Tips to getting Kenyans to eat

[goReptiles]

Nope.... I haven't heard back, which reminds me I should try emailing them again.

I tried force feeding him, but couldn't get his mouth open for anything... It's quite upsetting, and I don't know what to do. I'm almost positive once he eats once, he'll be fine, but this is driving me crazy.

 

[Krow]

Me too for my little ksb :/ Its very worry-ing.

 

[goReptiles]

Kristi, they contacted me. Where the wife normally answers emails, she said she would get her husband to email me back about what to do. She said she knows they were feeding fine with them, but didn't know if maybe the male has a special feeding style he likes. I guess the husband deals with animals, and the wife does the customer service, billing, and finances.

 

[Kristi23]

I hope they can help. Stokely ate again for me last night. I still can't get her to touch f/t though.

 

[goReptiles]

Me too... I still haven't heard back.

My two females are getting huge! I should try to get pictures of them soon. The Orange female is fat. I was hoping to get some small frozen pinkies with my next rodent order just to have on hand so that I don't have to make another order for them. I'm trying to make a big order so I can reduce future purchases. With near $40 in shipping, I want to fill the box as much as I can. I've been wasteful with past orders with 1 bag here and 2 bags there.

Have you tried wiggling the F/T for her? Or dipping it in tuna? I haven't tried that but I'm going to give it a shot with the male- dipping a F/T in tuna juice or maybe even a live pinkie. I haven't decided. If that doesn't work, I'm forcing it down I guess. :-/

 

[goReptiles]

Still no word back from the breeder about the male.

But, unfortunately I found my anery female dead last night. She's had about 3 consistent meals. I don't know what happened. :-(

 

[Kristi23]

Still no word back from the breeder about the male.

But, unfortunately I found my anery female dead last night. She's had about 3 consistent meals. I don't know what happened. :-(

I'm so sorry. Now I'm worried about my anery since they're from the same place. Was she acting normal before? When did she last eat?

 

[goReptiles]

She was doing great. Gaining weight and everything. She ate this past Friday (the 14th). I've been feeding on Friday's, as it's easiest for me to pick up pinkies on the way home, as my breeding mice won't breed. :-(

I'm worried about my orange, as she was a little limp last night. After some handling, she seemed fine, but still odd... I don't know what happened. Like I said, she was gaining weight and acting normal.

 

[Pro Geckos]

I'm so sorry to hear that Whitney. Something is definitely not right. Could you describe how you have them housed and/or post a pic?

To be on the safe side you and Kristi should probably have a fecal to rule anything out. Kenyans are really hardy so it's strange that the same thing is happening to both of you.

 

[Kristi23]

I just checked on Stokely and she's still her normal, active self. I'm hoping that everything will be okay here. Besides her not eating f/t, I'm not having an problems with her. She's even grown since she got here.

 

[goReptiles]

They're in 15 quart tubs with belly heat. Aspen bedding and a water bowl.

My anery had grown in size as well. So, has my orange female. She's now a little over 9 grams as of last night. Both were about the same size, with the orange a little bigger. The male of course if just about half this and dropping. I don't know what to do. I can't seem to get his mouth open.

I won't get home till after 7pm, so I won't be able to check on the orange female till then. I'm a little worried for her.

I'm starting to think I should have just bought the anery coastal rosy for the same price that I paid for the trio because my trio is now a pair, and I'm worried it'll be a solo if I can't get the male to eat. It's just that I've always wanted a KSB and three for what I was going to pay for one rosy, sounded good. I'm just a little disappointed, I've had such a hard time with them.

My boyfriend hasn't said anything, but I hear it in his voice when I talk about the trio. I get the 'you shouldn't have spent the money' tone.

 

[goReptiles]

Heard back from the breeder. Pretty much got tips to feeding them, but everything he said to do, I'm already doing and have been. (Feed in individual deli cups in the dark or a darker place.)

I was told not to force feed unless I have a pinkie pump, or some sort of contraption. I will buy it if I need it.

Basically, I got the impression of "Too bad. I don't know what happened because they were eating fine here."

I'm hoping for more info with the next reply. Maybe it'll help Krow who's also having feeding concerns.

 

[Pro Geckos]

I just checked on Stokely and she's still her normal, active self. I'm hoping that everything will be okay here. Besides her not eating f/t, I'm not having an problems with her. She's even grown since she got here.

Oh, sorry I miss read that then. Keep trying f/t. The older they get the more likely they are to take them.

They're in 15 quart tubs with belly heat. Aspen bedding and a water bowl.

My anery had grown in size as well. So, has my orange female. She's now a little over 9 grams as of last night. Both were about the same size, with the orange a little bigger. The male of course if just about half this and dropping. I don't know what to do. I can't seem to get his mouth open.

