Feeding questions

I have a female Western hognose snake. She stopped eating before she went into shed about in August. Hasn't eaten since. I've tried scenting with tuna juice, but no go. Any suggestions? She's still peeing, is that good? I've read Weather change can cause lack of appetite, but she has lost a lil weight. Weighted her at 12.4 grams on August 7 now she weighs 10.8 grams as of today. Should I be worried about her weight?

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Yes you should worry considering the size of the snake and the length it has already gone without food.

What is your setup like? In details from tank size to temps etc.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Yes you should worry considering the size of the snake and the length it has already gone without food.

What is your setup like? In details from tank size to temps etc.

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6qt setup.. with aspen snake bedding. I have a hide on each side (one of the hides doubles as a water dish).. temp doesn't go higher than 91 Fahrenheit.. sometimes I see it go down to 88.. there are approximatelcy 80 holes including lid and sides... Her feeding schedule was Wednesdays and Sundays. And I would always grab her gently and place her head near the Pinky and she would eat immediately even let me video her a few times..

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And I would always grab her gently and place her head near the Pinky and she would eat immediately

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That is completely unecessary and really a bad idea with an animal that young and small that oftens get startled by something as simple as a snake tong. You are actually lucky that she ate at all.

Offer food with tongs or leave it on the tub's floor (overnight) without messing with the snake and giving it privacy. (No staring, no video)

If that does not work downsize to a 2.7 quart tub like this one

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-...-of-6/55413807

Once move wait 5 to 7 days and offer food, at that point if that does not work start scenting with the following

Hard boiled egg

Vienna sausage

Anchovies

Toad

And if all that does not work use reptilink and frog juice https://reptilinks.com/products/frog...and-mini-links

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Originally Posted by Deborah

That is completely unecessary and really a bad idea with an animal that young and small that oftens get startled by something as simple as a snake tong. You are actually lucky that she ate at all.

Offer food with tongs or leave it on the tub's floor (overnight) without messing with the snake and giving it privacy. (No staring, no video)

If that does not work downsize to a 2.7 quart tub like this one

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-...-of-6/55413807

Once move wait 5 to 7 days and offer food, at that point if that does not work start scenting with the following

Hard boiled egg

Vienna sausage

Anchovies

Toad

And if all that does not work use reptilink and frog juice https://reptilinks.com/products/frog...and-mini-links

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Thank you so much for your helpful links and suggestions. I will stop picking her up for feedings. I will put the next Pinky on Sunday overnight, or should I just start tonight and just switch up her feeding schedule if she eats? I am also going to switch where I keep her, since they get startled, I didn't think much of it. right now I have her on my kitchen table which is wobbly so it jiggles quite often when my son plays around the table, so maybe that also has her uneasy?

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Wow I'm really thinking about it now that you said they get startled oh snap she's probably been thinking she's in an earthquake all this time. My poor girl. I'm definitely switching her location, hopefully that helps

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Originally Posted by MinniesBuggies

Thank you so much for your helpful links and suggestions. I will stop picking her up for feedings. I will put the next Pinky on Sunday overnight, or should I just start tonight and just switch up her feeding schedule if she eats? I am also going to switch where I keep her, since they get startled, I didn't think much of it. right now I have her on my kitchen table which is wobbly so it jiggles quite often when my son plays around the table, so maybe that also has her uneasy?

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Possibly while Hognose are not prone to stress as adult such young animals how, switch things around wait a few days and see how it goes, usually getting females back on track is fairly easy or at least easier than males.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Possibly while Hognose are not prone to stress as adult such young animals how, switch things around wait a few days and see how it goes, usually getting females back on track is fairly easy or at least easier than males.

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Doing that now, thanks for your help. I'll keep ya posted!!

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Originally Posted by MinniesBuggies

... temp doesn't go higher than 91 Fahrenheit.. sometimes I see it go down to 88...

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Is this the temperature 24/7 for the whole cage? If so, then I would turn off the heater and let the temperature drop to around 70 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Because prolonged high temperatures will turn a snake off food.

Good luck.

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Originally Posted by paulh

Is this the temperature 24/7 for the whole cage? If so, then I would turn off the heater and let the temperature drop to around 70 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Because prolonged high temperatures will turn a snake off food.

Good luck.

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Yes it's always on... I'll turn off the heat at night or set it specifically to 70.. thank you !

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I was in a similar position as you with my female but I have a feeling she wasn’t well started when I got her. Follow Deborah’s advice to a T and I highly recommend scenting pinkies with frog if you go the scenting route. My girl went from I think 9-10g to 6 and probably wouldn’t have made it another month. Now she’s around 140. I scented with frog for a few feedings, decreasing the scent with every feeding. I think she was on unscented after three or four feedings. Good luck.

