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Feeding the Unwilling

Woohoo 100! I'm taking it fairly well considering. It's hard not to pick favorites though!! There are 2 that I almost named today. My daughters gave me the idea for the theme and I was going to "pin" the 2 of them - but I couldn't! I know if they make it out alright they'll be a couple of my keepers, but I'm almost scared it will jinx them. I'm trying to decided when I'll label them as good to go....when do you decide they are out of the woods? I was thinking 4 feeds and a shed. Is that about right or should there be more restrictions? Should I count it as completely successful if I can only get them to eat willingly if the pinkie is live?

In all the planning I forgot to remember what the end (or should I say - the beginning for them) would be like :)
 
nlove_3000 said:
when do you decide they are out of the woods? I was thinking 4 feeds and a shed. Is that about right or should there be more restrictions? Should I count it as completely successful if I can only get them to eat willingly if the pinkie is live?
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I draw the line between problem and solved at three solo feedings in a row. If you can get them to eat by themselves, even if it's scented, washed or live, you've already overcome the biggest hurdle - flipping the switch in their brain so they recognize pinkie equals food. Converting to unscented, unwashed or F/T may take more time, but that's just tying up loose ends. :)
 
I may have mentioned in here already about getting 5 more non feeders shipped to me.... well, I thought I would start at the begining with them because they were in 'ok' shape..... so I offered all 5 f/t and made sure the tiny pinks were Really hot when offered...of the 5 -- 3 at all on their own!! I was abit shocked! 2 I force fed because they are just abit too thin in my opnion to go too much more with anything to help them so.. we cut up the pinks into 3 peices and it went pretty well... messy of course but they did pretty good.... neither got shocky on me or anything.... and all 5 kept their meals down :) so along with these 5, we still have one holdout from before that we havent found her trigger yet.... means hopeing if all keep eating that did this last time... we will be having 3 to force feed... that amount is doable :)

I will forever be greatful to Jaxom and how he told how he did it and was so kind to answer so many questions I had. He gets all the credit in my book for being so open about how he did it because its the only reason my mom and I were even able to attempt it. Thank you again Jaxom!! you are total Ace's in my book :)
 
Cat_Eyed_Lady said:
I will forever be greatful to Jaxom and how he told how he did it and was so kind to answer so many questions I had. He gets all the credit in my book for being so open about how he did it because its the only reason my mom and I were even able to attempt it. Thank you again Jaxom!! you are total Ace's in my book :)
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You are very welcome, but you're the one actually doing the work :) I'm very pleased that some members have found what I wrote useful, mostly because I know there are some snakes in homes now that might not have lived long enough to have the opportunity. I was lucky enough to get some great advice and encouragement when I got my first non-feeder; it only seems fair to try to pass on what I've learned to others.

It's four in the morning and I finished feeding my unwilling about 45 minutes ago. Tonight was an all-snake night: everyone needed fed, from newest hatchlings to eldest adults. That's (I had to count) 62 snakes. Some are easy - show my Taiwan Beauty a rodent and she'll lunge for it, every time. The non-feeding hatchlings make me work for it. Last night was the first time I looked at the clock when I started and when I finished. 22 hatchlings, four and a half hours. I don't try to go fast, I try to be patient with each snake, talking to it while I'm feeding it, keeping us both calm and relaxed. I know they don't understand, but I believe all animals respond to the atmosphere we create, if only because of the pheromones we emit at different times. Talking to them, gently handling them, creates a lot less stress for me. I don't think about how many I have remaining or how long it will take; I think about the baby in my hands and look at how it's progressing, how it responds to me, how it handles being fed. I hadn't a single snake that looked even the slightest bit shocked or stressed; most wanted to crawl back out of the GladWare and go exploring across my keyboard, full stomach or not.

For the bloodreds I received on the ninth, this was their first forced feed. They took it very well, and I got a chance to really look at them closely. Two are very classic "bloodred" in pattern and color, while the other two have better diffusion and pattern. Assuming I can get all of them eating, I'll be keeping 1.1. Their names are Bram, Renfield, Mina and Elisabeta, all keeping with the "blood" theme.

I tried lizard scenting the pinks this time, but the response was underwhelming. Oh, well, maybe I'll try chicken next time. At least then I can eat the leftovers.
 
