Fed up with non-feeding hatchlings....UPDATED with SUCCESS!!

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Mike C.chondroforum

Fed up with non-feeding hatchlings....UPDATED with SUCCESS!!

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Posts: 41

(05/04/08 19:02:17)

I'm to the point that I am stressing out over 8 of my hatchlings that I can not get to feed for ANYTHING. They hatched out on 02/25/08, and all shed within a few weeks. Since then, I have been atempting to get them started on F/T pinkies with mild success. Half of the clutch is pretty established, but the others are simply not interested in eating. I have tried pinky heads only, have tried different heating tecniques, have tried scenting from a lizard, from live rats, the rats fur, and from chicken broth, and even live pinkies left in overnight, but still no success. I have been persistant, and can get strikes, but it is all defensive strikes. I'm to the point that I think a live lizard might be what it takes.

Has anyone actually had a turn in success using a frozen chick's down? I have been looking around for one thinking that might be what it takes, but is this method really that successful??

Any ideas would be helpful. I feel pretty good about getting tough neos established, but I can't for the life of them get these 8 snakes to eat. When is it time to assist feed?

**************************UPDATE 05/08/08*******************************

Just wanted to say THANK YOU to all that offered a suggestion. Today I received some chick down from Aaron, and I tried thawed out pinkies with that stuff all over them and ALL the non feeders(with the exception of one that was grounded and wasn't interested anyway) took to them like CLOCKWORK! I was simply FLOORED at how little effort it took, once the right scent was offered. I have been trying and trying for days, and then tonight they just all said "okay, let's eat!". To anyone trying to get babies established, I highly recommend this scent, as they seem to take to it naturally. Thanks again!

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Mike C /
mclark202@insightbb.com /
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Last Edited By: Mike C 05/08/08 18:28:42. Edited 1 time.

RFK38

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Posts: 37

(05/04/08 19:12:15)

MVF Post Breeder

Raw strips of chicken... works like a charm.

Good luck,

Bob

Sony Raju

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Posts: 1005

(05/04/08 19:47:42)

Forum Ultra Chondro!

either chicken strips.................or just do what a good buddy of mine does, put em in the freezer! j/k

davidnj

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Posts: 925

(05/04/08 20:38:31)

Forum Ultra Chondro!

Chick down is the supposed #1 thing used for scenting. I'd probably start thinking about assist feeding at this point if chick down does not work. You will want to start with pink heads since once you get them in the snake's mouth its much more difficult for them to find the leverage to get it out. After attempting to dislodge the head and not having success, they will swallow. Good luck.

BuddyBuscemi

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Posts: 370

(05/05/08 03:22:29)

MVFonator

Mike

I feel your frustration!!!!!
I have 7 great feeders out of 17 from my latest clutch, and I have lost all of my non feeders.
Here are a few other things to try.... hamster fur, gerbil fur, rubbing a pink on a live frog, pinks dipped in egg yolk, hatchling quail down, but the number one scent for me has been chick down.
Let me know if you need some chick down...pm me with your address and I'll mail some to you.
I'd start assist feeding today.

Fingers are crossed and I hope you better luck than I have had.

Buddy B

Last Edited By: BuddyBuscemi 05/05/08 03:26:02. Edited 1 times.

Blue Ridge Biological

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Posts: 430

(05/05/08 05:31:25)

MVFonator

Try everything suggested and hope one of them triggers the feeding response. Chick down did absolutely nothing for a non-feeder here, but when I tried the same animal with scent from raw chicken, it tongue flicked and launched off the perch to grab the pinky. It was obviously hungry but just waiting for the right prey scent to come along. It has never refused a meal since.
Will

Kim Heller

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Posts: 1797

(05/05/08 05:48:52)

Forum super duper Ultra Chondro!

Send them here. I'd do anything to have Chondro babies and the feeding challenges.

