Syringe Feeding....

[jglass38]

i'd go ahead and try the balls of paper trick in her cage regardless. if nothing else it will make her feel more secure and more likely to eat on her own once she regains some strength from the tube feeding.

[python.princess]

awww..... poor baby! good luck with her!

[crisstyle21]

I donno but did you try and leave the pinky in her hide where she is? Also try and not provide her with any daytime lights. Keep temps at normal degree, and cover tank with towel for a couple of days. I would leave the pinky in her hide for about a day an a couple of hours.

Also when she start feeding again, try and get her a new enclosure. Try a 12qt Tub heated with flexwatt. Tubs are great for Bps, they hold humidity and provide the snake with plenty of cover from the plastic blurry walls. The tub is small and the Baby will feel safe in a tight space as a 12qt. As it grows and starts feeding on small mice I suggest switching her back to the 10 gallon.

IF THIS DOESNT WORK CONTINUE ON WITH THE TUBE FEEDING, THAT'LL BE YOUR ONLY CHANCE. WHAT YOUR GOING THROUGH IS COMPLETLY NORMAL. BABIES ARE STUBBORN AND SKINNY AND WE TEND TO WORRY DUE TO THERE SIZE. I KNOW SHE'LL BE FINE. GOODLUCK

[mlededee]

WHAT YOUR GOING THROUGH IS COMPLETLY NORMAL. BABIES ARE STUBBORN AND SKINNY AND WE TEND TO WORRY DUE TO THERE SIZE. I KNOW SHE'LL BE FINE. GOODLUCK

it isn't normal to have to tube feed a hatchling. it is normal for them to start eating on their own, even if it takes multiple attempts and methods. if the snake is too weak from malnourishment then a herp vet may recommend tube feeding as a last resort option, but it is in no way normal.

there is also no way for any of us to say that this particular snake will be fine, especially with the very limited knowledge we have of the situation. there are many reasons why she may not be feeding and sometimes it's just not something we can remedy. i'm not saying that i feel that this is the case here, just that only the qualified herp vet that is treating this snake in person can really be the judge of whether or not this situation is or isn't likely to be resolved.

[crisstyle21]

there is also no way for any of us to say that this particular snake will be fine, especially with the very limited knowledge we have of the situation. there are many reasons why she may not be feeding and sometimes it's just not something we can remedy. i'm not saying that i feel that this is the case here, just that only the qualified herp vet that is treating this snake in person can really be the judge of whether or not this situation is or isn't likely to be resolved.[/QUOTE]

Yes I totaly agree, A qualified herp vet should take full control over this, But many hatchling Bps tend not to feed due to many promblems in there living quarters. There born with a wild mind and want to be free not captive. The keeper has to treat this snake as if it came out straight out of the wild and giving it differ attention than the captive Bps.

I agree take the steps as followed by the Vet. But after that try and convert the Bp to a smaller enclosure and let the baby get used to its surrondings. So that means no picking up for atleast a week and let the baby be. Just check in once in a while and for regular cleanings and safety.

[jglass38]

There born with a wild mind and want to be free not captive. The keeper has to treat this snake as if it came out straight out of the wild and giving it differ attention than the captive Bps.

Umm..What?

[frankykeno]

There born with a wild mind and want to be free not captive.

What in the world does that mean? Snakes are not hatched with "a wild mind" verus a captive mind, whether they are hatched in my back bedroom, in a snake farm in Ghana or in a termite mound. Snakes are hatched across the board with instincts put there by nature and eons of the evolutionary process at work. Do you honestly believe that the relatively short time snakes have been bred captively has made one smidge of difference to how their "minds" work. Give me a break.

[SarahMB]

Hey Jen!
I had to go through tube feeding with the first snake we owned. At first, she was so weak that it was easy, but once she gained strength....oh boy! She learned to fight that tube so well, I still have A/D squirts on the wall in the snake room. It wasn't long after that point that she started eating, and today, just over a year later, she is nice and healthy.

[mlededee]

that's great sarah! it really is amazing how they can turn around once they regain some strength isn't it? when you said "a/d squirts" it suddenly brought back memories of the runny a/d poo that a snake has after you tube feed it... man that stuff reeks!

[SarahMB]

Haha, Emily, you are so right! I think I had blocked that from my mind until just now!