Quote Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny View Post
The thing is, he will not swallow ANYTHING. Just because its live or an asf won't make this problem better. He can't swallow anything and that is why we have to use a pinky pump or tube feedings to get some weight on him. He can't even swallow a day old mouse pink. He sat with it in his throat for over 24 hours! He finally spat it back out. And after all of that, he starts getting dehydrated. He can't handle a whole prey item yet. If he starts gaining weight with the pinky pump and tube feedings, then we can try and get him a little larger and try a mouse pink again.
My thinking is that he may have a much better swallowing response if he killed the prey and was in feeding mode instead of a prey item just being shoved into his mouth. I think it's at least worth a try. I wouldn't give up on him eating naturally after only one attempt. Either way, good luck with him.

Do you have a pic from the side that shows the upper kink? It seems almost impossible to me that he could not swallow a day old mouse pink if he really wanted to. I just hatched out a 30 gram snake that was eating mouse hoppers as it first meal. I know yours has some special circumstances, but I think if the pinky pump can get down his throat a day old pink should be able to as well.