Hognose snake baby won't eat
Like 1 Dislike 0 Published on 19 Feb 2015
I bought Ziggy at Replicon in August 2014, he was from a good breeder and he was feeding on pinkies when I bought him. I heard hognose snakes were difficult to feed sometimes and I have never had any issue with any of my other snakes (not hogs) not eating or shedding. He appears healthy, clear skin, eyes, mouth, respiratory tract, etc. but after December he started getting little hissy fits when he would eat. I would always take him out and put him in a container without substrate in a warm place. I dangled it at first b/c that's what I do with the other snakes. He didn't seem to care if I dropped it in or dangled it, so I would just plop it in the container. He would occasionally hiss at the thawed pinkie but would eat 1 or 2 right away. Then in December he just stopped. I was able to get him to eat in late Jan. by dangling the mouse with tuna juice (had to resort to this) on it and he put up the same fit so I just put some substrate in the small container, put the mouse on a paper towel and closed the lid. He ate it 30 minutes to an hour later. Tried that several times again, once every week or longer but not luck. I've thrown out so many pinkies. Tried it again tonight and the dangle didn't work, but he did eventually eat the mouse an hour later. He's been very inconsistent with eating and hasn't shed once since I've had him. I read keeping them in a small container is better than a 10 gallon while they're babies, so I've left him in the plastic container you see here with a purple bulb over it, it's about 80 degrees on the side closest to the lamp. I drilled lots of holes to keep the aspen bedding and air dry. He's super friendly and doesn't hiss when I pick him up and no he does not wheeze, I had tuna juice on that pinkie and it got on his nose. He doesn't look malnourished, but i'm concerned he isn't eating enough and really concerned he hasn't shed. I have a 17 year old corn snake that sheds every month or two like clock work... I know difference species and all but still... Any advice would be appreciated...