baby not eating

One of my new babies (3 months old, 40g) is showing no interest in eating. He ate rat pinkies the first couple of weeks after bringing him home, but nothing for the last couple of weeks. It's starting to show- his skin is looking quite loose around his body. Any suggestions?

Well you need to give a little more info.

What are the temps in the hot and cold side? Humidity?

What kind of enclosure is it on?

When was the last time it ate?

Any info that might help :)

dehydration?

You should try prescenting by him, and feeding a lagre meal. Many bp's won't eat a meal that small. Good luck.

3 months old and only 40g? Eek. Bigger meals should help.

Temps are 89/80, Humidity around 60%, in a shoebox size tote in a rack. Exactly the same conditions as 2 others babies in his row on the rack.
I tried dangling the rat in front of him a few times, but no interest. I ended up contacting the breeder I got him from, and he suggested an assisted feed, which I did, and it worked. We'll see next week if he'll take one on his own.
Makes me very grateful for the good feeders.

Try mice? Ya know...some ppl like chicken...some like beef!! (that is just an analogy) I am NOT saying feed him chicken...lol:P

If he has loose skin give him a quick lukewarm soak to make sure he get's hydrated.
Do you have a good hide in his tub? I would up the warm-side temperature a few degrees if possible too.

Try using a live stinky mouse and just put it in there and watch it from a distance through the tub. If you successfully assist fed him he should have some energy in him and shouldn't be too weak.

I would try live ! Most hatchlings like live! I would try a rat fuzzy!

Big Gunns is going to tell everyone the number one secret to get babies to eat.

ASPEN!!!!!! ASPEN!!!!!! ASPEN and a live baby fuzzie(not pinkie or hopper...fuzzie) mouse. For some reason Aspen works miracles for finicky eaters. Of course you need to have the temps right and be using a small shoe box, but Aspen works miracles.

If she took an assist feed it should get her metabolism and appetite going. Next time I would try leaving a live rat pinkie or mousehopper overnight if needed.

BG doesn't hate threads like this because there's nobody going to be potentially called out as a scammer, but answer BG this. Who is the person that started the thread supposed to listen to? People are giving all kinds of advice. Well....you tell BG..who should he listen to...how does the person decide? This is a baby snake that may die if he listens to the wrong person first, so it is a critical decision that needs to be made.

BG is not saying this because he thinks this person should listen to him(that's obvious)...BG's just making a point.....and as usual....a very good one.:D

Don't be offended peeps with the advice you gave.....BG is sure it may have worked for you.

My 09 hatchling wasn't eating either. I tried f/t mice hoppers and f/t pinkies but he just wouldn't take them. I put a live mouse in and he downed it no problem. He now has two live feedings in him. I personally am going to try one more live then try to switch to pre-killed for a few feedings, then to f/t again. I dont know if this is how "BG" would do it but this is how "I4" is gonna try it.......

Quote:

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Originally Posted by illini4x4

My 09 hatchling wasn't eating either. I tried f/t mice hoppers and f/t pinkies but he just wouldn't take them. I put a live mouse in and he downed it no problem. He now has two live feedings in him. I personally am going to try one more live then try to switch to pre-killed for a few feedings, then to f/t again. I dont know if this is how "BG" would do it but this is how "I4" is gonna try it.......

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This is what BG would do. Feed him regularly for a few more meals, then don't feed for a couple weeks to get him real hungry. Then bring a live smelly mouse in the room and leave it next to the cage. Get your frozen thawed very warm and try and feed him after about 30 minutes. There's a great chance this will work. This method works very well for adults also.

Hey BG,

Would you recommend I try aspen with my holdout hatchlings?

I have to feed F/T (it's illegal to sell mammals under six weeks of age over here and I do not breed my own as I am sadly allergic ) and if they do not take off the tongs I tend to leave it in the tub overnight.

Would aspen get too stinky overnight or would it be fine?


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hey BG,

Would you recommend I try aspen with my holdout hatchlings?

I have to feed F/T (it's illegal to sell mammals under six weeks of age over here and I do not breed my own as I am sadly allergic ) and if they do not take off the tongs I tend to leave it in the tub overnight.

Would aspen get too stinky overnight or would it be fine?


dr del

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BG would try it for sure. There's something about Aspen that helps finicky babies eat, although BG uses live.

Here is how Big Gunns discovered the miracle of Aspen. A few years back he had about 50 finicky baby balls. Yeah 50....maybe more...been a while.:D He had them all on paper towels or paper. BG cleaned the tubs and placed half on Aspen and the other half back on paper towels and paper. BG tried to feed them again. 90% of the Aspen babies ate...none of the others ate. He switched the others over to Aspen and 90% ate. BG has told many people to try Aspen with their finicky eaters and it almost always works when they use live fuzzie mice.

Try it Doc and see if it works. Don't worry about the smell. You may need to heat the f/t up a leeetle though. If all else fails you'll need to assist feed them.

Thanks all.
I'll try upping the size of the rat to a fuzzy next time, and try switching him over to aspen (all the others are currently on coconut husk).

Hi,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Big Gunns

BG would try it for sure. There's something about Aspen that helps finicky babies eat, although BG uses live.

Here is how Big Gunns discovered the miracle of Aspen. A few years back he had about 50 finicky baby balls. Yeah 50....maybe more...been a while.:D He had them all on paper towels or paper. BG cleaned the tubs and placed half on Aspen and the other half back on paper towels and paper. BG tried to feed them again. 90% of the Aspen babies ate...none of the others ate. He switched the others over to Aspen and 90% ate. BG has told many people to try Aspen with their finicky eaters and it almost always works when they use live fuzzie mice.

Try it Doc and see if it works. Don't worry about the smell. You may need to heat the f/t up a leeetle though. If all else fails you'll need to assist feed them.

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Oh



My




God.



:O :O :O :O

I changed the three non-eaters over to aspen yesterday.

I also changed their hides at the same time as I had a couple of half coconuts hanging about unused.

I defrosted an extra ASF (small ) with the expectation of offering it to all three stubborn gits and throwing it away when they all refused.

The first one I tried neary took my fingers off and ate the flippin thing. :O :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

http://satanswombat.googlepages.com/BabiesFirstASF1.jpg

I had offered all three ASF's and half grown mice at least nine times with no success. I had assist fed them a couple of times but had offered at least twice since then.

Thank you Big Gunns. :D

I guess tomorrow I need to decide if I want to try a couple of half grown mice from the fresh shipment of F/T's or go with ASF's for the other two. :)


dr del

Update,

All three non-eaters have now eaten. :banana: :banana: :banana:

The other two greedily grabbed F/T half grown mice tonight with no defensive strikes or teasing or anything - even the one who didn't have his hatchling shed.

:salute:


dr del

Gee Derek... wow and congrats. :)

I am gonna try aspen for my last 3 assist feeds, as they feed tomorrow.

What a great leeeetle (too many e`s?) tip BG.

Bruce

PS: Derek... I have those same tubs. :)