Assist (sp?) feeding questions

sapphire_moon · 07-26-03, 11:48 PM

I have seen people talking about successfully assist feeding their BP's and was wondering how this was done? I have a new female bp baby (Prana) and she has refused yet another meal. I am leaving overnight opened skull, dipped in chicken broth to see if she will eat (if not the mouse will be thrown out). But she is definitly losing weight, and becoming more triangular, and I know they are supposed to be round....so any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

P.S

I have thought about taking her back, but then figured that if I can't handle this, then I might as well never get another snake!
Thank you in advance for all your help!!!!

lilyskip · 07-27-03, 12:26 AM

Well, don't give up! Have you tried different rodents? Maybe she's a rat-eating snake instead of a mouse-eating snake. You did your research, and you knew about the feeding difficulties, so it's all expected...don't get too worried.

Assist feeding is taking a whole prey item, opening the snake's mouth, and putting the food in their mouth. The idea is that actually having food in their mouths stimulates the feeding response.

sapphire_moon · 07-27-03, 12:28 AM

So then it would be a food item that is smaller than what they would normally eat?

lilyskip · 07-27-03, 12:54 AM

I don't think so. You're not trying to shove the whole prey item in it's mouth...just have most of its mouth full of prey item, so that it will kick into gear and swallow the food itself.

MontyPython · 07-27-03, 05:33 AM

Is she WC or CB? When are you trying to feed her? How are her temps and humidity? Did you see that she was eating before you bought her?

BurmBaroness · 07-27-03, 07:36 AM

I cannot stress enough...............Assist feeding and force feeding are LAST RESORTS. Too much stress for the snake. First, check your temps. A snake that is not warm enough will NOT eat. BP's should be kept at 82-83 cool side, 90-93 warm side. Too cool..........no eat. ALso, if it's a baby, it may not eat frozen. it may not even eat prekilled at first. If it's WC, it will surely not eat anything but live at first, and lots of CBB babies need to be started on live also. It's the way ball pythons are. I will tell you the method that has worked for me with non eating babies every time.

Get a live, blind (eyes not open) hopper mouse. Put the mouse and the snake in a small container, such as a deli cup with holes in it for ventilation. Do NOT leave them alone, however, try to sit where the BP won't notice you, but you can still watch. The mouse should be active, NOT a pinky or a fuzzy. The smell and the movement are what stimulates the snake to eat. Leave together for 10-15 minutes. If the snake has not eaten, remove him back to his cage, wait 4-5 days and try again. Offer too soon, and you could turn the snake even more off food. No handling, AT ALL, until it eats. If it's losing weight, I would only try this a time or 2 before going to the vet.

Chances are, it's WC, and prolly has parasites also.

sapphire_moon · 07-27-03, 06:04 PM

no not WC. CH, *rollseyes* I bought it being told it was a CB, but called back later to find the birthdate and was told that it was a ch.....I had already bought her and the "warranty" was up....I've am going to try a live pinkie this thursday/friday. I have tried to block her off so she can't see anything but it don't work. She is active, at night. She hides during the day, and about an hour after the lights go out she is out cruisin around.

Linds · 07-28-03, 12:51 AM

I agree with BurmBaroness's post, so I won't repeat what she said. But to answer the question at hand...

Assist-feeding: Place a dead prey item in the snakes mouth and the snake should take it from there. It may help to have the rodents head wet so it slides in a bit easier.

Force-feeding: Take a small prey item (about the same size as the snakes head I find works) and make sure it is well lubricated. Egg works perfectly for this. Holding the snake behind the head, gently place the rodent in the snakes mouth and using a pushing device, gently ease it down the snakes neck until it is well past their head. This is a very delicate procedure and should not be attempted by people inexperienced with procedures like this. Snakes can easy be injured if this is done improperly.

sapphire_moon · 07-28-03, 06:06 PM

Thank you....I don't plan on using this. It will be a very last last last thing.....like if she is really skinny....