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Originally Posted by cron14

I was in a similar position as you with my female but I have a feeling she wasn’t well started when I got her. Follow Deborah’s advice to a T and I highly recommend scenting pinkies with frog if you go the scenting route. My girl went from I think 9-10g to 6 and probably wouldn’t have made it another month. Now she’s around 140. I scented with frog for a few feedings, decreasing the scent with every feeding. I think she was on unscented after three or four feedings. Good luck.

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Thank you ! Im definitely following Deborah's instructions

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Possibly while Hognose are not prone to stress as adult such young animals how, switch things around wait a few days and see how it goes, usually getting females back on track is fairly easy or at least easier than males.

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Hi Deborah, she's still not eating (I'm going to order reptilinks this week) or should I try brumating her for 4 weeks? ( someone else suggested that at 50 degrees) the recent thing I tried is frog scenting the Pinky

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Originally Posted by MinniesBuggies

Hi Deborah, she's still not eating (I'm going to order reptilinks this week) or should I try brumating her for 4 weeks? ( someone else suggested that at 50 degrees) the recent thing I tried is frog scenting the Pinky

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So you got all your temps in order and downsize to a small 2.7 quarts tub right?

I would also keep those temps stable with no drop at night like suggested previously.

I would really try to get her to eat and offer reptilinks if every other scent has failed, brumating would be a very last resort to me because at that size it's a gamble really.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

So you got all your temps in order and downsize to a small 2.7 quarts tub right?

I would also keep those temps stable with no drop at night like suggested previously.

I would really try to get her to eat and offer reptilinks if every other scent has failed, brumating would be a very last resort to me because at that size it's a gamble really.

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Yup, did all as you suggested. Her temps are stable, no drops.. been keeping her in the 2.7 q tub.. I'll def be getting the reptilinks then... Thank you , I'll keep ya posted!

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Originally Posted by Deborah

So you got all your temps in order and downsize to a small 2.7 quarts tub right?

I would also keep those temps stable with no drop at night like suggested previously.

I would really try to get her to eat and offer reptilinks if every other scent has failed, brumating would be a very last resort to me because at that size it's a gamble really.

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I'm tempted to drop a live African dwarf frog in her water bowl or another small amphibian.. what're your thoughts Deborah?

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Originally Posted by MinniesBuggies

I'm tempted to drop a live African dwarf frog in her water bowl or another small amphibian.. what're your thoughts Deborah?

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If you have access to toad and frogs first try scenting a pinky with one of then, you can either squeeze urine out or rub the pinky with it.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

If you have access to toad and frogs first try scenting a pinky with one of then, you can either squeeze urine out or rub the pinky with it.

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I bought a frog and scented the pinky. She refused the pinky tho today ..

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Originally Posted by Deborah

If you have access to toad and frogs first try scenting a pinky with one of then, you can either squeeze urine out or rub the pinky with it.

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Or do you think I can try putting a live African dwarf frog in her water bowl and a thawed Pinky and hope she eats the pinky,?

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Originally Posted by Deborah

If you have access to toad and frogs first try scenting a pinky with one of then, you can either squeeze urine out or rub the pinky with it.

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Hi Deborah! So I actually ended up getting some live pinkies ... first day I left the pinky overnight, she didn't eat. Next day moved her to a pencil case (smaller than her container), poked some holes, put the pinky in, covered it so it's dark, all day, still no eating. Placed them back in her own container yesterday. Just checked, still has not eaten. I think at this point I may just take her to the vet. If she doesn't even take a live pinky .. will she even bother with reptilinks?

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Update.. so she actually attacked the pinky.. she had it in her mouth.. but spit it back out. (possibly I scared her? She's on top of my dresser and as I was getting clothes out the dresser did make a noise from closing the drawer so not sure if she felt that) I put a shirt over her enclosure to give her privacy just now. Hopefully by tonight when I check she has eaten.

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Originally Posted by MinniesBuggies

Hi Deborah! So I actually ended up getting some live pinkies ... first day I left the pinky overnight, she didn't eat. Next day moved her to a pencil case (smaller than her container), poked some holes, put the pinky in, covered it so it's dark, all day, still no eating. Placed them back in her own container yesterday. Just checked, still has not eaten. I think at this point I may just take her to the vet. If she doesn't even take a live pinky .. will she even bother with reptilinks?

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I have seen animals refusing everything and taking reptilinks. Now keep in mind that if you offer that often (everyday) she will definitely not make progress, doing so you basically are stressing her even more.

Vet have little to NO hand on with snakes when it comes to feeding habits and will usually start talking about X-ray, blood test etc. They merely have experience with larger snakes, with that species and that size it is not likely that you will find someone with any knowledge at all.

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Originally Posted by MinniesBuggies

Update.. so she actually attacked the pinky.. she had it in her mouth.. but spit it back out. (possibly I scared her? She's on top of my dresser and as I was getting clothes out the dresser did make a noise from closing the drawer so not sure if she felt that) I put a shirt over her enclosure to give her privacy just now. Hopefully by tonight when I check she has eaten.

