Syringe Feeding....

[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.

[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!

[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.

[JenHarmon]

Well, we have tried ALOT of advice with this particular snake. She won't feed on her own no matter what we have tried. I wanted to make that clear. It's not like this is the first snake I have ever owned. I do have a very qualified herp vet helping me with this snake. He said that if we do NOT syringe feed her that she WILL die. She has no feeding response what so ever. No matter what we have tried to feed her or how we have tried to feed her. He has assured me that my temps and humidity is correct and that I should NOT move her into another inclosure as it will stress her out more and we don't need that right now. We are to continue the syringe feeding until we get her going again..if we do. There are not any guarantees that she will live through this. She is in critical condition from what he has said. He said I could take her up to his clinic and THEY would do what I'm doing so I wouldn't have to but it would cost some big bucks. SO, since I KNOW how to do this per his instructions and she has been at my house in her own cage since she got here, he says she is less likely stressed out where I have her. I have her cage kept the way he told me to do and we will take it one day at a time. She doesn't use any of her hides that i have provided. She'd rather lay by her water bowl or behind her hides or under the newspaper. She's kept where there is very minimal activity. The only time I am handling her is when I syringe feed her. I don't have to handle her to do her water. Her cage is kept clean. Thank you to all who have replied and given advice but I am going with what my vet is having me do. He said that next Monday when it's feeding day for all my snakes, to offer her something. He says hopefully she will be energized more and ready for it.

[mlededee]

good luck with her jen. when i had to tube feed my girl it took a while, but her feeding response finally did kick in, and after that she never missed a meal. sadly she had some other problems beyond the feeding issues and didn't make it, but just know that this can and may very well work for your snake and bring her around to start feeding on her own. every once in a while a snake is a slow starter for whatever reason and just needs a little help.

[Kagez28]

just curious... how much did she weigh when you started to tube feed? i have a girl i got almost 4 weeks ago, she was 60 grams. now she is down to 48. i have tried the things everyone has suggested in this thread and multiple not eating threads. i was just wondering how much you girl lost before you took her to the vet. if my girl doesn't eat her next feeding day, thursday, i will get her to a vet.