I dread the All snake feeding days... and I only have about 1/2 as many as you do lol ;)

I still have one from my very first clutch that will not eat on her own. Plus last night when I went to feed she was in blue so I left her this time. the other 5 non feeders I got... 3 again ate on their own! whew :) left only 2 to force feed. So that isnt so bad. :) Its always a woooooooo haaaaaaaaaaa moment when they start to eat on their own lol :D I usually offer before I force feed... next time I will offer lizard scent to the 2 new ones and see if it might be something they are interested in :)

I have never really thought about all the time it takes me either.... I just do it... but I know it takes most of the day LOL then its time for the birds, rodents, lizards and the other pets LOL I try to break up the feeding days but every once in awhile they all hit the same day and I know before it even starts that it will be a longggggg day.... Thank god I have my mom who is so willing to help me :) I couldnt do it without her :) Glad she finally got over her snake phobia LOL :D
 
Right now I almost wish I could get them to all eat on the same day. I have them listed in a database and it seems they have evenly spread each other over 4 days, about 5 a piece...so I've been doubled up bc I want them eating on the 4th day. If I didn't have the database warning me when it's feeding day I would be confusing myself!
 
Wow. You guys have a lot of work to do. Today is my first "all snakes eat day". A whole 9 snakes: 1 adult king, 2 adult corns, 1 baby BP and 5 baby corns. I thought I had a lot of work to do until I saw Jaxom with 62!

BTW, I bit the bullet:
 

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All my guys ate today, even the little hypo-bloodred that refused the last two time. Yay! :cheers:
 
nlove_3000 said:
I just wanted to add another pic showing the progress with the dots :) See the green dots??
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I know this is really late to be noticing, but.... Whoa. Cut in half tennis balls! They look like adorable greenishyellow igloos. Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww <3
 
Thanks! They absolutely love them. I have a few extras bc if they poo on them I just wipe them off with a wet rag and give them a new one while the original dries. The only complaint at all is when I got to get the hatchlings out I usually have to life the hide to find them. This isn't a problem in itself of course, but bc the inside is sort of rubbery they can sometimes get a grip on the inside. There have been a few times I lifted the house and they came out with it! I wouldn't want them to fall -- so now I pick up and flip, and if they happen to still be inside I take them out just fine. They are perfect sized though! And cheap :)
 
Okay so I have 19 left -- 2 siblings passed during the week. BUT -- the good news is I now have 14 that have fed willingly! 9 of those have eaten twice willingly!!!! I have one that is ready for his third and I'm almost scared. I don't want the winning streak to end.
 
wax32 said:
All my guys ate today, even the little hypo-bloodred that refused the last two time. Yay! :cheers:
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Yaaaaaahhh for the lil blood red..Congrads...Its so exciting when they eat on there own for the first time. I hope it tell the others how to do it now...lol
 
Im sorry you lost 2 more Nlove..I assume they are from the force feed group. It can be stressful for them and so much can go wrong. So far,and maybe i should'nt say this,knockes on wood, but we have not lost one yet. I suppose our time is coming but i hope not for a longgggg time.
Its super that 14 are eating on there own. They were'nt non feeders hu? They just needed the right trigger to get them eating and you found it. Congrads to ya.
We're still looking for a trigger from the one and i hope the other two get there triggers tripped soon.
 
:eek1: Jaxom your nuts... 62 snakes... Man oh man and 22 to force feed.. :crazy02: Your worse then the daughter and im threating to lock her up. :grin01:
On the other hand, just think of all the baby snakes you personally and this thread have saved. Your quite the blessing Jaxom...
 
I really don't do anything but watch Cat but then at times she does need watching. :crazy01: :rofl:
Ya it only took me almost 25 yrs to get over the phobia. Now i wonder if that was a smart thing to do.. :D
 
Just a little update.... as of tonight All 5 of the pink non feeders I got have eaten on their own :) Also, tonight.... the best news!! #1 from our very first clutch who has been being force fed for the last 2 months or so... She finally ate tonight on her own!!! yaaaaaa :) I can only hope they all eat next time as well!! No force feeding tonight!! hehe Can you tell I am excited?? :crazy02:
 
Have you guys been attempting feedings in the deli cups, or in their normal tubs? I've been putting them in their deli cups and I'm wondering if there has been any extra success with feeding in tubs vs. deli cups...?
 
the little ones I have been trying to get on their own are all in 3 cup gladware containers... I just take out the water and paper towel and feed in their regular tubs. Some need to be covered as well for about an hour or so.
 
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