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Bigdave
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
46 Posts |
 Posted - 10/03/2009 : 22:21:58
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one of my males (about 30 months old)has always been a good feeder taking a small mouse about once a week.
However he started refusing feeds about three months ago.
At first i thought it may be time of year but when i put food in he kept nudging and "tasting" it, then moving away
didnt panic too much at first as he has good body tone and seems healthy otherwise.
last few refused feeds i have fed him to make sure he doesnt start dropping weight, but i dont want to get him habitually having to be hand fed.
I have tried braing,scenting and alternating between mice sizes,rat pupsetc without success, so i have been hand feeding a couple of rat pups (litteraly holding the head of one tight against the rear of the one being eaten so it carries along thinking one long rat pup.
any suggestions would be gratefully received
out of interest if others have to Hand feed their hog I was given a good tip -hold the hog in one hand just below the head, trying to open a hoggies mouth that doesnt want to open is a lot harder than getting a corn to open up but all you do is put the mouth of the prey item over the hogs nose. it irritates the hog and they open up allowing you to insert the head of the mouse in. once the hog starts working over the head put it down and let it carryon.
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Western Hognose 5.8.1
Tri colour hognose 1.2.0
Blonde Madagascan Hognose 1.1.0
Giant Madagascan Hognose 0.1.0
Bull 1.1.0
Common Boa 1.1.0
Royal Python 1.1.1
Corns Butter1.1 Snow Sripe 0.1 Caramel 4.1
Abbots 0.1 Anery Aztec 0.1.0 Lavender stripe 0.0.1 Stripe Corn 0.2
Amel stripe 1.0 Crimson 1.0 Normal 4.4.0 Charcoal 0.1.0 Ghost 0.3
Bloodred 0.1 Snow 1.2
Hypo 0.1
3.7.0 leopard gecko
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon |
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Kazerella
Hognose Admin
United Kingdom
746 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2009 : 12:35:02
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Sounds like a good tip- I tried hand feeding Wilbur once, but he wasn't having none of it.
I think it still might be the weather that's causing it. My hoggy isn't eating either and I'm sure he will again once the summer kicks in.
It's weird with him being a male, because if he was a King snake I would say that males don't usually eat in the winter and running up to the breeding season, so don't know if the same rule applies for hoggies too.
What have you scented with? Last time mine didn't eat I got him going with pilchards. But a woman at the York Reptile Night says she uses frog/toad wee and it never fails apparently.
Might be worth a try if you have a understanding rep shop owner who would allow you to gently squeeze a few frogs.  |
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Bigdave
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
46 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2009 : 17:02:53
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tried fish, chicken and daughter leopard gecko. frog wee sounds like a good reason for me giving in to my daughter nagging for a whites tree frog, (just better not let her see me trying to get it to pee on the mouse
thanks Kazerella |
Western Hognose 5.8.1
Tri colour hognose 1.2.0
Blonde Madagascan Hognose 1.1.0
Giant Madagascan Hognose 0.1.0
Bull 1.1.0
Common Boa 1.1.0
Royal Python 1.1.1
Corns Butter1.1 Snow Sripe 0.1 Caramel 4.1
Abbots 0.1 Anery Aztec 0.1.0 Lavender stripe 0.0.1 Stripe Corn 0.2
Amel stripe 1.0 Crimson 1.0 Normal 4.4.0 Charcoal 0.1.0 Ghost 0.3
Bloodred 0.1 Snow 1.2
Hypo 0.1
3.7.0 leopard gecko
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon |
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Kazerella
Hognose Admin
United Kingdom
746 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2009 : 10:28:00
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White's are great little frogs- let her have one
Apparently they wee a lot when out of the viv anyway too. Easy hoggy scenting  |
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Technobimbo
Hatchling Hoggie
United Kingdom
156 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2009 : 20:52:00
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Yeah, but gettin' em to pee into a cup can be a bit tricky...  |
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micstarz
Snake Mite
Hong Kong
16 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2009 : 05:22:20
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Be careful though...apparently you should only use american toads for scenting. Things like dumpies, pacmans and firebellied toads could "injure" the snake, according to one of the articles I've read.
Not first hand experience, but it's worth warning you just in case. You're better off findinding a wild toad, freezing it for a few weeks to get rid of any bacteria, and rubbing the pinkie on the defrosted toad... |
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hoggy09
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
24 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2009 : 08:39:02
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| i personaly would only force feed a snake if it started dropping weight very quickly. male hoggys are a pain in the bum for going off feed. a good friend of mine has one that will only eat about every 6 months or so but he never looes much weight. i would try giving him a small egg. its worked for me. |
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Mandie
Hatchling Hoggie
185 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2009 : 09:59:47
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Bigdave I've never had to force feed a hoggie.
Males are good at pulling this stunt on their owners pigging out for mths then similar to royals bang refusing. I've had male hatchlings refuse to take their first feed until 3mths old with no ill effects and basic braining for a couple of feeds. I have a male now who's not eaten for 7 mths and counting, still sitting at 98gms active and even shed once during that time, I put him in with my girls for a day each and boy did he start to feed again------ can't think why eh lol.
For scenting I collect garden frogs, kill them, mince and freeze said concoction for a mth to ensure there is nothing alive to harm the snake THEN I use them to scent pinkies. To be honest the best method I've found is to withdraw water for a couple of days then brain a pinkie and feed dripping wet, touch them under the chin which seems to get them to drink the water then hey presto they generally strike feed. If not I re wet and leave in for a couple of days as most will feed then, unlike other snakes hognose are not adverse to taking carrion in the wild. |
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Kazerella
Hognose Admin
United Kingdom
746 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2009 : 18:58:47
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Mandie you frog killer- hope Lewy doesn't see this. He'll be upset
Good advice about the water trick though. I've heard that can work wonders. |
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Mandie
Hatchling Hoggie
185 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2009 : 18:42:45
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Oh dear he'll get over it I'm sure lol Would it help if he knew I used to work in an abbatoir or my uncles chicken farm or grew up on a dairy farm?
Have to admit being a cat owner there are a few that require dispatching after an encounter with my queen but as a saving grace I did return the baby bunny she caught to the wild last weekend! Not funny waking up to a screaming bunny on ya bed with 2 cats playing piggin in the middle with it!
Water always worked for me but relaxing until they start to loose weight is just as good you'd be amazed how long the babies can go before they decide to feed. |
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Kazerella
Hognose Admin
United Kingdom
746 Posts |
Posted - 13/07/2009 : 09:49:25
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| er abatoir - that's one job I'm glad I haven't had. It's up there with sewages worker |
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hognose360
Hatchling Hoggie
Canada
164 Posts |
Posted - 29/08/2009 : 16:07:44
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| iv tried hand feeding my snake but he wouldnt budge |
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Kazerella
Hognose Admin
United Kingdom
746 Posts |
Posted - 30/08/2009 : 09:46:05
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| I don't think hand feeding is the best- most hoggies are too shy to take it. I just leave Wilbur in his tub with his dinner and place him somewhere he can't be disturbed. |
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poor feeding
