Getting off Pinks

[EasternGirl]

Well...Seeley will certainly prove you correct on that, Richard. He had refused to eat again for three feedings. I went out and picked up some worms and, of course, as soon as I put some in front of him, he gobbled them up like he was starving. He just wanted worms. Unfortunately, the stupid cold dry weather around here is making it so that I haven't seen any worms outside yet.

[Thamnophis]

I read about periods of food refusal in this topic. My snakes do never refuse food (except some of them when they have to shed skin - but most of them also eat in the shedding period).
Could this be because of the diet I feed my snakes? About 95 % smelt and the other 5 % exists of chicken heart, salmon or pollock. This is complemented with a multivitamin/mineral product (I added some extra vit. B1 to it myself) every second or third feeding. I feed on average once a week (the 2 years and older snakes) and about every 4th day for juveniles. I only give pregnant females every now and then one pinky.
I do this for about the last 10 years or so. Have good breeding results and healthy snakes that tend to live long.

[surfersnake]

I am planning on doing the a similar diet change and am glad to see someone else has succeded! good job by the way

[stevenrudge]

I am planning on doing the a similar diet change and am glad to see someone else has succeded! good job by the way

Thanks TBH if l'd had known in the first place about their diets l would not have bought them,if l had failed in getting them back to a more balanced diet,l was seriously thinking about selling them on,l've found that a hungry snake will always eat,and even if a snake develops a food preference l let the snake go hungry other wise it can be a case of the snake training the keeper

[guidofatherof5]

And is there something wrong with the snake training the keeper?

[ssssnakeluvr]

Well...Seeley will certainly prove you correct on that, Richard. He had refused to eat again for three feedings. I went out and picked up some worms and, of course, as soon as I put some in front of him, he gobbled them up like he was starving. He just wanted worms. Unfortunately, the stupid cold dry weather around here is making it so that I haven't seen any worms outside yet.

its a bit dry in Utah also... I go to Walmart to their sporting goods section and buy worms

[stevenrudge]

And is there something wrong with the snake training the keeper?

in my book yes

[guidofatherof5]

And is there something wrong with the snake training the keeper?

in my book yes

Just kidding around

[stevenrudge]

Just kidding around

No worries bud

[EasternGirl]

I read about periods of food refusal in this topic. My snakes do never refuse food (except some of them when they have to shed skin - but most of them also eat in the shedding period).
Could this be because of the diet I feed my snakes? About 95 % smelt and the other 5 % exists of chicken heart, salmon or pollock. This is complemented with a multivitamin/mineral product (I added some extra vit. B1 to it myself) every second or third feeding. I feed on average once a week (the 2 years and older snakes) and about every 4th day for juveniles. I only give pregnant females every now and then one pinky.
I do this for about the last 10 years or so. Have good breeding results and healthy snakes that tend to live long.

Can I ask how often you would feed newborn scrubs? I have eastern babies that are two weeks old. I have been giving them small feedings every day...worms, fish, pinky mixes...just enough to fill their little stomachs. I don't want to overfeed...but I want to make sure they are getting plenty of nutrients. Also...I give my adult snakes calcium/vitamin D3 supplement every 3 feedings. Is this safe for babies?