Force Feeding vs Assist Feeding

[GartersRock]

Posting the new thread that was moving off topic.

I have heard so many bad things about force feeding. And have resorted to it myself when the snake was SO far gone. But I won't again. They all died. Now it is my strong opinion that if the snake is so far gone that force feeding would be required. It will probably kill the snake.

Assist feeding on the other hand. No harm done and usually works all things considered.

Can we make this the official assist/force feeding thread? That would be cool.

[Zephyr]

I've noticed that force feeding adult/juvenile snakes usually ends badly.
All the babies I've force fed started eating days after it.

Maybe it's because it's hard to find good equipment to get the food a decent distant into the adult/juvenile snake?

[GartersRock]

How long do you wait before you force feed your babies Kyle? Have you ever had fatalities in FF babies?

[Zephyr]

How long do you wait before you force feed your babies Kyle? Have you ever had fatalities in FF babies?

If it's been more than 2 weeks, I force feed. And the snake also has to look a little on the skinny side as well; I have healthy babies who will skip a week here or there.
I have never had a fatality from FF bebs.

[snakeman]

I have a pinky pump for babies that don't eat.I chop up a bunch of pinks.lube the end of the syringe with mineral oil.Pump the contents in.It's how I got my blacknecks going when I had them.I used it on santa cruz garter also.

[Loren]

I agree totally with you Amanda.

I have never had good results from force feeding. 2 reasons I think- 1- its already pretty darn sick by that time, and 2- I think actual force feeding is very hard on snakes. I personally dont do it anymore either.

As for assist feeding,I have had good results with a few snakes.

To clarify, in case anyone is wondering, assist feeding (how I interpret the words anyhow ) would be holding the snake, getting the snake to open its mouth, and getting the food item into its mouth(which might take minor force), but then sitting real still and letting the snake hopefully decide to start swallowing on its own.
Force feeding(again, this is how I would define it) would be gently but firmly keeping pressure on the food item towards the throat through the entire swallowing process, with the snake pretty much not offering you any help in getting it down their throat.


I dont have much experience with baby garters, as to how long I would wait to resort to it. I know they likely wouldnt last nearly as long as a kingsnake. I hatched 11 baby cal kings a couple years ago and let them all start eating on their own-some ate within a few weeks, the last couple to eat ate their very first meal at about 3 months old. (No, they werent brumated). They turned out fine.
I suppose if it was a baby garter I would be getting pretty serious about getting it to eat within the first few weeks, since they are so small and dont seem to have the reserves that many other babies do, and seem to have faster metabolisms as well.

[Zephyr]

By force feeding for babies, I don't mean I use tweezers down their throats. XD
I use syringes meant for baby parakeets and I usually inject egg white.

[ssssnakeluvr]

I havn't force fed in years.....snake is already stressed out by the time it needs it.... assist feeding works better, less stress on the snake

[Loren]

By force feeding for babies, I don't mean I use tweezers down their throats. XD
I use syringes meant for baby parakeets and I usually inject egg white.

cool way to do it. I say if it works and they do well, aint nothing wrong with it.

[ssssnakeluvr]

tube feeding is a little less stressful...better in my opinion. I used to have a specialized syringe that had a long curved tube on the end, was great for feeding babies!