Snakes not eating well

[Sssssnakey]

We've had two babies die. I'm nearly having to force feed one or two of the remaining five babies. (I hold a wiggling guppy by the tail and keep sticking it in their face until they grab it and swallow it.)

Sammy (the mom) wasn't eating very well either. I turned on a heating pad under her tank and that seemed to help with her, but I'm not sure it would work well with the glad containers the babies are in.

I'm not sure how much the babies are supposed to eat, but they usually only eat 2 or 3 guppies a week. Sometimes only two at one time and then none until the next week. What is normal for less than 6 month old babies?

Thanks!

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I would maybe try some cut up worms or something other than guppies, it sounds like they are not very fond of the guppies. 2 or 3 guppies per week is not a whole lot, even newborns I would be feeding 1 guppy every day or 2 of them every other day.

[Sssssnakey]

Thanks. Maybe they just want something different.

[Mommy2many]

My babies eat cut up worms or salmon everyday. I alternate between the two. Every other week or so, I'll throw some guppies in there. And occasionally I'll give them pinky parts (I save those for the big guys). My babies love the worms, sometimes more than salmon. It's like, "Mom, we want Mac & cheese for dinner tonight!"

[ssssnakeluvr]

they could be going into brumation.....some do it automatically in the fall, go off feed... as long as they have good body weight, I take them off feed if they skip 2 feedings. they are off feed for 2 weeks then cooled off for a month. then they are warmed up and they generally start eating.

[Quibble]

they could be going into brumation.....some do it automatically in the fall, go off feed... as long as they have good body weight, I take them off feed if they skip 2 feedings. they are off feed for 2 weeks then cooled off for a month. then they are warmed up and they generally start eating.

What do you do if a snake decides to go off feed, and does not have a great enough body weight?

[ssssnakeluvr]

as long as they don't have skin folds on the sides I would put them down for a shorter period...maybe 2 weeks

[Sssssnakey]

We had another baby die last night.

Three of the remaining four babies ate a guppy last night (cheer) but I'm going to try wiggling the guppy in the face of the last snake this morning in hopes it will eat. I'm also going to head to the pet store and buy more worms and maybe even go to the grocery store and get some trout to cut up.

Last time I tried worms they wouldn't even look at them. I think they thought they were pets. I had found some really skinny night crawlers in my front flower bed and put them in with them. The previous time I had cut up night crawlers and they wouldn't look at them let alone eat them. They seem to be really picky.

I've also noticed that they don't seem to have very good eye sight. When they're going after their guppies they don't seem to really see them that well. They'll strike at places the fish aren't even in and haven't been in. Weird.

Are there liquid vitamins I could give them or something?

[Sssssnakey]

The one that hadn't eaten ate one guppy yesterday but refused more when I tried again later and again today. I'll try again later today with it.

Last night one of the babies ate two guppies and a chunk of worm. That is the most I've ever seen one of them eat. The other two ate one guppy so they're eating everyday now. I think they're getting better.

Sammy gobbled down two goldfish today so she seems to be liking the heating pad.

[gregmonsta]

Sammy gobbled down two goldfish today so she seems to be liking the heating pad.

No goldfish!!! .... not a 'safe' food source.