Hatchling going south

I checked on Rubiix this morning and he looked great. We gave him water by tube (he was really really dehydrated) last night. When I checked him in the morning, he looked normal and hydrated and looked amazing. Tonight when I checked on him, he was wrinkly and looking severely dehydrated. :(

I'm really considering putting him down because he is obviously suffering. I highly doubt he will be able to eat on his own and I don't want to keep putting him through all this stress.

Sorry to hear that but maybe for the BEST.....

I am not sure about your hole story is this the little guy that wont eat? You can try subqutanious fluid. It will be absorbed easier then water by mouth. But if the snake is to far gone there might not be any chance of survival. Sorry to hear it is not doing well.

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Originally Posted by MKHerps

I am not sure about your hole story is this the little guy that wont eat? You can try subqutanious fluid. It will be absorbed easier then water by mouth. But if the snake is to far gone there might not be any chance of survival. Sorry to hear it is not doing well.

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I'm confused by your first sentence. I checked on him this morning and he is still looking very dehydrated. I am misting him and refreshing his water daily so I'm not sure why he's getting so dehydrated. I'm going to wait until we try the pinky pump on Monday or Tuesday before deciding to put him down.

Can you post some pictures? I'm sure its not a husbandry issue, but before you decide to euthanise, maybe you can get some other advice. Other may have seen it, and words can only go so far. I'm sorry to hear about the little fella.

Try soaking him in Pedialite (for kids) 30 minutes a couple times a day. That really does the trick most of the time for dehydration. Should also help add some needed nutrients.

Has he had his first shed yet? If not, he should be on moist paper towels.

Have you tried tube feeding canned dog food mixed with water to a slightly runny paste? Read around the web for tube feeding snakes.

Or try force feeding him a mouse pink. Somthing really small. Good luck with him.
:gj:

We got a few jars of chicken baby food we are going to try tube feeding him this week. I am checking on him 2-3 times daily and changing his water every time. I am also misting him this many times a day and he is looking much better. He is not as wrinkled and his skin snaps back into place when gently pinched.

I'm taking him tomorrow to get fed by a pinky pump. We shall see how this goes.