baby not eating

[West Coast Jungle]

If she took an assist feed it should get her metabolism and appetite going. Next time I would try leaving a live rat pinkie or mousehopper overnight if needed.

[Big Gunns]

BG doesn't hate threads like this because there's nobody going to be potentially called out as a scammer, but answer BG this. Who is the person that started the thread supposed to listen to? People are giving all kinds of advice. Well....you tell BG..who should he listen to...how does the person decide? This is a baby snake that may die if he listens to the wrong person first, so it is a critical decision that needs to be made.

BG is not saying this because he thinks this person should listen to him(that's obvious)...BG's just making a point.....and as usual....a very good one.

Don't be offended peeps with the advice you gave.....BG is sure it may have worked for you.

[illini4x4]

My 09 hatchling wasn't eating either. I tried f/t mice hoppers and f/t pinkies but he just wouldn't take them. I put a live mouse in and he downed it no problem. He now has two live feedings in him. I personally am going to try one more live then try to switch to pre-killed for a few feedings, then to f/t again. I dont know if this is how "BG" would do it but this is how "I4" is gonna try it.......

[Big Gunns]

My 09 hatchling wasn't eating either. I tried f/t mice hoppers and f/t pinkies but he just wouldn't take them. I put a live mouse in and he downed it no problem. He now has two live feedings in him. I personally am going to try one more live then try to switch to pre-killed for a few feedings, then to f/t again. I dont know if this is how "BG" would do it but this is how "I4" is gonna try it.......

This is what BG would do. Feed him regularly for a few more meals, then don't feed for a couple weeks to get him real hungry. Then bring a live smelly mouse in the room and leave it next to the cage. Get your frozen thawed very warm and try and feed him after about 30 minutes. There's a great chance this will work. This method works very well for adults also.

[dr del]

Hey BG,

Would you recommend I try aspen with my holdout hatchlings?

I have to feed F/T (it's illegal to sell mammals under six weeks of age over here and I do not breed my own as I am sadly allergic ) and if they do not take off the tongs I tend to leave it in the tub overnight.

Would aspen get too stinky overnight or would it be fine?


dr del

[Big Gunns]

Hey BG,

Would you recommend I try aspen with my holdout hatchlings?

I have to feed F/T (it's illegal to sell mammals under six weeks of age over here and I do not breed my own as I am sadly allergic ) and if they do not take off the tongs I tend to leave it in the tub overnight.

Would aspen get too stinky overnight or would it be fine?


dr del

BG would try it for sure. There's something about Aspen that helps finicky babies eat, although BG uses live.

Here is how Big Gunns discovered the miracle of Aspen. A few years back he had about 50 finicky baby balls. Yeah 50....maybe more...been a while. He had them all on paper towels or paper. BG cleaned the tubs and placed half on Aspen and the other half back on paper towels and paper. BG tried to feed them again. 90% of the Aspen babies ate...none of the others ate. He switched the others over to Aspen and 90% ate. BG has told many people to try Aspen with their finicky eaters and it almost always works when they use live fuzzie mice.

Try it Doc and see if it works. Don't worry about the smell. You may need to heat the f/t up a leeetle though. If all else fails you'll need to assist feed them.

[mcd]

Thanks all.
I'll try upping the size of the rat to a fuzzy next time, and try switching him over to aspen (all the others are currently on coconut husk).

[dr del]

Hi,

BG would try it for sure. There's something about Aspen that helps finicky babies eat, although BG uses live.

Here is how Big Gunns discovered the miracle of Aspen. A few years back he had about 50 finicky baby balls. Yeah 50....maybe more...been a while. He had them all on paper towels or paper. BG cleaned the tubs and placed half on Aspen and the other half back on paper towels and paper. BG tried to feed them again. 90% of the Aspen babies ate...none of the others ate. He switched the others over to Aspen and 90% ate. BG has told many people to try Aspen with their finicky eaters and it almost always works when they use live fuzzie mice.

Try it Doc and see if it works. Don't worry about the smell. You may need to heat the f/t up a leeetle though. If all else fails you'll need to assist feed them.

Oh



My




God.





I changed the three non-eaters over to aspen yesterday.

I also changed their hides at the same time as I had a couple of half coconuts hanging about unused.

I defrosted an extra ASF (small ) with the expectation of offering it to all three stubborn gits and throwing it away when they all refused.

The first one I tried neary took my fingers off and ate the flippin thing.



I had offered all three ASF's and half grown mice at least nine times with no success. I had assist fed them a couple of times but had offered at least twice since then.

Thank you Big Gunns.

I guess tomorrow I need to decide if I want to try a couple of half grown mice from the fresh shipment of F/T's or go with ASF's for the other two.


dr del

[dr del]

Update,

All three non-eaters have now eaten.

The other two greedily grabbed F/T half grown mice tonight with no defensive strikes or teasing or anything - even the one who didn't have his hatchling shed.




dr del

[Bruce Whitehead]

Gee Derek... wow and congrats.

I am gonna try aspen for my last 3 assist feeds, as they feed tomorrow.

What a great leeeetle (too many e`s?) tip BG.

Bruce