I won't get home till after 7pm, so I won't be able to check on the orange female till then. I'm a little worried for her.

I'm starting to think I should have just bought the anery coastal rosy for the same price that I paid for the trio because my trio is now a pair, and I'm worried it'll be a solo if I can't get the male to eat. It's just that I've always wanted a KSB and three for what I was going to pay for one rosy, sounded good. I'm just a little disappointed, I've had such a hard time with them.

My boyfriend hasn't said anything, but I hear it in his voice when I talk about the trio. I get the 'you shouldn't have spent the money' tone.

Try a smaller tub. I keep babies in 6qt tubs until they are 5-6 months old. From there they are moved into 16qt and once outgrown females are put in 32qt. I have about 1" of aspen and a 2 oz portion cup for water on the cool end. The hot spot is 90-95 but generally averages 93. I suspect he doesn't feel secure so he's refusing to eat.

 

[Kristi23]

Heard back from the breeder. Pretty much got tips to feeding them, but everything he said to do, I'm already doing and have been. (Feed in individual deli cups in the dark or a darker place.)

I was told not to force feed unless I have a pinkie pump, or some sort of contraption. I will buy it if I need it.

Basically, I got the impression of "Too bad. I don't know what happened because they were eating fine here."

I'm hoping for more info with the next reply. Maybe it'll help Krow who's also having feeding concerns.

That's sad. I don't think I'll be buying from them again which is a bummer because I still want a snow and an albino.

 

[Kristi23]

Oh, sorry I miss read that then. Keep trying f/t. The older they get the more likely they are to take them.


Try a smaller tub. I keep babies in 6qt tubs until they are 5-6 months old. From there they are moved into 16qt and once outgrown females are put in 32qt. I have about 1" of aspen and a 2 oz portion cup for water on the cool end. The hot spot is 90-95 but generally averages 93. I suspect he doesn't feel secure so he's refusing to eat.

The smaller tub is a good idea. I'm using 6 qt for both of mine and I keep my temps right around 90-92 for the warm side. My set up sounds a lot like Cody's.

 

[goReptiles]

My temps are around 90F. I have about 1 inch of aspen to where I can never find him when it's feeding attempt time. The water bowl is about 1.5-2 ounces; it's a 2.5" kritterz ceramic bowl.

I will try the 6 quart. I have some with lids, I'll switch over to. They don't really fit my rack, so the lid will be perfect. The center is cut out and replaced with screen.

Kristi, I agree... I don't think I'll do business with them again. Sucks, but there are plenty of other KSB breeders out there. Nancy Wheat is one I believe; I've purchased geckos from her before and she's great. She has orange, anery, albino, and snows as options on her available list to search; although none available now.

I will tell you, I've inquired about a few snakes lately from other breeders/sellers and different species, and my first question has been F/T or live. Most offer live as a first choice. One breeder whom I plan on buying a BRB from later this year said he offers whatever is available, and if live is plentiful, that's what he uses over F/T.


Oh, and I just did a search on a pinkie pump, and it sounds complicated. I saw a few forum threads on other forums that said they're more trouble than their worth. I'm worried if I buy one, I'll end up pushing the pinkie guts into the air way and not the stomach.

 

[Pro Geckos]

I have about 1 inch of aspen to where I can never find him when it's feeding attempt time.

I just thought of something else. Instead of taking him out to feed try feeding him inside the tub. Just look at the underside of the tub to find him and specifically his head. Clear the aspen around his head and offer the smallest pinkie you have. If you use f/t make sure the pink is fairly warm and dry it off with paper towel so the aspen won't stick.

 

[goReptiles]

I just thought of something else. Instead of taking him out to feed try feeding him inside the tub. Just look at the underside of the tub to find him and specifically his head. Clear the aspen around his head and offer the smallest pinkie you have. If you use f/t make sure the pink is fairly warm and dry it off with paper towel so the aspen won't stick.

I'll give that a try. I'd love to offer F/T but they won't take them. I've been trying live as that's what they were fed with the breeder. I will try feeding in the tub and not in a deli cup put back in the tub (if that makes sense).

 

[Pro Geckos]

I'll give that a try. I'd love to offer F/T but they won't take them. I've been trying live as that's what they were fed with the breeder. I will try feeding in the tub and not in a deli cup put back in the tub (if that makes sense).

Try that in combination with the 6qt tub. Give him a day or two in the new tub then offer food. Let us know how it goes.

 

[jmlslayer]

Also i found out that water bowls are useless they never go near them and it makes the tub too humid i keep mine on play sand and i soak my FT mice for awhile and keep them dripping wet when i feed in a smaller size tub that i sit in the main en-closer so when she is done eating she craws out and goes in the sand on the hot side.