Thoughts on force/assist feeding.

[spilota_variegata]

What do you guys/gals think about the subject of force feeding? Do you think it stresses the snake? Do you think it has an effect in the eventual unassisted feeding process?

I for one don't think it does and have always got my snakes feeding within a few assisted feeds - when assistance was warranted. The snakes always seem to feed on their own within a couple of feeds and don't seem too disturbed about the assistance the had received. I've never had a snake complain yet

What are your thoughts?

BTW, I'm talking about both assisted and forced feeding.

[$NaKe PiMp]

starving causes more stress than an assist or forced feed lol.

some species require this proces especially elpaids,to get them feeding on a captive diet,and if done properly has no negative effect.

[pythonmum]

I've 'force fed' a couple of hatchies to get them going. They are now growing well and on a fast to inspire them to eat without any extra assistance . It's better than starving to death, as Rob says. In a wild situation most of the hatchies would die. We are in an artificial situation anyway, so I don't see a problem with assistance as long as the animal is otherwise healthy.

[Torah]

My 1st experiance assist feeding ended up with my baby eating alone ! So I think its a good thing to try but believe it may vary with individual snakes as I had alot of people telling me it was the wrong thing to do etc...

< This was taken after an assist feed on a rats tail ...

[longqi]

It can stress the snake but they usually settle down quickly enough
Food in the guts is better than starving but a few hatchies dont seem to understand that very well

recently I began to wonder about exactly this question
If nature allows the silliest/weakest to die as hatchlings because otherwise they might weaken her gene pool
are we doing the right thing by trying to save them??

[Torah]

It can stress the snake but they usually settle down quickly enough
Food in the guts is better than starving but a few hatchies dont seem to understand that very well

recently I began to wonder about exactly this question
If nature allows the silliest/weakest to die as hatchlings because otherwise they might weaken her gene pool are we doing the right thing by trying to save them??

I thought about this too but I'm not convinced "Harper" is weak or silly I think she just needed to feel secure , "Harper" is the only experiance Ive had with assist feeding and I found as soon as she settled with handling she started eating no probs , her first unassisted feed was 2 pinkies so she was hungry but unsure of leaving herself open to predators I guess while eating , once she figured out I was no threat she was happy to eat with me watching and even taking afew pix .. Theres no way in hell I would have just accepted she wasnt eating so she will die ... ... I reakon Id make an okay living off assist feeding other peoples hatchys that couldnt be bothered or just didnt have the time ..... Anyone got any non feeders I can have a go at lol

[longqi]

While I completely agree that it would be virtually impossible to watch anything die of starvation without trying to help it I still feel the question is possibly a valid one
It would need a zoologist/geneticist etc who has access to lab equipment to prove it one way or another and would require a very long study over several generations

Actually I do have a little problem one right now
More than welcome to give it a go if you like
About 3.5 metres of pretty angry retic that doesnt want a feed yet

So drop in anytime
I will even get a few bandages in before you come

[Torah]

^ lol Im keen . Damn scars are hott arnt they , mind you not really in my line of work but Im up for the challenge .. Should be over in afew months anyway lol ... This time I may just stay .... Much for rent near poppies or in ubud atm ???

[SamNabz]

I thought about this too but I'm not convinced "Harper" is weak or silly I think she just needed to feel secure , "Harper" is the only experiance Ive had with assist feeding and I found as soon as she settled with handling she started eating no probs , her first unassisted feed was 2 pinkies so she was hungry but unsure of leaving herself open to predators I guess while eating , once she figured out I was no threat she was happy to eat with me watching and even taking afew pix .. Theres no way in hell I would have just accepted she wasnt eating so she will die ... ... I reakon Id make an okay living off assist feeding other peoples hatchys that couldnt be bothered or just didnt have the time ..... Anyone got any non feeders I can have a go at lol

Don't mean to be a pain Torah, but didn't you only get that darwin a couple of weeks ago? Surely there was absolutely no need to force feed her that early as she was most probably still settling in... Unless she was bought as a problem feeder?..

[ezekiel86]

after seeing " lucky the Albino it put me off ..

[Torah]

Don't mean to be a pain Torah, but didn't you only get that darwin a couple of weeks ago? Surely there was absolutely no need to force feed her that early as she was most probably still settling in... Unless she was bought as a problem feeder?..

She was bought as a non-feeder , had never eaten !

[hugsta]

It can stress the snake but they usually settle down quickly enough
Food in the guts is better than starving but a few hatchies dont seem to understand that very well

recently I began to wonder about exactly this question
If nature allows the silliest/weakest to die as hatchlings because otherwise they might weaken her gene pool
are we doing the right thing by trying to save them??

I do believe we "weaken" the gene pool as such, but, what would actually survive in the wild...?? We are rasing them in a captive environment, so they do not have access to their normal behavioral patterns or food types. They are put in a small container and fed a dead food item.

[Torah]

after seeing " lucky the Albino it put me off ..

huh ?

[$NaKe PiMp]

It can stress the snake but they usually settle down quickly enough
Food in the guts is better than starving but a few hatchies dont seem to understand that very well

recently I began to wonder about exactly this question
If nature allows the silliest/weakest to die as hatchlings because otherwise they might weaken her gene pool
are we doing the right thing by trying to save them??

its not about feeding the weakest/smallest , it is getting to feed young snakes that are not acustomed to a captive diet of rodents where in the wild they would be taking frogs and small skinks,with out scenting/assist/forced feeding would not accept the prey item.
most Elapids are the best example as they are smaller and take alot longer to grow than do pythons to a size where they can eat even pinkie mice

[longqi]

I can understand exactly what you mean when it comes to feeding various snakes a different diet than their natural one