Decisions, decisions...

[MootWorm]

So, I've had this little hoggy for about 7 months now. She's been a rather finicky eater, only gaining about 20 grams whereas her brother has skyrocketed to 90g. She hasn't eaten in 6-7 weeks now. I'm starting to get a bit worried. She hasn't lost more than a gram, but she's still very small. I'll give y'all some info about her and what I've tried so far...

She's been kept in identical housing as her sib, so I don't think it's husbandry related. Both are in 6qt tubs with aspen and 1 hide, temps are good, provided by belly heat and stable, humidity is kept as low as I can get it. When I first got them, they'd only eat in a darkened container, so that's how I've been doing it since. They're on a 4 day feeding schedule. Handling is at an absolute minimum, only to clean, fill water and make sure she's alive.

For the first 4 weeks or so, I offered as I usually do. After missing around 7 feedings, I decided I needed to change things to get her eating again. I first tried moving her to a smaller deli cup, offering the same f/t pink as usual. No luck with that. Then I tried a live pink overnight, but she seemed very scared of it and wouldn't go near it. I've tried scenting with tuna juice, also a bust. Last night I scented with anole and she FREAKED OUT. Hissing and rattling, feinting at me. It was crazy. I don't want to overwhelm her with all of these new things, but I'm at a loss.

Here's some things I've read, but have yet to try:
Take away water for a week, then offer pink soaking wet, hoping thirst will encourage her.
Offering a piece of boiled egg white.
Dipping pink in egg yolk.

Should I just not worry about it, wait til she decides to eat? It could be weather-related, one of my balls has been off feed for the same amount of time (not worried about him, he's got 1kg on her). I really don't want to assist as I've read about the damage you can inflict on them. I would appreciate any suggestions.

[Crazymonkee]

I got my first hog on Oct 19th... 2 nights ago he finally ate his first pinky. I tried everything as well. Deli cup, tuna singing, live, f/t. I knew from the breeder he was a good eater ate and had eaten at least 12 meals before I bought him. But I was really getting worried because he is so tiny. 2 nights ago I left him in his enclosure and just placed the f/t in the enclosure and left it there overnight and in the morning I was presently surprised because he ate it!!!
Don't know if ya tried without the deli cup but maybe it'll work???

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[MootWorm]

Tuna singing eh? I'll have to try that next Lol yes, I forgot to mention that I've tried in the enclosure as well. I think I may just stop worrying, keep offering 1x a week and hope she eventually eats.

[Crazymonkee]

Lmao darn auto correct!! I don't even know how it got singing out of scenting???
But yes you can try singing it couldn't hurt lol

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[MootWorm]

I'll try anything once!! Lol and ya gotta love autocorrect.

[Chris633]

I hope she's eaten for you and this post is not needed. One trick I use to good effect is to dunk the pinkie and very carefully put it up to the hog's snout (hissing and striking makes this hard). The water will dribble down the pinkie onto the snout and many of mine will begin to drink and then open up and eat. Second, I like green tree frog or toad as a scent. They are very effective. Finally, if assist feeding seems necessary, I prefer tube feeding to forcing a pink. It is the least traumatic of the two IMO and will effectively stimulate their appetite. I've had many hogs that just need to get their hunger response jump started and then will feed like crazy.


Chris
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[Amaya K]

NEVER take water away from any animal. Just thought I'd start with that.

How do you feed? My Hoggie did best with tong feeding, she was an aggressive little beast who needed the movement to trigger a response.

On the otherhand, my baby corns do best when I put a very shallow tupperware dish in the tub with a pinky in it. It would always be gone by morning so I would maybe try these if you haven't already.

I feel you though, my babe was the same way when I first brought her home. Hoggies take patience when it comes to feeding. They will make you worry, make you panic, and stress you to no end, and just when you swear you're about to explode and give up, then the little snicker-butts eat. Of all my snakes I've owned or dealt with, hogs have some of the most 'tude, except maybe retics.

Scenting things you can try include frogs and lizards, although I personally do not recommend this. Even captive ones can have diseases and it makes me worry. Tuna scenting is common, depending on prey size you may even want to stuff a little tuna in the mouses mouth to really get the scent steady. My hoggie ADORES boiled egg, but I wouldn't do this until after she is eating regularly, like a treat. She might get hooked and not ever start eating mice. I assure you, this is no bizarre behavior, many a hognose has been known to pull this. Try the best you can and hang on. Let us know how it goes

[MootWorm]

There are actually quite a few of reasons to withold water from an animal Anyway, taking the water away did the trick. Hopefully she remembers how to eat next week!