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neo Copperhead still not eating
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by challenger on October 4, 2004
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I hate to continue to expose my ignorance however I need to ask for recommendations for my new born Copperhead. It has not eaten since I found it 2 wks ago. The best guess I can make is it was maybe a few days old when I found it. It hass invenomated several food items both live and thawed out but shows no inteterest in eating. It looks very healthy still and stalks the anoles I have in the cage but doesn't eat them? Should I look at force feeding it a pinky? I have an expert close by that I may be able to consult regarding this. It is really nice looking and I would like to raise it for a year or so and let it go in a game preserve owned by the state.
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RE: neo Copperhead still not eating
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by ALA_herp31 on October 4, 2004
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Im no expert by all means, but it mite be the anoles making him / her nervous. Just a idia, sorrryy i cant help anymore, but you mite want to removing the anoles to see if that will help. Good luck with the baby, hope things work out........happy herping Wally
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RE: neo Copperhead still not eating
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by Phobos on October 4, 2004
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Hi:
Don't keep it if you plan to release it next year. It's most likely a death sentence. Let it go now.
Neo-copperheads are difficult to get to feed, so don't feel bad.
Try braining the pinky and then tease feeding. Make sure the snake is plenty warm. Try feeing at night will sometimes work.
Neo-coppers are known to eat baby toads, so if you can find some, give it a try.
Good Luck,
Al
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RE: neo Copperhead still not eating
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by HotHerper1 on October 5, 2004
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I fully agree with biff, and Phobos. keeping a WC snake that you plan to release later is a complete death sentance. Especially with Copperheads. If you want to keep it at all, keep the snake forever, or let it go to allow nature to take its course. Also try to release the snake within a kilometer or two of where you found it. if thats not possible look up a local snake relocation service or get in contact with the person you mentioned in your question. The only way I've ever gotten neo Copperheads to start feeding was to brain the pinky... and keep the pinky as small as possible to get it started. once you've established an eating pattern (one small pink every 7-10days) try not braining the pink for a few weeks. then you can slowly raise the prey size. Young Copper frighten really easily, and once a prey item has "spooked" them, they will have nothing to do with it. Good luck, and happy herping.
Michael
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RE: neo Copperhead still not eating
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by challenger on October 5, 2004
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Thanks for all the help. If I can get it to eat I will try and keep it. If I decide to let it go is it still OK from a seasonal standpoint? It still gets into the 80's here but nights are getting coooler. I ussually have millions of toads in the rroad when it rains but have not seen any lately. What about force feeding? Is this an option if I can get my local guy to do it? Obviously I screwed up taking it from the wild but now that I've made this bed I want the best for the little guy and letting him go near where I found him IMO would also be a death sentence.
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RE: neo Copperhead still not eating
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by Phobos on October 5, 2004
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Howard:
Force feeding is of course an option but as a last resort for two reasons:
1)Very dangerious for the snake. Getting food in the windpipe instead of the esophagus or actually perforating the esophagus with a tool or food. In both cases fatal.
2) Very dangerious for you for obvious reasons. To successfully force feed you can't keep a tight, safe grip on the snake and get the food down the gullet. The snake may requrgitate the food when your done feeding anyway.
Best,
Al
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RE: neo Copperhead still not eating
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by challenger on October 6, 2004
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Well now I have a rather odd question. I presented a brained pinky to him and as soon as he "tasted" it he hit it three times. Unfortunetly it got cought temporarilty on thetool I was holding it with and when I let it go it sat there forwell over an hour. I moved it closer to him but again it set there. I came in this AM and it was gone so my question is could he have eaten itafter such a long time? I also have crickets in the container and they were
picking at it. It may be my mind but he looks a little fatter in the middle. Any input is appreciated and thanks for all the advice.
BTW I went back to wheree I found him to look for any others and / or a birthing place but didn't find anything but good snake habitat.
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RE: neo Copperhead still not eating
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by Phobos on October 6, 2004
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Howard:
He/she ate it, no question. Snakes will carion feed on flesh killed animals in the wild. I will leave f/t feeders in the cage overnight sometimes for stubborn snakes. Give the Copper at least 3 days and feed again. You turned the corner mate!
Al
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RE: neo Copperhead still not eating
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by challenger on October 7, 2004
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I too feel he has eaten it as he has been resting (digesting) for the whole day. I have an oportunity to get some pregnant mice for fresh pinkies. I have done this before and it can get a bit out of hand for one snake but in this case I may make a deal-w--the pet shop so I can get this snake eating well and then rid myself of the burden/smell of disgusting rodents.
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