Hoggie not eating

So, Mr Spot is not eating. He's a hatchling, we've had him for 3 weeks, and I've tried f/t pinkies, live pinkies, pinkies dipped in warm water, and he will sniff and sniff, he even opened his mouth on one for a minute, but then he turns his little snoot up and sidewinders away. I can't get a weight on him because he's so tiny he doesn't register on the scale. He also moves too much. So... any advice? Is there something I can scent the pinkies with, or substitute a different critter? He is doing really well otherwise. I just worry because I know he should be eating by now.

Do you know if/what he was eating before you got him? Often times hatchling hognoses cant be quite picky. Some people have had success scenting pinkies with frogs and/or toads.

Neither of my babies took straight to pinkies when I got them and this is what worked for me. Take the water dish out the day before your next feeding attempt when you do the soaked pinky method. They will start drinking water off of the pinky and sometimes transition straight into eating - this worked for one of my babies the first time I tried it. My more stubborn baby required scenting. I used some tuna canned in plain old water. I just thawed my pinky out in the tuna water and it got the more stubborn hatchling feeding straight away.

Make sure your snake is setup right and you're giving it plenty of time undisturbed. I wouldn't hold or mess with him any more than necessary until he's a strong feeder. Give him 3-4 days between feeding attempts. When you do the water method you just gently hold the head of the pinky on the snake's nose. When you do the scenting method try by leading the snake by half an inch or so until he's following strongly then let him hit it.

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Originally Posted by Krynn

Do you know if/what he was eating before you got him? Often times hatchling hognoses cant be quite picky. Some people have had success scenting pinkies with frogs and/or toads.

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We were told he was eating pinkies... so we will try scenting with a frog (gives me an excuse to get one :P), and we were also told maybe vienna sausages? I don't know how safe that is though.

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Originally Posted by John1982

Neither of my babies took straight to pinkies when I got them and this is what worked for me. Take the water dish out the day before your next feeding attempt when you do the soaked pinky method. They will start drinking water off of the pinky and sometimes transition straight into eating - this worked for one of my babies the first time I tried it. My more stubborn baby required scenting. I used some tuna canned in plain old water. I just thawed my pinky out in the tuna water and it got the more stubborn hatchling feeding straight away.

Make sure your snake is setup right and you're giving it plenty of time undisturbed. I wouldn't hold or mess with him any more than necessary until he's a strong feeder. Give him 3-4 days between feeding attempts. When you do the water method you just gently hold the head of the pinky on the snake's nose. When you do the scenting method try by leading the snake by half an inch or so until he's following strongly then let him hit it.

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I will definitely try that. We've been leading him, but then he just says no. If it continues I'm calling his breeder to find out what he thinks. Thank you!

If he was eating I scented pinkies I would not scent is prey, it making a step backward.

I am curious how big is it and what is you husbandry like?


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Originally Posted by Deborah

If he was eating I scented pinkies I would not scent is prey, it making a step backward.

I am curious how big is it and what is you husbandry like?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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This was just taken last week:
http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file.../5/3/spot4.jpg

He's in a small vivarium with aspen and a hide, he has an UTH and a cool side with a water dish.

What's the temps?

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Originally Posted by KMG

What's the temps?

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85-90 during the day 75-80 at night

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Originally Posted by stloria

85-90 during the day 75-80 at night

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So that's ambient? Why the big drop?

What is the uth set to?

My hoggy was a pain and still refuses frozen. I found mine wanted a uth and a tad higher temp than I was providing. Once things were a bit warmer it started gobbling up live pinks without a problem.

I would recommend getting the ambient to stay around 85 without letting it drop under 80 at any time. Then I would get the uth to 86-90.

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Originally Posted by KMG

So that's ambient? Why the big drop?

What is the uth set to?

My hoggy was a pain and still refuses frozen. I found mine wanted a uth and a tad higher temp than I was providing. Once things were a bit warmer it started gobbling up live pinks without a problem.

I would recommend getting the ambient to stay around 85 without letting it drop under 80 at any time. Then I would get the uth to 86-90.

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UTH is set to the highest, because of the big drop. The room just drops like that at night, the rest of the snakes are in a different part of the room where it doesn't drop so far. I thought he'd be ok because of his heater. I am going to also switch him to a shoebox tote, maybe he's stressed being in the vivarium with the clear sides. That should help his heat as well. THank you!

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Originally Posted by stloria

UTH is set to the highest, because of the big drop. The room just drops like that at night, the rest of the snakes are in a different part of the room where it doesn't drop so far. I thought he'd be ok because of his heater. I am going to also switch him to a shoebox tote, maybe he's stressed being in the vivarium with the clear sides. That should help his heat as well. THank you!

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So the uth is not regulated? That's dangerous! It needs to be on a tstat or at least a dimmer. A uth does little to nothing for your ambient temps.

You can keep the tank just cover three sides with paper for a more secure feeling.

What is the room heated by? If I understood correctly you dont have a lamp on your hoggy and its the room that heated.

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Originally Posted by KMG

So the uth is not regulated? That's dangerous! It needs to be on a tstat or at least a dimmer. A uth does little to nothing for your ambient temps.

You can keep the tank just cover three sides with paper for a more secure feeling.

What is the room heated by? If I understood correctly you dont have a lamp on your hoggy and its the room that heated.

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Sorry... it is regulated I just have to check it. M not home. My fiance has it set up so I will look at the temp. He has a lamp on his viv as well.

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Originally Posted by stloria

Sorry... it is regulated I just have to check it. M not home. My fiance has it set up so I will look at the temp. He has a lamp on his viv as well.

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Well that's a relief. :gj:

Covering the sides with thick paper will insulate the tank and keep your numbers more constant. I would also suggest making a cardboard cut out for the screen and cover it with foil. Make a small window for the heat lamp and place on top. Doing these two things should help keep your temps constant and add to security for your lil guy. I would not change its home right now as this very possibly just add to stress.

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Originally Posted by KMG

Well that's a relief. :gj:

Covering the sides with thick paper will insulate the tank and keep your numbers more constant. I would also suggest making a cardboard cut out for the screen and cover it with foil. Make a small window for the heat lamp and place on top. Doing these two things should help keep your temps constant and add to security for your lil guy. I would not change its home right now as this very possibly just add to stress.

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:) it is set at 85. Should it be different? I'll get some good paper tomorrow, and I can put press and seal over the top, that's what I have on my ball. Thank you so much for all the help!

85 should be pretty close to good. I would leave it be and work on getting the temps to stay more constant.

My uth stays around 85 to 87 and I don't like it much warmer.

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Originally Posted by KMG

85 should be pretty close to good. I would leave it be and work on getting the temps to stay more constant.

My uth stays around 85 to 87 and I don't like it much warmer.

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Perfect :) thanks!!!