Hatchling assist feeding.

[Tekko]

I've had my first clutch hatch a few weeks back with out too much trouble, everyone shed fine and 4 out of the 6 newborn started eating dead rats right off the bat and are growing fast. My problem is with my other 2 that has not taken a meal yet, I have offered dead rats, then dead mice. When that fail to get them interested, I moved to offering live rats then mice again they have shown no interest at all to any food items offered even when left in the tub overnight. I'm starting to see a slight loss in muscle tone and would like start assist feeding them before it become a life and death issue. I have never performed this and even after reading a lot about it and watching a ton of videos, I'm still worried about it all. Some of what I've seen seems just down right wrong but some might be ok and some just contradict the last thing I saw so I''m a bit confused as well.

I would like to hear from you that have some experiences in getting the young ones started. How you go at it, what to watch for, any tips to share and possibly videos that illustrate the best possible way to go at it.

Bonus infos: the hatchling are in shoebox size tubs with an appropriate size hide on paper towels. Tub are at 28C (82ish F for you imperial folks) and the hides are at 30C (86F), humidity varies between 45 and 55% They have a water bowls as well. They don't seem to have intestinal blockage as they both passed urates multiple times and defecated once when they shed too.

Thanks for your time

[Domepiece]

When did they hatch? Hatchlings can go some time without eating before it becomes an issue. Try weanling live mice that always works for me. They are small enough to not be a threat and they move around enough to entice a young first time feeder. They may also want a little privacy and it helps sometimes if the tubs are covered or blacked out on all sides so they feel secure. If it hasnt been too long I would avoid assist feeding if at all possible. This can be very stressfull and if they are already weak this can cause issues. Good luck

[JayCee]

If I had to guess I would say that force feeding pinkies is safer to the snake than popping.

[crbballs]

I am going to say that they are your babies and you need to do what you feel is right. The videos do help (they have for sure helped me) in assist and force feeding. I have had to force feed my pewter butter just last week for the very first time, it was def nerve racking but I knew it was best for the snake since I had zero luck assist feeding and trying every trick in the book. And it was a success. He still is not eating on his own yet so another assist feed before force feed. But every one was a rookie at some point. So just use your knowledge and do what you feel you need to do. And good luck. Experience hands always help but if you don't have it, then keeping the baby alive is the main goal.

[snakesRkewl]

For us, if they go 4 weeks after 1st shed they get assist fed.
Personally I wouldn't try to offer a unfed hatchling a dead prey item, but that's just me.
I want to take as few chances as possible getting them to eat, that means starting off on the right track.

[jjmitchell]

For us, if they go 4 weeks after 1st shed they get assist fed.
Personally I wouldn't try to offer a unfed hatchling a dead prey item, but that's just me.
I want to take as few chances as possible getting them to eat, that means starting off on the right track.

x2 Accept here they get 3 attempts on number four if they dont take, they get some help.....

[Simplex]

Id adjust your temps. 90 hot and 80 cool.Assist or force feeding is very stressful, to both you, and the snake.

I always wet a fuzzy asf, so it slides easier.. Hold the snake with my index finger and thumb and use ur pinky against ur palm to control the tail.
Rub the preys nose against the mouth an slide it in. I will usually push the hea in just far enough it wont fall out, then lightly push the jaws of the snake closed and set it down. Sometimes thats all they needed, thats the assist..

The force. Do the same as the assist but instead of stopping, u keep pushing. I use a qtip or something smooth, to prevent teeth marks in my fingers, push it all the way in, and then massage the throat up and down with a lil pressure, it helps stimulate muscle action. Lay the snake down. And watch it, it may regurge, i will usually not try again unless they are very very small.

I force fed one hatchling for nearly 2 months, it hadnt eaten in nearly 6 weeks. Was down to 40g roughly, even if he gurged the first 2 times, he got it pushed back in.. It was hard to do, often felt like i was causing more pain then helping.

I would always offer live prey every week over night before forcing in the am, this week he took for the first time on his own!!!!!

[WingedWolfPsion]

Force-feeding IS extremely dangerous, and can perforate the esophagus. I simply do not recommend it under any circumstances. If you have to get food into an animal, and assist-feeding won't work, then tube-feed it some carnivore care, or something. (I've virtually never been unable to get a hatchling assist-fed, though. I just keep trying...some of them refuse and spit it out repeatedly until they're so exhausted they sit there for 15 minutes with it, but they eventually swallow it, and I win, lol).
This is part of the reason I intervene early, though. Putting a hatchling through that after it was thin and didn't have good bodily reserves could be quite dangerous. It is extremely stressful, if the hatchling resists.