New hatchling not eating

[kc261]

We got a new corn hatchling on 7/17. I have tried to feed it twice, but it has refused. Here are all the details I have about its eating history.

Hatched 7/1
Ate for the 3rd time on 7/15 (I don't know the exact dates of the first 2 feedings)
Refused on 7/21
Refused on 7/26

I believe all 3 meals at the breeder were live, but the breeder said he would expect it to switch to f/t right away without trouble. The first time I tried live, then the 2nd time I tried frozen because I picked some up at the show that day.

When I tried to feed it, I put it in a small deli cup with nothing but the pinkie, put the cup in the snake's enclosure (so he wouldn't get cold), and left it for an hour the first time, overnight the second time.

Where should I go from here? Should I go back to offering live until it eats again? Or should I just keep offering the frozen now that I have a bunch? How many days should I wait in between offerings?

[littleindiangirl]

I would try live in a couple days. In the deli trick over night again.

[Blue Apple Herps]

Wait 5-7 days and don't bother him at all. Don't take him out, don't watch him, just let him be. Then get a live pinky and put it in a deli cup and put him some place dark, like a closet, and leave him be overnight with the pinky w/absolutely no disruptions. Check on him in the morning and I bet he will have eaten for you if he's eaten in the past.

I would get him feeding on a few meals at first, then you can mess around with f/t. Most do take f/t very easily (I'd say ~80% of my hatchlings take it as their first meal), but some can be tricky at first.

[kc261]

I'm starting to get really frustrated with this little guy. He still hasn't eaten since we brought him home. He does still look healthy to my eyes, not thin or listless or anything like that, so I'm sure there is still time but it is getting harder not to worry about him.

We've tried to feed him 4 times, all 5 days apart.
7/21 - refused a live pinkie we left in deli cup with him for 1 hr
7/26 - refused a f/t pinkie we left in deli cup overnight
7/31 - refused a live pinkie we left in deli cup overnight
8/5 - refused a f/t pinkie we left in deli cup over night (I had intended to try live again but the local store was out of pinkies)

Any more suggestions or should I just keep trying every 5 days for a while? How long do we have until it starts to become a concern that he might starve himself?

[blackcrystal22]

I'm starting to get really frustrated with this little guy. He still hasn't eaten since we brought him home. He does still look healthy to my eyes, not thin or listless or anything like that, so I'm sure there is still time but it is getting harder not to worry about him.

We've tried to feed him 4 times, all 5 days apart.
7/21 - refused a live pinkie we left in deli cup with him for 1 hr
7/26 - refused a f/t pinkie we left in deli cup overnight
7/31 - refused a live pinkie we left in deli cup overnight
8/5 - refused a f/t pinkie we left in deli cup over night (I had intended to try live again but the local store was out of pinkies)

Any more suggestions or should I just keep trying every 5 days for a while? How long do we have until it starts to become a concern that he might starve himself?

As he is young this could be a big concern.
When you put him in the deli cup, (keep trying f/t until you can get live again) put it in a paper bag or make sure the enclosure and room is completely dark and quiet with no disturbances. Until you can get live, try a few tricks of the trade with the f/t. Dipping in chicken stock, making sure the mouse is warmed under a heat lamp for a bit, even braining if your up to it.

Good luck, and make sure it's dark!

[kc261]

He finally ate! Yay!

I decided to try something different. Instead of moving him into the deli cup, which I thought might be stressing him out, I just left him in his regular enclosure, and put the pinkie right inside his favorite hide. He was out of his hide, cruising around, like he usually is in the evenings, so it wasn't like I dropped it right on top of the poor snake.

In the morning, he was back in the hide, and the pinkie was nowhere to be seen. The way he was coiled up, it was hard to be sure there was a lump in his belly, and I didn't want to disturb him. I can't imagine it went anywhere else though!

I'm SO happy!

[Jenn]

Good for you Casey!!! You shouldn't have any more problems. It's such a good feeling to get that first feed under your belt. Take plenty of pictures, some day you won't believe your baby was so small.

[kc261]

Good for you Casey!!! You shouldn't have any more problems. It's such a good feeling to get that first feed under your belt. Take plenty of pictures, some day you won't believe your baby was so small.

Thanks Jenn! We all thought that we wouldn't have any trouble in the first place because he was not a problem feeder at the breeder. But this little guy just had to be different I guess.

We don't have a single picture yet, except the one the breeder took before we bought him, because I wanted to wait until after he ate for us. I'll definitely be snapping a few once he's had time to digest!