Braining a pinkie?! Bleugh =P
Can you please describe how that is done? I can't help it now, my morbid curiosity has taken over...

Hello,
"Braining" a pinkie is pretty simple. You use a sharp object, like a razor knife, and cut through the upper portion of the head, exposing brain matter. With picky eaters, this technique works well. There is a scent that is emitted that triggers a feeding response in many species. It is actually low on the list of techniques to use though. There are much less traumatic things that should first be tried.

Rayne was a fussy eater when I first got her. Actually, she wouldn't eat at all. I tried every trick in the book, and she refused every pinkie I gave. So I brained a F/T pinkie and tossed her in a small box with it. She ignored it completely. So I brained a live pinkie and did the same thing. 5 minutes later, the pinkie was no where to be found. She hasn't refused a meal since and readily takes F/T. (She is 4 years old. I have had her since she was a neonate.)

In regards to the initial question, I prefer to leave the mice out in a container I use for thawing. Sometimes the odor bothers me, sometimes it doesn't. Depends on the rodent, how long it has been frozen, etc.

*Blork* Um...does that ever become necessary for half-grown snakes who used to eat just fine, but who don't like the adult mice they've grown into and are being stubbornly ridiculous and refusing to eat them (*casts a fearful eye in Spectre's direction*)...it won't come to braining mice to get Spectre to eat, will it? Surely he'll get hungry enough to eventually give in and stop holding out for the smaller ones....right???...*gulp*

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~Juliane~

I knew I shouldn't have asked... You brained a live pinky?!?!
Guys, if I ever say that I'm planning to buy a snake, someone please whisper "braining" to me and send me this thread's url.
I've just skipped lunch =P

Just for future reference, is there any other species besides snakes that needs brainings or pinky presses?

I have four snakes and not once have I had to brain anything...and I haven't fed mine anything live, brained or otherwise...*glurk*

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~Juliane~

LMAO!

Not all snakes require you to resort to this sort of thing. It usually is a hatchling or neonate that is being difficult about beginning to feed. Keep in mind that lab mice are NOT the natural diet of many of the snakes we keep. Sometimes you have to resort to some trickery to get them feeding.

Marsha a pinkie press is a sort of "grinder" that basicly liquifies the pinkie and shoots it into the stomach like a syringe to make force feeding easier. If you ever had to try to cram peices of pinkie down a hatchling cornsnake you would understand!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Now Merlin, after reading Rich's post I'm sort of ready for anything =)
Can you please explain me what can happen raising 4 kids that makes pinkie presses, brainings and exploded soggy rodents "light" stuff? =)

LOL ANY parent should be able to relate to this one.

Diarrhea
Vomiting
Constipation
Changing diapers
Snotty noses
Various illnesses.
Cuts and abrasions.
And we haven't even gotten anywhere NEAR the teenage years!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Your point is WELL taken I could go into great gory detail on several of the topics you mention above, but I'll spare those without children any graphic descriptions and let them discover the joys and wonders of parenthood for themselves, if and when they decide to have children (heehee)....In spite of all that, I wouldn't trade my kids for anything...most of the time

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~Juliane~

Oh man! That all together doesn't come near a pinkie press! =)

I'm not a parent but my bother and sister are 11 and 9 years younger than me. From all that sort of stuff, the worst was when they were little babies and vomited (a bit or all) the breast-fed milk. (That has a particular name but I don't know what's called) It's disgusting! Your clothes are ruined forever!
The second worst thing was "flipped fingernails" (don't know the name also). When your fingernails bend backwards and you almost rip them off =P
But these two are small potatoes when the stakes run as high as braining live pinkies =)

I couldn't do it. I have the highest respect for all living creatures and the idea of inflicting pain to one is very upsetting.