help...

[Gerry]

any sydney based hepers that could help me feed a 3 month old stimmy?

had her since under a month old and tried all sorts of various methods. braining, scenting with skinks, pinkies, fuzzies, pinky rats, leaving overnight.. everything.

she has absolutely no interest in food whatsoever.

she lives in a click clack (about 15cm) with a hide box. about 30 degrees in the hot end. she never gets handled.

although a last resort I really believe she will not take food without assistance which I dont want to attempt myself (hence this thread)

pls no responses about why I bought her in the first place. inexperience I guess.

anyone??

[Mr.K]

For piece of mind Gerry, try a pinky pump just to keep up the energy of the snake. It may also trigger a taste for food. Maybe also try a day old chicken wing attached to a pinkie or fuzzy?
Good luck mate

[Gerry]

yeah although I wouldnt trust myself with a pinkie pump.. thats the problem..

[rodentrancher]

Would a bit of handling help? Maybe she needs some comfort?

[Gerry]

Ive been advised not to till she feeds? maybe I should start handling. although she doesnt seem the least bit stressed. just not interested in food......

[Mr.K]

you might have to trust yourself for the sake of your snake mate? It sounds like you have tried most things. There is also a liquid stimulater mixture that you can buy from pet shops, if you could mix some of this up with a pinkie into a pump, and very carefully insert the pump and inject. Hopefully this may stimulate it to want to feed. If you cant find anyone to help you this may be one of your last resorts.

[rodentrancher]

Guess if you've been advised not to handle her, more experienced people know than me eh? Cheers

[Gerry]

thanks roden.. its hard to know. diff people always have diff advice.

BTW for anyone in sydney willing to help out, Im more than happy to pay for your time. otherwise mr K, I might just have to bite the bullet and try the pinkie pump myself..

[womas4me]

Gerry, i would advise raising the heat on your stimsons hot spot another 4-5 degrees. My hatchlings are ambient at 30 deg and hot spot of 35-37 deg. At 30 deg your baby isnt able to reach it's preferred temp. I read in possibly Ric Shine's book stimmies prefered body temp is 31. something. My would not eat until temp was high enough, now they are going great guns. This has been reccommended to you on another site by others than me also.

Raise the temp then in a few days try again. You just never know........

[rodentrancher]

Hey Gerry, once you get her eating, maybe some handling will be on the cards for you?

[Mr.K]

You'll be right mate, someone will help ya out. there are alot of good people on this site, and plenty are from Sydney.

[spooky]

Hi Gerry,
I have been told to keep their cage dark and in a very quiet spot in the house. also try some chicken broth on the pinkie, if that doesn't work a bit of pinkie tail in the mouth. From what I have heard you have to be pretty experienced to use a pinkie pump.

[spooky]

Hi Gerry,
I have been told to keep their cage dark and in a very quiet spot in the house. also try some chicken broth on the pinkie, if that doesn't work a bit of pinkie tail in the mouth. From what I have heard you have to be pretty experienced to use a pinkie pump.Definately no handling until he/she is eating.

[craig.a.c]

When I first got my stimmie she did not eat for 4 months. I gave in and gave her a live pinkie rat (I know alot of people think that its wrong but it was a last resort). Now she feeds on thawed fuzzys with no problems.

[bobcox49]

Which area do you live....i'm at Parramatta