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feeding probs, help terri or anyone

I had him in the cup with the pinky head for the last 6 hrs and he didn't eat it...so I did force feed the part of mouse tail...freaked me out a little b/c I didn't know their bottom jaw quite bent like that and thought I broke it at first...but all was fine...got it down 2, 3 in and really really hoping for the best...
and you're right, tail was easier than head would have been...I was able to slip it in...think I'd need something to hold jaw open if/when I try a head...
thanks...and hope I can get him on track...really hoping
 
Sorry, I didn't have time to read the whole thread. But I see where you got a tail down. Pinkie heads go down pretty easily with the help of a little butter too. If he doesn't hold that down, I would go with a little Iams cat food (the finely ground canned type), mixed with a little water and pushed through a tea strainer, then given in a feeding tube or eye dropper. 1 cc of liquid for the first feeding. Of course, I always also mix in some Nutri Bac if there is any question of digestive health of the animal.

Sorry if anyone already gave that advice, but I have to go out to feed the new babies now - gotta go!

Good luck!
 
Never heard of the cat food trick...at least not that I remember...

Will have to be sure to write that one down....
 
thanks derek
dan...I actually didn't put the rheostat together since once I put the cedar in, the surface of the cedar on that side is 87...he's been crawling around a lot and kept the tail down...so I'm hoping it stimulated him to eat again....since surface there is right with the cedar, I didn't think I should change it, but correct me if I'm wrong

offering a mouse head again tonight...if he doesn't eat it, I'll force feed another tail and try the head as well...is that ok or too much or should I do one or the other?

thanks kathy...literal butter? lol...how's Smart Balance margarine?
so far he kept the tail down so hopefully it'll keep getting better...haven't heard of the cat food idea...thanks and hope I don't have to use it...
I saw you in PA in Nov but you seemed exhausted so just said hi...heard my butter (got him from a LIHS person at the westchester expo) was originally from you and he's a beauty
 
Rachel...you need to ditch the cedar! It is not good for them. Please try aspen or one of the other "reptile safe" products.

I'm glad he kept the tail down!
 
CornCrazy said:
Rachel...you need to ditch the cedar! It is not good for them. Please try aspen or one of the other "reptile safe" products.
Click to expand...

I second that - ditch the cedar. I personally like aspen but that's just preference. Others use reptibark, eco earth, cage carpeting...just not cedar (or pine).

~Katie
 
If you have been using cedar the whole time, that could be a big part of your problem. Dump it right away!

I have especially found the liquified cat food helpful for snakes that were really weakened for any reason (disease, egg laying, regurging, whatever). When I mix it with Nutri Bac and give small, frequent feedings, (and access to a good heat gradient) it makes a powerful natural healing combination.
 
I know everyone else already said it...but I must stress...

RACH...DON'T USE CEDAR...

It is known to cause respiratory and neurological damage in snakes and reptiles...and may cause death.

Use aspen...it's the best, cheapest and easiest...

Other than paper...
 
I'm sorry...slip of such a wrong word...I've been a bit sick since a couple nights ago...and for some odd reason typed cedar (and kept using the word apparently)

sorry for that

I of course only use aspen


I don't think he likes being in the container for feeding...he couldn't care less about the head in there...just tries to get out and then gives up...

so will force feed again tonight...

should I try tail again and head or just head? will margarine work if needed?
 
sorry, hoping for an answer...

can I try feeding part of tail and pinky head or will that overdo it? and if I had to choose, which would be best...tail was easier than it seemed a head would be
 
Rachel, a tail is not enough nutrients for a snake that age. It is one thing to start a non feeder neonate with but even then, they cannot stay on it since it is not enough nutrition. You are much better off feeding the head. It is not as easy but much much better. I don't have time right now to explain how I feed the head or a whole pink but will try to get back here and let you know. But keeping it on just tails will not sustain it. Kathy Love's suggestion of the "gruel" is excellent. If you can't feed the head, try her food suggestion.
 
sigh...well thanks for all the help
he was curled up mostly behind his hide like he does sometimes when I woke up...but when I went back in now he looked the same but somehow a bit off...so I touched him and nothing...
picked him up (poor little thing is dead)...I don't think he digested the mouse tail (was a dark olive green spot on his belly)...and he had chomped on a bunch of the aspen in there and had a bloody jaw with aspen stuck in it...poor little guy...I don't know what went so wrong...can they develop digestion probs?
 
I am VERY sorry, Rachel!

I agree that a tail is not enough to sustain one for long. I just suggested it until Rachel got as bit more comfortable with force feeding. I have tube fed some difficult feeders with canned cat food, too. It works well short-term, but doesn't have the proper nutrients to use long-term for snakes.
 
I'm really sorry Rachel! I've been following this thread, and I was really hoping for the best. I was pulling for you two! Sometimes some snakes just aren't meant to make it though. Rest assured that you did everything you could for him. I'm really sorry for your loss. :(
 
well, is my fault since I didn't catch it in time if I could have remedied it earlier and he just stopped eating after about a month in my care...just wondering (since temps were fine with aspen even though that was a mess in the end)...didn't seem like he digested the tail...temps seemed right...could something otherwise destroy his digestion?
can't focus on this too much now...and kinda glad my first attempt at breeding corns didn't work this year...hopefully this will prepare me for things to come...
I hadn't seen pics of thin corns that you have to worry about so until I noticed he was thin and thought I should try something more proactive, I didn't know what really bad looks like...but he looked really bad when I found him today
 
also...someone else who got a ghost (I'm pretty sure from same breeder) had his die...it always had a problem eating and he was force feeding...
so just don't totally know all reasons
 
Unfortunately Rachel, some of them just don't make it. I am glad that you are looking at this as a learning experience. It will definitely help you to be better prepared in the future!
 
Rachel, I am very sorry you lost your baby.

In answer to your questions, seeing as he had eaten for you fine when you got him and as your temps were very high in your viv, I would surmise that that was the cause of his going off feed. I am sorry this type of leason gets learned this way, but don't kick yourself too much over it. We all learn from our mistakes and as you are obviously trying to learn and do things right, that is what you should focus on now. When you showed the pics I really had my doubts on getting it to come back as I have seen non feeders/force feeders get that far and saving them is very rare.

Now that you have aspen in your viv and have things properly regulated you should find it easier for your next one. I definitely hope you will try again as I am sure you care and you would enjoy this hobby.

Best. :)
 
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