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Cool neonate force feeding technique
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by Phobos on February 24, 2005
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I wish to thank Kristen of the Kentucky Reptile Zoo for this one. I don't think she'll mind if I share it will everybody. It's new to me but maybe others already use it, anyway I thought it was wayyy cool.
I was discussing with her how difficult it was to force feed neonates in particular a T. purpureomaculatus I am raising. That's the meanest little snake I've ever come across. My Sawscales are a lot more friendly than this little gal!
As everyone knows this is a dangerous proceedure for the keeper & the snake. If it goes wrong, one of you will be either hurt or dead. It's something I dread doing but as we all know there will always be problem feeders.
The problem is holding them securely and gently getting the food item down past the jaws with out getting bite or hurting the snake. I found that "Tubing" the snake allowed it to slip back and not have sufficient resistance to push the food in past the jaws. Although this was safe compared to holding the snakes it just was not working well. I found "tubing" works well for medicating an animal though. I have a pinky press too but I don't like it either. The mouse "goo" can squirt past the cannula into their mouth and maybe into the lungs.
What Kristen suggested from her work with Jim was to use a "Foam Paint Brush" that you would find in a stores paint department. Using the brush as a "Pinning Stick" on the "Rubbermade Foam mat", which snakes can't seem to move well on. I was able to immobilize the little sucker and quite gently force a pinky past it's jaws WITHOUT it hurting ME and no harm to the Snake.
Thanks Kristen for the nice tip :-)
Al Coritz
www.neavb.org
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RE: Cool neonate force feeding technique
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by LarryDFishel on February 24, 2005
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When our saw-scales were born, a long time hot keeper suggested a similar solution. He suggested sandwiching the snake between two sponges. This worked great as far as immobilizing the snake's whole body easily and safely, although I still had no luck getting pinkys (parts actually) down them. They would spit them out no matter what. This may have been partially because I was a little too worried about hurting the little snappers, and I should have worked on pushing things down a little farther... The trick turned out to be just a matter of finding the right food. After having them not touch anything for several weeks, the first time I put crickets in with them about half of them immediately went into seek and destroy mode, grabbing the crickets (which seemed bigger than them) and eating them while I watched... I only kept one of them, but it was close to a year before he would eat anything else. Then all of a sudden he decided pinkies sounded OK, and he's been eating like a champ ever since.
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RE: Cool neonate force feeding technique
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by Phobos on February 24, 2005
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Hi Larry:
I was told by Thomas E. that Echis neonates took crickets from the get go. Thanks for the additional info. I've read many accounts of Echis populations in the wild and felt the would be good garbage disposals. It sort of makes sense, insects are fairly plentiful in most biomes and really packed with protein. This must fuel the massive #'s of Echis that can be found in their ranges. One very curious thing I read was they love to climb in low bushes. In some places the authors saw as many as 20 specimens in one bush. Mine also like to climb, something I'm not crazy about but I often find them in the small bushes I have in their cage for "decoration" mostly since I have some stacked flat rocks for hiding spots.
Cool! I don't know many people that keep Echis but I really like them and find their temperment more shy than agressive. I have to work hard to get mine to "Saw".
Cheers!
Al
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RE: Cool neonate force feeding technique
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by LarryDFishel on February 24, 2005
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I'll have to try giving him a branch. I never even considered that. I made him a small hide (a plastic plant pot tray, cut in half), but he never uses it, except maybe to hide BEHIND it. Unfortunately, his favorite hiding spot is behind the lip at the front of the cage...
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RE: Cool neonate force feeding technique
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by TAIPAN78 on February 28, 2005
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Hi Al,
Neat trick. I will have to try it if I have any Aspidelaps neos this year that dont want to feed (though I doubt it:-) They usualy eat great!)
On a side note, want a juvi T.purp for free?!?!?! LOL It eats very well and is the meanest snake I have ever known. I mean ever! Thing makes most polylepis look like Pituophis!!!! LMAO!
Take care man and the paper is on its way.
Adios,
Jeremy
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