| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| tango |
Posted - 21/05/2012 : 13:08:17
i have acquired two hatchings, one had retained skin on and is a bit under weight the other looks ok and slightly under weight both have refused to take food in the past,i have managed to put food to there mouths and they ate put not taking off the floor or dangled. yes i have brained and chicked the food. is there anything else i could do or is it just a waiting game? |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Snakesitter |
Posted - 25/05/2012 : 23:27:19
Good move on the bath! The second one sounds promising as well. :-) However, this will be four shed in a month or so for the first one, and that still worries me. |
| tango |
Posted - 25/05/2012 : 21:50:35
the first one is deep in shed, so i am going to give her a good soak and keep a good watch over her, oh i forgot to say that i have given her a bath in critical care formula to give her a bit of a boost. the second looks like she is just about to go into shed so hopefully will eat after shed fingers crossed, |
| Snakesitter |
Posted - 25/05/2012 : 20:50:51
Three sheds in two weeks is *NOT* normal. I would take them both to an herp vet: the first one because of the shedding issue, and the second one to make sure she has has not caught whatever the first one might have. In the meantime, it may be a hydration issue, so make sure they have constant access to water and are soaking regularly (in fact, force the first one to soak if you have to). If you can get them to eat again, all the better (but remember to do so at least five days before your vet visit). |
| tango |
Posted - 24/05/2012 : 15:54:54
i was given them by a shop as they didn't have the time to work with them, my mistake yes they are brbs,
one has shed three times in two weeks but has dry skin and appears to have very little oils in the skin and has gone into shed again ?? the other one looks fine, nice and shiny skin but does not food as food haven't tried live yet, but she goes up to the food pushes it then turns away. |
| Snakesitter |
Posted - 23/05/2012 : 20:59:05
You said "acquired" when describing how you came into these two. I hope that means adopted or given, because no good store or breeder should sell a non-feeding animal. If they did, you should call them on it.
BTW, you also said "hatchlings." What kind of snakes are these?
Assuming they are Brazilians, have you tried live mouse hoppers? Nothing gets a baby Brazilian excited like that particular meal. If they refuse, feed them again by assisting (use dead prey though). Sometimes I've heard examples where it just takes a baby a while to warm up to the idea of food.
As for the sheds...sometimes babies do skip their first shed, but it is not common. Has the other one shed at all? |
| tango |
Posted - 21/05/2012 : 22:29:30
i believe that one has eaten twice and then went into shed but did not shed then didn't eat then went into shed again? i have soaked her and with help removed a layer of skin looks like there is still another there, the other one has never eaten on own only with help? she does not see the food as food just ignores it. |
| Snakesitter |
Posted - 21/05/2012 : 21:45:55
Tango, were they eating for the prior owner? If so, what and how often? Whatever he offered may be what they now prefer. Get a few of *his* meals in them to get their weight up, and only then start weaning them to what *you* want to offer. As for the retained shed, let the animal soak for an hour, then place it in a damp pillowcase overnight within its own cage. Hopefully the skin will come off. Good luck! |
