was a steal! I picked up a little one who's body was 1 inch long excluding tail, so we're going to give the anole a shot tonight, instead of force feeding.
Ready set goooooo~
Congrats!!!! You fed it alive or dead?? It is so weird how a small percentage of captive bred (fancy morphs no less) refuse to recognize pinkies as food and yet, never having been raised in the wild, instinctively go after what their wild counterparts eat (for baby Corns it is indeed, Anoles!)
More frustrating for those of us with those 'instinctive' ones (my Motley is the same way) but at least they want to eat period. Our job is going to be hard though to try and convert them to pinks but I, for one am determined.
Congrats again on getting your little one to eat on his own!
More frustrating for those of us with those 'instinctive' ones (my Motley is the same way) but at least they want to eat period. Our job is going to be hard though to try and convert them to pinks but I, for one am determined.
Congrats again on getting your little one to eat on his own!
Cat_Eyed_Lady
New member
wow! stubborn little bugger! will eat an anole but not a pinkie.. tough one. Maybe now that you know he hasnt forgotten How to eat and knows he Needs to eat .... you can try lizard scented?? now that he ate that one he might be more willing to take a scented one?? Congrats
daneale777
New member
I am so happy for you. Good dilligence!!
Is it possible that this little guy just got "used" to the scent of the mouse? I'm wondering if maybe he started off not wanting to eat, but was then placed with the pinky in close quarters with him for so long, that he no longer recognized it as food. Just a thought.
Also, I wanted to share something that I just found out that worked for me. Hopefully this little one will keep eating and you won't need anymore ideas, but I thought this to be a good place to share, anyway.
My new little baby of two weeks wouldn't eat the first two f/t pinkies I offered her. Sorry, but this next part is kind of graphic. Finally, I was told a trick of taking the pinky, once thawed and rolling it between my fingers, sort of squishing it and making it longer and thinner, hence tricking my snake into thinking it was smaller, and therefore more edible.
I couldn't believe it, but this actually worked!!
My baby is very tiny also.
I wish you all the luck.
And good work!!
Daneale
Is it possible that this little guy just got "used" to the scent of the mouse? I'm wondering if maybe he started off not wanting to eat, but was then placed with the pinky in close quarters with him for so long, that he no longer recognized it as food. Just a thought.
Also, I wanted to share something that I just found out that worked for me. Hopefully this little one will keep eating and you won't need anymore ideas, but I thought this to be a good place to share, anyway.
My new little baby of two weeks wouldn't eat the first two f/t pinkies I offered her. Sorry, but this next part is kind of graphic. Finally, I was told a trick of taking the pinky, once thawed and rolling it between my fingers, sort of squishing it and making it longer and thinner, hence tricking my snake into thinking it was smaller, and therefore more edible.
I couldn't believe it, but this actually worked!!
My baby is very tiny also.
I wish you all the luck.
And good work!!
Daneale
Sanebedlam
New member
Congrats on finally getting him to feed! I had been following this thread worrying for the little guy.