Western hognose not eating

[Lillypod]

It has been 3 months since the last time my western hognose female has eaten anything. She is still young, about 30 or so cm. The male is about 20 cm and was off of food as well, but started eating again about 3 weeks back.

I have tried giving smaller meals, I have brained, heated (how male started eating), I double checked temps, everything. I'm a bit worried.

[MIKE]

Hi Lillypod,

I had a similar problem with a juvinile hoggie.
The way i got him to start eating again was to heat and then brain the pinkie, I then used feeding tongs grabed the pinkie with them and agitated him with the pinkie until he striked at it and bit it, then i released with the tongs and he ate from there on.

Hope this info help, and good luck!

[Lillypod]

I've tried it, but she just puffs a lot, never strikes, she then covers her head with her body. I'm now leaving the dead mouse in her cage (again), will remove it tomorrow if she hasn't eaten it. Will then wait a few days and try again with tease feeding.

Thank you.

[MIKE]

Another option would be to scent it with a gecko.
Just take the pinkie and rub it on a gecko and see if that works.
I have heard alot of stories about this working, but i have never done it myself.

[Lillypod]

Just a normal house gecko?

[croteseeker]

Try frogs or toads. They make up the majority of their wild diet. So long as temps and humidity are good, your hoggie should be eating in no time at all.

[Serpent]

It's also winter, lots of snakes go off food during the winter months, even if they are heated. If your hognose is looking healthy enough, don't worry too much. Another month or two and it should have a better feeding response.

[Lillypod]

Good news everyone, she ate over the weekend. Just a small fuzzy, but at least it was something.

[sin1]

I have a hognose baby with the same problem, she last ate at the breeders place a week ago. Your last update indicated you had some success. Can you please share what worked for you in the end ?