has anyone tried "braining" a mouse with success?

[ginandbradley]

Bradley isn't eating and Im trying to pull out all stops before trying more, erm, forceful methods. He is underweight and the vet advised me that he needs to be fed asap. Like as in, bring him back in if he doesn't eat by Friday. If youve never heard of braining, its making a little incision in the skull so that some brain matter comes out...

[brother713]

ive done it to a f/t mouse with success. never with a live one

[llovelace]

He won't take hopper mice?

[brother713]

you can also try braining a FT mouse/rat and rubbing the brain matter on the live mouse

[ginandbradley]

Tried 3 sizes: pinky, fuzzy, hopper. Not even a little bit interested, he almost looked like he was trying to hide from it. I set one on top of the log in the warm part of the tank where he likes to hang out and left for a couple hours, when I got back the mouse was gone and I started rejoicing- but he had just pushed it off so he could sit there. I found it behind the log upon further inspection. The fuzzy was the only live size I tried. I got it from the pet store I got him from, he was raised on their pinkies.
I wouldnt have the heart to brain a live mouse, ew... it's freshly killed. The same fuzzy that i tried live.

[llovelace]

Give him live hoppers, then move up in size. Once he has put on some weight, you can try f/t

[snakesRkewl]

If I felt I had the need to brain a rat to feed a snake my hobby days would be over....

[Maixx]

Tried 3 sizes: pinky, fuzzy, hopper. Not even a little bit interested, he almost looked like he was trying to hide from it. I set one on top of the log in the warm part of the tank where he likes to hang out and left for a couple hours, when I got back the mouse was gone and I started rejoicing- but he had just pushed it off so he could sit there. I found it behind the log upon further inspection. The fuzzy was the only live size I tried. I got it from the pet store I got him from, he was raised on their pinkies.
I wouldnt have the heart to brain a live mouse, ew... it's freshly killed. The same fuzzy that i tried live.

Do you trust this pet store? The crew at the local Petco is told to say "2 days ago" if they are ever asked about when their snakes ate last. I believe that the snake I got from them never ate, and is a very problematic feeder for me. She will only eat fresh killed mice (or live but I'm in the group that refuses to feed live).

Did the vet do a fecal exam. They can also give injections of vitamin b to stimulate feeding, and make sure there are no parasites that could be stopping him from eating.

[ginandbradley]

To snakesrkewl: Haha, really? I love your profile pic, by the way... it is way funny.
I know alot of people on here are herp experts and professionals, but all the reptile professionals I consulted and the veterinarian said to give him fuzzies. I'm certainly willing to try hoppers, I'm trying anything and everything til friday. Then it's back to the vet. I just want him healthy! I haven't been able to enjoy him yet, with the bad shed, and the not eating and all.... poor little bud, I really feel like I'm letting him down as an owner...

[ginandbradley]

I do trust the pet store, but I'm a naturally un-cynical person, sometimes to a fault. But they do have little index cards on all the snake tanks detailing sheds and feedings. So that looked promising... they are very knowlegeable and the guy that owns the store is a breeder. Its a reptile specialty store. (with one disgusting centipede that eats mice!!! Just thought I'd throw that in there...)
oh yeah, and also she said to bring in a fecal sample at Bradleys soonest convenience, so thats coming... I guess...