Children's won't eat !!

[ratter00]

Hi Guys,
Looking for help and advice. I bought an unrelated pair of children's python's on the 14th Dec 2007 and both were in good health when I recieved them. They had both been fed 6 feeds each by the breeder.

The female has been fed thawed pinkies once a week (4 feeds)and shed once. She was 13g last week. The male has refused a feed everytime (weighs 6g) and I have nearly tried every option in the " Wiki - Getting a hatchling to feed " site. The only thing I havn't tried is live pinkies, because have been unable to source them in this area.

They are both still in the click clacks provided by the breeder and have 1/2 heat mat 32c and half cold end 26-27c. They also both have a hide box (globe box) and 2 layers of paper towel. Water bowl is at the cool end. I have not handled the male for 3 weeks.

Is there any other options I can try as I am getting worried the little fella may die of starvation. I have not contact a vet yet, but I am pretty sure no vets in my area are capapble of dealing with reptiles (though I may be wrong).

When do I start to panic?

Thanks Matt

All advice appreciated !!!

[Reptile_Boy]

well why dont you buy a male and female mouse and breed them thay have 10 babies every 6 weeks and the babies go from pinkeys (o-3 weeks) to fuzzies (3 to 10 weeks) to adult you could feeze the pinkeys you dont use and feed them to ya female

[ratter00]

I don't think I have 6 weeks as "Murph" hasn't eaten for 4 already

[DA_GRIZ]

there is an easy way to get a childreni eating and that is do get a skink to pee on the pinkie or what ever you are feeding them and see if they will take it

[Rennie]

Sorry I haven't read that page so don't know what you've tried. A month is not normally something to worry about but for a snake so young I wouldn't wait too much longer before taking it to a vet, maybe only another 2 weeks. Can you ask the breeder how they got him to eat, if he's local maybe you can take it back and he can show you how he did it.

Have you tried braining them? Get a defrosted pinkie and gently squeeze the back of its head till you feel a pop and a bit of blood comes out the nose then leave it in overnight. That smell usualy drives them nuts.

What often works for me with stubborn feeders (although they're all different so it may not work for Murph) is just generally annoying them with the mouse, try gently tickling its tail with the mouse, gently nudge their noses together, if the snake backs away follow it, if not hold it there a few seconds then push a TINY bit harder, it will generally bite it (then you just wait for it to swallow or try again when it spits).

Hope this helps
Rennie


PS Reptile_Boy, baby mice are fuzzies after 1 week not 3, by 10 weeks they are well and truly adults, what happened to the hopper and weaner stages?

[tommomotto]

have you tried feeding goldfish ,they say it works well.

[andyh]

try rubbing a gecko over the pinky first, it worked a treat for my Stimsons

[Rennie]

.

[Rennie]

have you tried feeding goldfish ,they say it works well.

Never heard that before but I have heard scenting with fish like whitebait can work just like scenting with skinks so I'll believe it. Just make sure its a small one, no fatter than the pinkies.

[ratter00]

Live pinkies be here in 1/2 hour .....found a mouse breeder......see how that goes

Thanks for the advice guys......keep you updated !!

[reece89]

good luck

[Ricko]

Also try chicken soup. cook the soup then dip the pinks in it, just the cheapo no name brands fine. have gotten olives to bhps to feed using this method before

[ratter00]

Good news guys ! Murph ate a live pinky last night. It was in there for 4 hours then i went to bed. Woke up to find him lying there with a full belly. First feed for 35 days.

[dmx69errulz]

great news good job

[happy_life]

Thats awsome, good job, now just getting him to eat fresh kill might be the next step.