Baby Snake Feeding Concerns

[joeysgreen]

Considering the snake's size, availability of appropriate food, and origin, it might be best for it if you let it go where you found it (after the snow melts). In the mean time, allow it to remain buried in the substrate, and keep it cool, like it's hiding under all that snow.

[canterburywine]

I have picked up several soft bodied foods like small waxworms but the silly snake is afraid of them. I have to dig my truck out today anyway so I'm going to go try a few more stores. I think that the Walmart by my old apartment used to sell smaller nightcrawlers. It's almost a 45 minute drive but the highway looks clear from the house. The semis don't seems to be slower than usual anyway. Sometimes, living within a stone's throw from the highway is awesome! But, if I can't get the little guy to eat by the time the snow melts, I'll have to let him go. Pesticide sprays or no. That's one of the many reasons I wanted to keep him. The trailer park where I live is planning on spraying to help limit the flies and other bugs. Plus, I'm still removing chunks of rock out of the yard, which is how I almost killed the little thing.

[d_virginiana]

If you end up releasing him, you can take him away from the trailer park to let him go. Not too far or anything, just enough that you wouldn't have to worry about pesticides or lawnmowers and such.

[Albert Clark]

It's a rare bird that will eat in a captive enviornment right away after living free. Or snake. The snake will need time to orientate and acclimate to a very new set of smells and and sounds as well as now being captive. I know that you are trying very hard to make him comfortable but you have to realize this snake is severely stressed at this point and it's perfectly normal for him to refuse foods in a newly captive realm that he would otherwise regularly eat in the wild.

[guidofatherof5]

My wild radixes will hand feed out in the yard. They also come up to me and beg for worms during the really dry times in the Summer. They are the same way when brought into the house. I have a great relationship, me and my radixes. Good thing I don't spoil them.

[Albert Clark]

That's still not the same as putting them into a critter keeper directly from the wild. Also, i bet the ones that do come up to you and beg for worms are not babies, right? Those adults are still free roaming and i presume rare birds. Lol. Baby snakes usually want to hide from everything. I know the radix ranch has its perks though.

[guidofatherof5]

How about an update, please.

[canterburywine]

Sure. The little guy shed at some point. I didn't even see him getting all milky because he hides under the substrate so much. The cage now has a piece of bark, some slugs, and lots of pill bugs. There were some small worms in there but I couldn't find them yesterday. I haven't found any worm jerky on my floor so I can only assume he's eating them. I did find one last week with a big bite taken out of it. I assume the slugs and pill bugs aren't to blame. I'll try to get pictures of him when I add more worms to his cage on Sunday. Hopefully I'll get my gram scale in the mail tomorrow so that I can keep track that way.

[Albert Clark]

Good luck with your efforts! I truly hope the little guy eats for you and is able to thrive.

[guidofatherof5]

Lined Snake (Tropidoclonion lineatum) | Amphibians and Reptiles of Iowa