Try the chicken. A small piece, dipped in hot water. I had a young Chondro that needed to be kicked back into feeding mode. He turned his nose up at rodents, and as soon as he was offered chicken, he nailed it.

Best of luck, Mike

Kim

"Wow, that is a hot snake, I would definitely hit that."

John Romano

Ben Team

Beer

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Posts: 941

(05/05/08 07:47:27)

Forum Ultra Chondro!

Beer is the number one most effective scenting substance in my experience. See, if I can smell my beer on the same table as the chondros, then I don't get so skittish, and I work at the feeding trials longer.

I haven't established that many babies (less than 50) but I would suggest that in my limited experience, pissing them off may be the best tactic.

In my experiences the good feeders eat because they are hungry, the non-feeders just don't seem hungry - rather they eventually eat because I pester them with a rodent head for 20 minutes or more. I have never had a scent transfer work, although I have had live lizards or frogs work. Avian scents have never worked for me, but many people have great success (which has always struck me as odd, because there is no way in hell a baby chondro is choking down a bird).

There is a bit of a technique involved...I like to bump them on their sides and when they turn to bite whatever is bothering them, I stuff the pink head in their mouth. Sometimes changing the direction of the pink head or where you aim in the mouth can help. After they take it be completely still, and cross your fingers.

Mike C.chondroforum

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Posts: 42

(05/05/08 12:23:54)

Okay, I am opening up raw chicken here in 5 minutes to try that, as that never crossed my mind. Aaron is sending me some Chick down(Right Aaron??) to try as well. I really appreciate everyones input as it has given me some ideas.

Buddy, Sorry for the bad luck, it seems our two clutches are earily similar, both laid and hatched near the same time, with the same amount of babies. Hopefully I can get some better feeding responses here. I'll report back as soon as I can.

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Mike C /
mclark202@insightbb.com /
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cleve360

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Posts: 738

(05/05/08 12:31:19)

Forum Ultra Chondro!

Sometimes holding the pink absolutely still without teasing will work on some neos, especially runners.

Also, heating to 100 degrees or so.

whitehillreptile

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Posts: 10

(05/05/08 13:12:13)

i dont know if i have posted this here before or not, but i have had the best feeding response on just about everything by scenting with tuna juice. just drain a can of white albacore (in water) over what ever it is you trying to use as food. dry it off so it is not dripping wet and see what happens. i dont know why this works, all i know is that everything that i have ever had that refuses to eat tends to take to this like a duck to water.

FWIW
Tre' Hill

"But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world...You are responsible, forever, for what you have tamed." -- Antoine de Saint-Exupery --

Mike C.chondroforum

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Posts: 43

(05/05/08 18:39:55)

Well I tried the raw chicken with limited results. I got ONE of the non feeders to take a pinky that had been sitting in the chicken juice, so it is somewhat successful. I wasn't able to get any of the other 6 to take any. I actually tried to "assist feed" one, but couldn't even get that to work. They are just too delicate or I am just too clumsy. I guess tomorrow I will try the tuna fish since I can get that easily.

Thanks for all the ideas and keep them coming!

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Mike C /
mclark202@insightbb.com /
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rksmrz

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Posts: 15

(05/05/08 22:00:04)

I keep my own mice/rat colonies. For me at least, there doesnt seem to be a snake that can refuse a lively pinky just pulled off mama's nipple.

aaron florian

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Posts: 2667

(05/08/08 19:01:59)

Forum super duper Ultra Chondro!

Mike, call me tomorrow

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230 (c)(1) ... it's what's for breakfast

aaron florian

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Posts: 2675

(05/09/08 20:12:23)

Forum super duper Ultra Chondro!

Happy to help. I rarely have any luck with down (Tenderloin excluded), but glad that was the "trigger" for those guys.

So what are you going to do with all this "free time" you'll have every night?

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230 (c)(1) ... it's what's for breakfast

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Fed up with non-feeding hatchlings....UPDATED with SUCCESS!!

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