Canned Cat Food for a Garter..?

[Ryachanira]

Tried something new today with Silv. I went to the pet store and got a few medium sized feeder guppies. I killed one (squishing its head in between my fingers), picked up Silv, wrapped him around my fingers to hold onto him and held his head. Then, starting with the tail end, I shoved the fish in his mouth... I started by just slipping the tail into his mouth to get it open a bit and I kind of crammed the fish back into his throat.

He was less than pleased. He didn't musk or bite or honestly even wiggle that much, but he kept trying to pull his head away. I did this oh, 5 or 6 times? We were both covered in fish scales as the little guppy started falling apart. At one point I had pretty much the whole fish back there, with the head of the fish almost all the way inside his mouth, hoping that he would eventually swallow it. No such luck - every time he spit the darn thing back out. Ugh.

I am starting to wonder what the extent of his injuries was. Perhaps somehow the swallowing reflex arc was damaged..? I mean you would think he might eventually swallow the fish when it was so far in his throat.. but no.

Anyway, the other fish are happily swimming around for now until I decide what to do with them. I am thinking I may try killing and just leaving them on a lid in the main cage. Of course, I have about zero hope he will eat them, but may as well give it a go.

I have washed my hands like 5 times now and my fingers still smell like fish. Oh the things I have done for this silly little snake..

[guidofatherof5]

If I may suggest head first would be the more natural way fish would be swallowed. Push it down with the catheter you've used before. Maybe just past the jaws.
I must thank you for your efforts on Silv's behalf.
You have a couple free radixes coming if you ever get up to the Ranch or maybe when the Spring weather arrives I ship you a pair if you would like them.

[Stefan-A]

And don't try to push anything down the glottis.

[Ryachanira]

I did try head first, but it was very difficult to get him to open his mouth that way - this way I was able to wiggly the tail in the side of his mouth and get him to open it. I will have to try head first tonight when Dan gets home - with two people I can most likely get it in there, it was just difficult with one. Dan usually holds Silv and I operate the tube/syringe in when we tube feed him. I will let you know how that goes tonight!

While I would love to take you up on your offer I do not think I am going to be able to convince Dan on more snakes. I have asked him several times if we could get some more and he always says no. He is always the more practical one about time/space/money when it comes to more pets, while I pretty much always want to take all of the animals home with me. I was surprised he was okay with this one - but it is hard to turn down a sick animal with nobody else to care for it! But thank you so much for the offer, that is really kind of you! I will let you know if I can convince him to change his mind..

[guidofatherof5]

The offer is non-expiring. Just let me know when.
Come on Dan! please.

[charles parenteau]

I also question whether or not it's even good for cats.

hahaha indeed good question!!

[ConcinusMan]

I mean, some of that stuff seems worse than feeding them mercury tainted fish.

Meet Garfield, the techno dancing cat.

[Ryachanira]

Well, I did it - I shoved two fish down Silv's throat. With Dan holding him I was able to wiggle the fish in head first, and used the cat catheter to help push it down. He still would not swallow though. At one point I had the fish pretty much all the way down there (I couldn't even see it anymore), but as soon as I removed the catheter, he threw it back up. And it was like he was working against me the whole time - I would push it a bit down, he would throw it a bit back up. Heh. Finally I gave up on him swallowing it himself and just pushed the catheter all the way in (like I do for tube feeding) and the fish stayed down. We got two fish down this way.

While I am happy to get some real food in him for a change, I feel rather.. lukewarm about this minor victory. If he will not eat on his own, is this really any better than the tube feeding? This seemed to stress him out way more than the tube normally does, although that might just be because he is used to the tube now and not used to this. I was hoping to get him to at least do a bit of the swallowing on his own, but he did nothing other than try desperately to get the fish back out. I am almost a little worried that now the smell of fish will just freak him out, hurting more than helping? Oh well. Time will tell.

If I have to choose in the end between forcing fish down his throat the rest of his life or using the tube and carnivore care, is the fish a better choice since it is a more natural food, or is the mix a better choice (possibly more complete...?)? Hopefully it will not come to that. I am still hoping he will eat on his own someday. Every time I see videos of snakes eating I am a little jealous - it is so cool to watch, I would really like to see Silv eat like that!

Oh and Steve - Dan said he'd think about it.

[Ryachanira]

As a quick update... we haven't tube-fed Silv since those fish a week ago. We have tried fish and worms, with tongs and leaving him in the feeding cage with the food. No such luck - he still will not eat. I am thinking I may force feed him again tonight.. still not sure whether I will go with the tube feeding or with pushing the fish down again. The longer he goes without growing the more I worry about him. Can a snake live a full life-span if he is only ever force-fed? I would guess this obviously depends on what the underlying problem is (brain damage vs. simple refusal to eat). Still not giving up hope on him yet! I'll try to continue to keep you all updated on how things go with him.

[guidofatherof5]

It's hard to say about the full life question. So many factors involved like you said.
Please. Keep us informed. I'm pullin' for Silv.