Assist Feeding

Alright, I've got three hatchlings who still think that that live rodent I throw in their tub every week is an entertaining piece of decor not a food item, and I'm getting worried about 'um, so I think I'm finally going to brave some assist feeding.

I know the basics: secure head, and gently press food item into their lip until they open up. But I have some questions for you guys that have been there and done that. First, I was wondering if it is any easier to assist feed with a prey item that's on the larger size or the smaller size, or is pretty much the same? Second thing, is once you get their mouth opened do you just place the mouse in their mouth or do you force it done their throat just a bit. I watched a video and it looked like he forced it down a bit and then let go of the snake. Is that the way to do it?

Well, those were my two main questions, but if anybody has any other tips, tricks or advice on assist feeding they've learned over the years, I'd love to hear them.

~Thanks.

First I have to ask how old are they? are they loosing weight? what is their current weight? I have only done this a few times. But I never assist feed anything bigger than a pink just my preference. Second I have had one that when I place the head of the P/K pink in its mouth it would constrict and eat no worries. then I had one that I had to get the rat down it throat before it would swallow it. Again its just based on what you animals will do start by just trying the placing it in the mouth thing. Then move on.

Ed gave some pretty good advice. It all depends on the snake as some will take it readily, but you might have to work a bit with others. One trick that I recently read about but haven't tried is to place the item in the snake's mouth and hold the snake by the tail. This is supposed to encourage the snake to swallow whatever is in its mouth instead of wiggling about and spitting it out.

Yeah, I heard of the holding the tail thing in something I read. My hatchlings are seven weeks, so far I haven't registered much in the way of weight loss, but they definetly aren't looking as spry as their fed siblings. My hatchlings weigh just under 50 grams... so they are already a bit on the shrimpy side.

I've heard some people say they wait two months before considering assist feeding for their holdouts and others who say they do it after a month... so I'm kind of on the fence about it. I really don't like the idea of forcing them to eat, but I'd also really like them to get something in their systems.