feeding F/T to hatchlings

[futurebpowner]

Does anyone have problems feeding only f/t to their hatchlings?

[viper]

all balls are different some will take to F/t easily some will be a pain in the ass to switch over. i had hatch-lings take there first meal on rats and then some reject them and prefer mice and then switched over before they were sold

[eatgoodfood]

All my hatchlings I still have were started on live, took months of feedings on live. Ive decided to switch to mostly frozen since i'm downsizing my collection and the babies switched no issue. All took first time I offered.

[Alicia]

I've had pretty good success starting hatchies on f/t. lol Once I figured out what I was doing

Here is exactly what I do:
Wait a week after the first shed (unless there's a hatchling with an issue, it gets special treatment). 7-8 days after the first shed, I thaw the needed number of hopper mice at room temp for a few hours in a corning wear dish.

After dark, the whole dish of tiny mice goes under an incandescent light bulb until the bottom up the dish is warm (not hot!) to the touch. It takes a little under five minutes. Temp gunning usually shows the mice and/or dish at ~120 degrees F. They very rapidly cool.

When starting with f/t, I never zombie dance. Ever. Each of my babies gets a hidebox and I set the warmed hopper in front of the entrance as smoothly and quietly as possible, going down the lines of little tubs.

Then I leave them in darkness overnight and record who ate and who didn't. Usually 7 days later, I repeat. Babies that don't recognize it as food twice in a row get switched from PTs to aspen or cypress (whichever I have on hand). Two more refusals and they get live crawlers. Then it's two or three live feeds and I go right back to f/t. Knock on wood, it's worked so far. It seems like most of the time, the problem is whether or not they feel secure. My most nervous hatchlings are always the last to start.

[futurebpowner]

Wow that is awesome advice! I will def have to try this once I get started!

[FireStorm]

Great advice, Alicia. I have always started hatchlings on live hoppers, but it is a pain for me to produce enough hoppers for our peak of hatchlings. It would sure be nice if I could build a stock of f/t during the off season. I may give this a try...if even half took f/t life would be good.

[SlitherinSisters]

I have had luck with f/t too. Sometimes the zombie dance works, other times leaving it in the tub overnight works. What's nice is those who will eat it off the tub floor seem to stay that way. Saves me time when I'm trying to feed everyone!