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It's possible they can get startled very easily remember she is very small it does not take much.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

I have seen animals refusing everything and taking reptilinks. Now keep in mind that if you offer that often (everyday) she will definitely not make progress, doing so you basically are stressing her even more.

Vet have little to NO hand on with snakes when it comes to feeding habits and will usually start talking about X-ray, blood test etc. They merely have experience with larger snakes, with that species and that size it is not likely that you will find someone with any knowledge at all.

It's possible they can get startled very easily remember she is very small it does not take much.

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Gotcha. No vet then.. let ya know how it continues .. gonna leave the pinky in for the rest of the day (she got it good.. I saw bite marks and blood on the pinky.. so maybe with privacy and no noise she will lunge again) if that doesn't work I'll throw in the reptilinks

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

I have seen animals refusing everything and taking reptilinks. Now keep in mind that if you offer that often (everyday) she will definitely not make progress, doing so you basically are stressing her even more.

Vet have little to NO hand on with snakes when it comes to feeding habits and will usually start talking about X-ray, blood test etc. They merely have experience with larger snakes, with that species and that size it is not likely that you will find someone with any knowledge at all.

It's possible they can get startled very easily remember she is very small it does not take much.

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Deborah, great news, she ate a live pinky yesterday... Any suggestions on how many more live Pinky's I should feed her and when to switch back to f/t?
I'll be feeding her again on Wednesday

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Originally Posted by MinniesBuggies

Deborah, great news, she ate a live pinky yesterday... Any suggestions on how many more live Pinky's I should feed her and when to switch back to f/t?
I'll be feeding her again on Wednesday

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Glad she did, try to get her back on track and feed at least 5 meals before attempting to switch back, and if she does not keep her on live for a while, IMO now that you triggered her back she should be good and revert back to F/T and hopefully keep eating for you throughout the winter.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Glad she did, try to get her back on track and feed at least 5 meals before attempting to switch back, and if she does not keep her on live for a while, IMO now that you triggered her back she should be good and revert back to F/T and hopefully keep eating for you throughout the winter.

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Gotcha!! Thank you!

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Glad she did, try to get her back on track and feed at least 5 meals before attempting to switch back, and if she does not keep her on live for a while, IMO now that you triggered her back she should be good and revert back to F/T and hopefully keep eating for you throughout the winter.

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Hi again Deborah, so on Wednesday she did not eat the live pinky. I found out today (pinky is still alive in her enclosure taking it out tonight) bc I kept her enclosure covered so she would have her privacy and 24 hours to digest. BUT I did notice she's about to go into shed, which I assume is a good sign. At what weight do you recommend for me to move her up again to 6qt and so forth?

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Originally Posted by MinniesBuggies

Hi again Deborah, so on Wednesday she did not eat the live pinky. I found out today (pinky is still alive in her enclosure taking it out tonight) bc I kept her enclosure covered so she would have her privacy and 24 hours to digest. BUT I did notice she's about to go into shed, which I assume is a good sign. At what weight do you recommend for me to move her up again to 6qt and so forth?

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Until she reaches 25 grams and eats with consistency just keep her in the smaller tub, once she will be at 25 grams move her to a 6 quarts and you can than keep her there until she is 100/150 grams.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Until she reaches 25 grams and eats with consistency just keep her in the smaller tub, once she will be at 25 grams move her to a 6 quarts and you can than keep her there until she is 100/150 grams.

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Hi Deborah so my hoggie has had 6 successful meals since December... Hasn't been missing meals.. is pooping normally and peeing normally or so I thought till today. (she's at 18 grams now by the way, I weighed her today) so I'm holding her today about 20-30 minutes in she poops and urate came out too, but there was the slightest tinge of blood like mucasy kinda.. I have never seen blood on any of her poops before, should I be worried? Or is that normal, I mean it was literally a tiny bit... I checked her she has nothing crawling on her nor her enclosure nor water dish.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Until she reaches 25 grams and eats with consistency just keep her in the smaller tub, once she will be at 25 grams move her to a 6 quarts and you can than keep her there until she is 100/150 grams.

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These are the sizes I been feeding her "mouse pups" https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...15b80c9793.jpg

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Originally Posted by MinniesBuggies

Hi Deborah so my hoggie has had 6 successful meals since December... Hasn't been missing meals.. is pooping normally and peeing normally or so I thought till today. (she's at 18 grams now by the way, I weighed her today) so I'm holding her today about 20-30 minutes in she poops and urate came out too, but there was the slightest tinge of blood like mucasy kinda.. I have never seen blood on any of her poops before, should I be worried? Or is that normal, I mean it was literally a tiny bit... I checked her she has nothing crawling on her nor her enclosure nor water dish.

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Blood in stool is not normal, what I would do is have a fecal done.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Blood in stool is not normal, what I would do is have a fecal done.

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Got it! I'll have that done, thank you.

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