Feeding techniques using forceps

[Ctah_Lu]

Hello, I have seen that many people feed their snakes using forceps and I decided to do the same thing but I have a problem, my snake does recognize the fish as food and strike it several times, but when I let the fish on his mouth he only drops the fish, even if he look interested he doesnt eat the fish. Is this behaviour normal? I think that he only need to get used to this kind of feeding but this is just mi opinion, if someone can give me any advice on how to feed mi snake using forceps is welcome, thanks.

[guidofatherof5]

Is fish a normal meal? Does he eat it out of a food dish?

[thamneil]

I assume he is typically fed from a dish? Sometimes they can be intimidated by the motion of the forceps. Try getting him used to the forceps by touching his food with them while he eats from the dish. He will get used to the movement of the forceps as well as your hand during feeding time. You can gradually use the forceps to feed him near the dish and then eliminate the dish when possible.

Very few snakes require this type of acclimation, with many eating any way they can! With some snakes though, a little extra effort can make all of the difference. Good luck and keep us posted!

[Stefan-A]

If the snake strikes and holds on to the fish, keep wiggling the fish until the snake tries to get a better grip.

Among my snakes bite-and-release only happens around mating season when they're really not interested in eating.

[chris-uk]

I tend to keep a grip on the food until the snake has chewed down half of it, the exception being if they strike and get a grip close to the forceps. I do this mainly to stop them dragging the food through the substrate.
I agree with Neil, if your snake isn't comfortable try combining the food dish with forceps, pick the food up from the dish but hold it very close to the dish.

It may also be that he isn't getting a good enough grip on the fish because it moves more when held in forceps compared to eating off a hard dish. One of my checkereds has poor coordination and I usually need to hold the food against the side of her water bowl or a rock etc.

[Ctah_Lu]

I assume he is typically fed from a dish?...

Yes he is, I ussually feed him with live fish on a dish, but he always make the fish jump out the dish and in to the substrate, of course the fish die and he doesnt eat them, thats why I want to make him to take his food from the forceps.

when I use the forceps I give him previously frozen fish warmed at room temperature, I will try with the dish and the forceps and I will let you know how the things are going, thanks.

[guidofatherof5]

Have you tried holding onto the fish until it is mostly swallowed?

[thamneil]

Well I think the live fish may be the underlying issue. Your problem isn't the tongs, but the transition from live to dead prey.

Try adding some more water to the feeding fish, allowing the fish ample swimming room. At the same time, do not give the fish a lot of a lot of water. Just enough to be fully submerged. Cut up some fillet and throw it in with the live fish. As he "fishes" he will accidentally run into the fillet and eat some of it. Gradually reduce the amount of live fish as well as the water level and you will have him eating fillet from a dish.

Once you have reached this stage, play around. The snake should be more open to forceps and possibly even fingers at a later point.

[Ctah_Lu]

Have you tried holding onto the fish until it is mostly swallowed?

He dont let me do that, but today he ate his first fish :), I show him the fish using the forceps and he
approached slowly and inspect the fish, then he take it by the tail and he took it to a log that is in his terrarium, there he took the fish by the head and he ate it, even if he did not eat the fish directly from the forceps I think he is making some progress.


...Try adding some more water to the feeding fish, allowing the fish ample swimming room. At the same time, do not give the fish a lot of a lot of water. Just enough to be fully submerged. Cut up some fillet and throw it in with the live fish. As he "fishes" he will accidentally run into the fillet and eat some of it. Gradually reduce the amount of live fish as well as the water level and you will have him eating fillet from a dish...

I will try that, I think will be very useful for when I'm away from home or when I'm busy :) thank you very much.

[guidofatherof5]

Glad he ate for you.

[thamneil]

Looks you made some progress. I would keep working from there! A little time and hard work can really pay off.

[KephrenJorgensen]

I have a baby ordinoides that is finicky when it comes to eating if I'm around, or without some kind of coaxing. He/she uses a hit and run method. I found that putting the dish of food in the enclosure and then leading the snake to it with food on forceps worked well for getting them used to eating live and dead prey, as well as from a dish or from forceps. With my adult I just use my fingers, she has deadly aim. As others have suggested, try putting the food down in your terrarium, and then use the forceps to get your snakes attention with the food. If it eats from the forceps near its food dish, it will likely return to that spot for food, or follow your motion for food from you. Hope this helps :)