Jungle Hatchy not eating

[Venomous_RBB]

Hey guys,
Yes I know its that time of year where people have problems with their snakes not eating. Temps - 36 hot end, 27 cool end (Dont want them to brumate, both are always over the hot end). They are in a click clack. On a thermostat and have thermometer probes in there as well. Heat mat is being used.

Well I bought 2 hatchies 3 weeks ago, one is powering on and loves her pinky rats (both are now 4 months). However the male hatchy came with a lump in his belly (a mouse or rat, the breeder was unsure).
I have tried every method to get him to eat properly. I have never had such a young hatchy before.

Background story, they were in QLD, we had about 15 hatchies freighted down to us (all permits were done and the people that wanted one had to get their own so all were legal)
Anyway, here I am with my 2 hatchies I paid for. I let them settle in for 5 days, I then got my girl eating, she loves her food, taken 3 for me already, all were underfed so trying to get her boosted back up to what she should be, she is looking great now.

The little male, he needed 2 more days to settle in (was quite stressed when I bought him home so decided to leave him a whole week). I then started to try and feed and him, 3 days into trying, he went blue, 2 days after that, he had only shed his head and didnt want to do anymore. So gave him a luke warm bath and got the rest of his shed off.
I have been trying him on the various methods to try and get him to eat - rat, mouse, smaller food, braining and he was started to look quite thin and weak so resorted to force feeding him which he still didnt take.
So here we are today after 2 days of no sleep, trying to sort this little bugger out or worrying about him.
I took him to a mates place and after many tries - success, he ate a pinky mouse today with its back legs cut off.
Now I am wanting to know, what do we next and what can we do to get him feeding normally.
I have never owned such a young snake that hasnt started eating properly.
All were supposed to be feeding normally mind you.
Cheers

 

[R.Pilgrim]

Try bird or a feather in the mouth on the pinky

 

[Trimeresurus]

How long did you have it for? Why did you force feed it?

 

[KaotikJezta]

I find it hard to believe the snake looked thin after less than 3 weeks of eating. Your temps seem too hot for a start. Also, jungles can be quite shy compared to other carpets and quite often take longer to settle in. I find offering them some fake greenery to hide in and leaving them completely alone for a while helps. I had to get a whole clutch of non feeders eating last season and it took the most difficult one months to eat properly. None of them were force fed. Force feeding should be an absolute last resort as it is only going to stress it out more.

 

[junglepython2]

Did you buy them unfeeding? If not what was the breeder feeding them on?

 

[Trimeresurus]

Oh right, 3 weeks. I wouldn't have force fed it, sounds like it broke its 'schedule' and you may have jumped the gun, 3 weeks is nothing. I agree with mostly everything Kaotic said.

My piece of advice would be don't stress and don't forcefeed if it hasn't eaten again in 3 weeks.

 

[whyme]

The breeder should know if its eating rats or mice!!! 4 months, it should be a good size, suggesting it is eating well. No need to force feed! Assist feed maybe, but only after all else fails. Was it bought off a breeder or a one timer? Jungles are usually killer feeders. Hatchies are not as fragile as people think, and they can, and do, go off food. If purchased from a reputable breeder, they should give you this info, as well as after sale advice and service.

 

[Tobe404]

I agree with most previous points mentioned. I'd lower the basking temp to around 33-34 also.
I would of tried every other trick in the book before force feeding it. Braining/cutting body parts off. Scenting in Tuna, Egg Yolk, Chicken Stock.
Try and see if you can source a Quail or Chick. Snap the neck off and soak a thawed Pinky Mouse in it's blood.
I'd only ever recommend assist feeding as a last resort.
I know it's dependent on the Snake and how tolerante they are of being moved and such. But I got my Jungle eating 3 days after I got it. And even the difficult MD ate 2 days after travelling 900ks...
Just something to think about.

Method that has worked for me the most on a difficult MD was switching from Mice/Rats (he has taken them before but is a lot more hit and miss) to Quail/Chicken. I don't even bother with Mice/Rats anymore.
Even if he doesn't sometimes finish off his meals at times (3/8 for Quail and 5/6 for Chicken). (Pretty sure he's due for a shed soon. Or could be the fact it's Winter.) He always has a go at Quail/Chicken.
And he has had at least two episodes of not wanting to eat for 2 months straight yet he's still here. 3 weeks is nothing. I know it's hard not to worry though. Especially when you have another Snake that is powering along.

Anyway. I hope something that was said in this page ends up working for you. Good luck. .

 

[junglepython2]

You're temps are fine and force feeding is no where near as stressful as everyone makes out as long as you are doing it correctly. You need to find out what it was feeding on previously and offer it that at night time. If it refuses leave it be for a week and then try again, it sounds like you are freaking out and trying all the different methods day after day with no rest which will stress a young snake out and put it off food.