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my little guy won't eat help

mammadukes

New member
so i got valentine about 3 weeks ago and he hasn't ate for me yet. we feed frozen pinkies to all of our little guys. but he won't touch them. when i try to handle him he strikes at me (almost got me a couple of times). i raise mice for the bigger snakes and feed stunned to them (they won't touch frozen) i have pinkies due any day now should i try feeding him live. i am worried that he has gone to long without eating. help i don't want to lose him.
 

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How often are you trying to feed?

Are you using a separate container?

I'd try this first. Hold him in your left hand. Hold out the pink with your right, or even tease him with it. When he strikes it, freeze! Let him go ahead and swallow it right when he's sitting in your hand- don't try to set him down. If a baby strikes at you, you can eventually get a pink into its mouth! Once the pink is in its mouth instinct takes over and they just swallow. It's important that you don't move, though! If the baby strikes but lets go, be patient. Eventually it will strike and hold. If the baby gets tired of striking, you can refresh him by setting him down for a second, then making him angry by picking him up again!

Okay, so if that doesn't work, I'd try putting him in a deli cup, at dusk, with just a nice hot pink head. Cover with a dish towel, set the timer for an hour, don't peek. If he hasn't eaten, reheat, give him another hour. Still hasn't eaten, put the whole thing in his viv over night.

Other things to try (as well as live) are washing with Ivory dish soap and rinsing the pink. I think I'd try that first, of all the scenting tricks.

I wouldn't try more often than every four days.
 
Personally, I'd not handle him at all for a week, then leave him with a hot pinky in a deil cup overnight. If you squeeze the pink's head so some juice comes out of it's nose seems to work well as 'braining' to release the scent.
 
thank you for the advice i almost didn't get this little guy because he is so tiny and we lost our baby snow because of a feeding issue. (she was eating well for 2 months and then all of a sudden regurg and died within in an hour) so i am very worried about valentine. i think i will try janine's advice first. brandon will be home tonite and we will try 'braining' a pinkie. i guess i am a little scared about holding him in my hand and letting him strike at me. i am new to this whole snake thing. brandon started it. but i love all 8 of my corn snakes and wouldn't trade any one of them. since brandon is gone all week (truck driver) it is up to me to deal with any issues that arise. so i read alot and i am glad that i found this forum where everyone is so helpful. i appreciate everyones input.
 
It doesn't hurt at all! If he's so tiny, make sure the pink you feed is either really tiny or just a head.
 
i always use the smallest pinkies i can find maybe i will try the head thing tonite. one of the others will enjoy the special treat of the rest i am sure.
 
Good luck! As you're so worried, and have lost a little one before, I'd say if this try doesn't succeed, try a tiny live pink in a deli the next week.
 
I have a baby that wouldn't eat. The breeder suggested that I put a few drops of tuna oil/water on the pinkie (from a can of tuna fish). My snake eats it every time when I do that. We named her "Starkist". :)
 
I have a baby that wouldn't eat. The breeder suggested that I put a few drops of tuna oil/water on the pinkie (from a can of tuna fish). My snake eats it every time when I do that. We named her "Starkist". :)

never heard of that before i will have to try that
 
Oh- there are a ton of scenting things for you to try, then!

Tuna water, chicken broth, raw chicken juice, cooked chicken fat, dirty mouse bedding, bird bedding, lizard shed.

Recently I met someone who swore by putting the deli cup on the washer when it was running. (Make sure it can't fall off!)

But really, I'd just start with basics, first.
 
valentine ate tonite!!!!!!!!:crazy02: i gave him just the head of the pink and he took it immediately. i am so happy. when i tried to pick him up after to put him back in his home he struck at me again. actually connected this time. he doesn't seem to like being handled at all but at least he ate. thank you everyone for the advice.
 
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