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Is my snake mentally "special"?

S

skinofsin

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I had a clutch of western hognose babies born in June. All ate without issue except one who had absolutely no interest in food. We left her alone for a month and a half, offering her food occasionally but with no success. We tried braining, scenting with numerous different things (fish, salamanders, frogs, chicken, egg), leaving her with it in a deli cup... no luck. We eventually started force feeding her pinkie heads just to keep her alive when she started getting skinny with loose skin. There have been a few times recently while handling her that she's nuzzled into my clothing, like normal, but then opened her mouth and tried to eat my shirt. I caught her in time and offered her a mouse instead thinking she's hungry but she still wasn't interested. Im wondering if she's a little.... 'special'? It's been 3 times shes tried to bite my shirt, different shirt everytime, clean with no smells, and its the only time I see her open her mouth. She shows NO interest in food, sometimes even hissing at it. Temps are fine, her and her siblings are all housed the same and they eat like champs. Is there something wrong with her or will she grow out of it?
 
Some snakes aren't meant to thrive and continue on. Sometimes there is a baby that just won't eat, no matter what you try and do. IMO if this happens (and it has happened to me) it is your responsibility to determine when a baby should be euthanized, and have it's suffering ended. That might not be the answer you want, but not all babies grow out of it.
 
That doesn't sound good :( Babies not eating I've heard a lot about and everyone said she'd eat on her own eventually. It's the fact that she doesn't seem to know food and keeps trying to eat clothing that makes me think she's a little ssssslow, but I can't find anything online of anyone else having this problem. She's a sweet little girl who enjoys being handled and, apart from not being interested in food, seems happy so I'm not really willing to euthanize her just yet. :\ Wait n see I guess.
 

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Clearly she has an interest in eating something, since she tries on your shirts; you just haven't figured out what, yet. (though it could be the texture, as much as anything else).
No, waiting does not always work - some babies will fail to eat/thrive, despite our efforts (as was stated above). Sometimes you can get them through this phase, and they'll do well; sometimes you can get them eating only to find that they don't grow well & die in their first year.
Do you have any other pets that might have scented the shirts?
You could try washing a pink or fuzzy, then putting it in your shirt for an hour or so before presenting it - that would at least help determine if it is a scent or texture that is triggering her response.
 
Speaking to texture, when you offered her rodent-based food, did you do so with the fur of a more developed animal or with a more "nude" younger animal (which is my assumption due to size)? I am wondering if that would help. Like if you offered a mouse's thigh with the fur on (you playing butcher in this scenario).

Have you tried small toads? I know you mentioned frogs. Which frogs?
 
Hi all. I've had baby hognose not eat for several months right out of the egg. If the scenting tricks do not work, i put them in brumation for 3 or 4 months. Usually they will start eating on their own after being woke up.
 
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