Milksnake not eating. ='(

[Juxtaroberto]

Well, I got a baby milk snake about a week ago, except no where I went had pinky mice, so I wasn't able to feed her right away. Yesterday I finally found a place with pinky mice, so I bought two and brought them home to her.

She slithered up to them, scented them, even slithered OVER them, but didn't eat them. I once heard someone say that you can stimulate their hunger by taking a needle and pricking the tip of the pinky's nose so that the smell of blood attracts the snake, but it didn't work either.

So now I've got two pinky's in the freezer and a snake that hasn't eaten in over a week.

She's got plenty of water, she's got this little half-coconut that's like a cave where she can hide, and there's a nocturnal heat lamp over one side of the tank to keep her warm...

What's wrong?

 

[davo]

warm up the pinkie a bit (assuming it's dead) and wriggle it infront of her (like make it dance). The half coconuts are pretty big esp. for a little snake, tight and crammed is best... try something like half a toilet roll core or something similar. Helps them feel more secure. What are the temperatures (both coolest and warmest)?
Don't start worrying yet.

 

[dde1878]

davo has a good point. small and cozy is the best. when you say baby how long are we talking?

 

[Colubrids&Boids]

all you need to do is warm them up and wiggle them in front of your snake, she should respond with a strike and will proceed to eat the mouse if that doesnt work than i cant help

 

[Louie]

I agree with all if she hasnt eaten in a week its no big deal at all ESP for milks.

Live pinkie might easily do it but since you have 2 frozen pinks . Try feeding again in a week or so not before.
Thaw out the pinkie warm it up and place it in deli cup with breathing holes with the milk over night leaving it in his tank just incase he escapes the container.
You said baby thus I assume deli cup size ?

The "brained" method IMO means nothing to milks or kings . Seems to work with boas.

I keep mt kings and as baby some have been hard to feed but live pinkie in deli cup overnight with baby snake usually works if all else fails.

I fed difficult feeders once every 10 to 14 days NOT before or they seemed to become "afraid" of pinkie. Once eating okay than go once a week or so .

 

[Berber King]

I find warm pinks,chopped in half often get kings and milks going.You dont mention any thermostat on your viv,check your temps are correct.

 

[Juxtaroberto]

Okay, the warm side is 82 F and the cool side is about 75 F. I replaced the paper towels at the bottom with wood shavings and she immediately began slithering under it, burrowing, and it really helps with the "tight and crammed" thing they seem to crave.

I'm going to try to feed them again to her next week.

Oh, by Baby I mean about 9 inches or so.

 

[Chad55]

I got one of the plastic water catches for a ceramic plant pot and my corn snake loved it. His favorite hide and it met all the requirements. He used it from the time he was bout 9" and still tried to fit under it when he was almost 2'. You REALLY need to go smaller on the hide and make sure he has two. One on the warm side one on the cold side. Only way to get them to eat is to make them feel comfy. And don't worry its only been a week. Give it another week to get comfortable and you won't be able to get him to STOP eating

Chad

BTW for a baby those temps are pretty good but I would maybe bring the warm side up another 5 degrees as long as you can keep it cool on the other side.

 

[Louie]

by the way what type Milk is it?

 

[varanio]

You can also try and dip the pinky in some egg yolk... it works well and a few friends that of mine that breed snakes, use this method to get stingy eaters to eat.