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success rate with force feeding

C

coolsnakesky

New member
I picked up a few non feeders.They hatched around 8-27 so they have gone 7 weeks without a meal all but 1 hasnt taken a meal yet..I tried whole pinks ..pinks parts..braining ..scenting..soaping etc.
with no success. Today I force fed them all part of a mouse tail. Is there a good success rate with force feeding or am I just prolonging the inevitable? Some say they can go 8 weeks or more. Should I not force feed again and just keep trying to put pinks or parts on the menu?
 
I don't force feed at all. Not only do I think it's "prolonging the inevitable" as you put it, but you're stressing the animal out unnecessarily and encouraging the continuation of probable "non-feeder" genes to be spread.

Hatchlings can go up to 12 weeks out of the egg without eating and then all of a sudden start eating...In my opinion, force feeding at 8 weeks was premature. You should be completely leaving these guys alone between meals (meals should be offered every 4-5 days). I would also suggest keeping them in small sandwich size containers to encourage security and do not transfer them from there "house" to a seperate feeding bin.
 
I force-fed my non-feeders for two seasons. Force-feeding each once a month, offering pinks with all the other tricks in between times.

Never worked for me. None ate of their own accord and all eventually died, despite keeping the forced pinkies down and apparently digesting them normally (poop looked fine).

I kept mine going for months like that. I don't do it any more. Others might have more positive experiences to share, so keep watching the thread and don't lose heart.
 
I never force feed anything. If it's not taking food on its own and begins to deteriorate and none of the tricks work that snake is euthanized. I tried it in my first few years of breeding, having snakes that I did not want to lose I thought maybe it would work. And every snake I ever force fed ended up dying anyway after me putting it through the stressful ordeal of pushing food down its throat. And I feel they suffered more than if I had just euthanized them. It's hard but I realy feel it is for the best to just let them go. Even if you can get one to survive, would you want it passing on its genes and having more non eating babies?
 
I've force-fed 2 snakes and succeeded. Diamond Lil is my pet so I couldn't face letting her die. Skooge was someone else's pet they asked me to try to rehab.
I don't intend to try it with any of my hatchlings that I breed, because I will either be selling them or keeping them back as future breeders. To sell them after force-feeding could mean disappointment for their prospective owners. I wouldn't want to breed from rehabbed non-feeders either.
 
I have force fed. Do I recommend it? not really. Its hard on the animal and the human too. But the ones that I have force fed.... I force fed very small pinkies (the front half only) every other feeding. For most it only took a few feedings like that and they got the hang of it but one I force fed every other feeding for about 2 months and she is now a wonderful pet :) Is it worth it?? It can be yes... especially when they start to really go on their own. I know it isnt for everyone but for me? It was because they were going to mostly family or friends and are pets only. This year... I had about 40 or so babies and I refused to force feed because I would be selling to pet stores and such and I didnt want to take the chance on someone having a hard time with a new snake or..... IF and thats a Big if... The gene for bad feeders is genetic, then I didnt want that carried on. What it comes right down to is.... Do what is right for you.
 
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