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Vine snake will NOT eat

W

WickedSnake

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Hey guys,
i need a little more help here.
My Wild caught asian vine snake still isn't eating. I was curious what i should do. Perhaps forcefeed? If so, Please let me know how you force feed a snake of such a tiny size.
thanks,
Alex
 
Pinkie Pump works wonders, less stress on the snake and not a lot of work to swallow and digest.
 
What are you trying to feed him, and how long have you had him? What kind is he? How is he being housed?

Many newly acquired herps take awhile to settle in so don't panic if he doesn't eat right away. From what I've read, vine snakes should be set up in arboreal tank with plenty of greenery to hide in and, given a temperature gradient of 80-95f with 85-95% humidity; full spectrum lighting may also be beneficial. Small lizards (anoles) are the most commonly accepted prey for the small species although I've read reports of some eating fish as well.

Force feeding is extremely traumatic and the snake can be easily injured in the process, for this reason it should only be used as a last resort.

-Alice
 
I just read your previous post: maybe try mixing up the anoles (green and brown) and use small to medium sized ones, also give small treefrogs a try or maybe even small house geckos. You can give guppies a try too, I remember reading post on KS about someone's vine that would eat nothing but fish.

Make sure to double check your temps too. What kind of photo period do you have? I use appliance timers for all my lights to keep the on / off times regular; make sure that the photoperiod is at least 12 hours.

If you're not doing so already, I'd refrain from any unnecessary handling until you get him feeding voluntarily.

-Alice
 
Still not eating, huh. OK - you said you had temps of 82-86 with the setup you described. where are you measuring the temps, and with what type of thermometer? Still using soil, UTH and heat light? any idea what the humidity is (I don't recall you responding to that previously) are you misting regularly? have you seen it drink - either out of a bowl or droplets after misting? is there some sort of hide or good cover in the tank? Have you offered anything other than the anoles? At what time of day are you offering food? How much have you been messing with it? Is it active?
Is it starting to appear thin...backbone showing, loose skin, etc? Sorry - I asked more questions than you did; but without the update, it is hard to recommend an appropriate course
 
The vine snake is in an arboreal cage, 30 gallon. tall. Much much greenery. I've tried feeding morning, noon, and even at night. I'm measuring temp. with a flukers, and humidity is measured with flukers as well. I'm not sure how to offer him guppies, so let me know. I'm open to ALL ideas. I've taken him out twice, after leaving him alone for 2 weeks. i've had him for several weeks, and he is starting to get skinny. drinks regularly, and i mist every few hours. active mostly at night, and i have a UTH light as you mentioned. Where would i get a treefrog small enough to offer to him, and how exactly. perhaps a pinky? And what is this "pinkie pump"?
thanks for the help, i appreciate it,

Alex
 
You should have treefrogs in your state, try to find a small metamorph and release it in the cage or buy the smallest green treefrog you can find. The person who fed guppies kept the live fish in the snake's water bowl and the snake would fish them out.

Here's a page with pinky pump info: http://www.vpi.com/9VPITipsAndTechs/PinkiePumpGuide/PinkPumpGuide.htm

Being wild caught your snake also is likely to have a heavy parasite load which may be contributing to his anorexia. If you succeed in getting some food into him, and he produces a stool you may want to have a fecal preformed and try to treat the parasites.

If 86 is the high temp under your basking light, you may want to up the wattage. Try to get the high up to 95. If it's too cool your snake is less likely to eat.

-Alice
 
you didn't say where in the tank you are measuring the temps (in some cases, it does matter) or what the humidity is. you mentioned the various times of day that you've tried feeding - have you tried just leaving the anole(s) in the tank with it? that way, it can feed when it feels comfortable (while you aren't around). If not, please describe how you are offering food. For feeding guppies, just leave a few in the water bowl. As I mentioned in your previous thread, I have had good luck getting them to feed on appropriately sized nestling rodents...at 2 ft, you would probably do ok with mouse fuzzies/crawlers or small rat pinks. Since it is showing noticable weight loss, you may want to consider attempting to assist feed (vs force feeding). To do this, hold the snake behind the head and gently work the nose of the prey item into the mouth of the snake. (*note: the snake should still be in the enclosure, and you should ideally only be holding the head...not supporting the body or leaving it dangling. you'll understand why momentarily). With a little luck, as the mouth opens and the anole (or rodent) starts to go in, the snake will bite down. Let go, and step back to watch - it may take a few attempts.
REMEMBER that vine snakes are rear fanged, and that ,while generally not considered particularly dangerous, some people can be sensitive to their venom. Handle with care
 
I have one and I leave teh lizards in all the time and when he is hungry he hunts and then he eats. I feed house geckos he ate one this morning I saw he was hunting for a lizard that had "dissapeared" behind the water dish and sprayed it, it ran he struck. We make a good lizard killing team.
 
Yes, he finally ate. He's eaten several times. Thanks alot for the advice. It was extremely helpful. I tried everything you guys said. And it paid off. I thought i was goin' to loose this one. I had a fecal sample taken, no parasites strangely. I think it was just stress, and the heat. Thanks again. I should be posting a picutre of him and my bredl's shortly for you guys!


Thanks soo much. it's much appreciated.

~Alex
 
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