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...I noticed my replies showed up directly one after the other, rather than nested under the person's post I was replying to. Sorry for three posts in a row from me but I didn't want to put this in with those replies....
So after reading over the information on the website that has become my sole source of information for these guys, (here: http://www.kingsnake.com/candoia/book.html), I think I'm in the situation of a non-pinkie eating neonate. It looks a bit on the thin side to me. I don't know if it has eaten at all since it was born, I was told that it was fed pinkie or fuzzy tails, either they had to force feed him, or possibly they didn't actually get any food down him yet. I'd like to avoid any force feeding on something so small and young if I can.
Yesterday I offered the smallest pinkie I could find out of a batch of 6 frozens from Petsmart. I let it thaw in room temperature then hot water to make it warm and tried dangling it around in front of him like I used to with my ball python.
Didn't take it.
Tried leaving it in with the snake for a few hours. Didn't take it. I had nothing to scent with though and have been too unsure of what exactly to get for trying this scenting method. I'm used to the purchase of tree frogs, house geckos, or anoles being to keep as pets themselves, not as feeders. If I were to acquire any of them, I doubt I could find any already frozen. The author of the articles I'm referencing mentioned this method:
"I keep a small deli cup of anoles, house geckos and green tree frogs in my freezer. Place a newborn pinkie in the deli cup with the thawed out frogs and lizards. I usually add a few drops of water to create a slightly wet broth. Let the pinkie roll around on top of the mixture for approximately 1 hour. This will allow the pinkie to absorb the scents onto its skin."
If I can only get live anoles or tree frogs perhaps I should just buy one or two of them and offer them live?
-But then if my snake does not take them, well I don't have a set up for frogs or anoles... So then perhaps I should offer a live one then if it doesn't take, put it in the freezer and use it to try the scenting method later?...
-But then there is the size difference. I've seen only one or two examples of baby Candoia eating, it looked like they could take food much larger than their body width. I'm used to most tree frogs being about the size of a quarter or more. My boa is barely the width of a pencil.
Speaking of frogs I've had this fear of getting something that could be toxic. I know there is a high risk with fish, and found a list elsewhere about which fish were toxic and which were OK for feeding snakes. But are there any similar risks with frogs so I don't get the wrong kind? Is there a potentially "wrong kind"?
One last mention citing this article again: "I have spoken with many other Candoia enthusiasts over the years who have told me of their experiences with feeding neonates. Earthworms, minnows, feeder guppies and tiny goldfish were all accepted as first meals by neonate Candoia. I personally, have used tuna fish to scent pinkies with amazing results. Neonates that accept pinkies on the first try are often the exception as most baby Candoia instinctively prefer to reach out and grab swift moving prey items such as lizards or frogs"
OK, this has me intrigued. I'd love to try earthworms, or scenting with tuna. What kind of tuna? Canned tuna? Already cooked or raw? Oy vey I have no idea. I've also heard of other meats being used for neonates... not necessarily Candoia but I'm curious if it would be possible... like liver or heart... chicken liver, or chicken heart? Has anyone else heard of this, and if so have you ever tried it?
Ok.. sorry this is long. Thanks for any helpful feedback!
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