starving baby?

[bads15]

i have decided to expand my collection and one of the purchases i made was of a pair of 0.2 balls. i believe they are of the same clutch but cant be for sure. one eats like a champ and has eaten for me twice the other acts like she has no idea that she is supposed to eat. when i got them they were the same size( approx 50g I'm guessing since i didn't have a scale at the time.) the one that doesn't eat is at 48g as of June 15. they were purchased on the 1st. i do not have experience with snakes this small and do not know how long this can go on for before it becomes serious for her. i was wondering when to start worrying. PS. she still seems to have some good strength for her size.

[Holbeird]

Some babies are slow to start eating, did you get these two from a breeder or a pet store? Also have you taken them to see a vet? What type of food are you offering? Also what environment do you have them in, all of this information could help us figure out what suggestions might help you little one.

[bads15]

a friend of mine found them for me from a small breeder. i have been trying to feed her pinky asf rats. at the moment i have the pair together in the same sterilite 12qt/11.4L bin ( shoebox size) aswell as them both having their own hide. i was told by a friend that keeping them together till they get a little more size on them would be fine. do i need to separate them? no i have not taken her as i am not sure there is a problem yet. she apears healthy at this time and still has the strength to rap around my wrist and squeeze. thank you for the prompt response. ps. i have them now on my rack with the other new snakes and have been monitoring the heat religiously. i tried to add a pic so that you could visualize what i was talking about but do not know how.

[Kaorte]

I bet if you separate them the other will eat. Sounds like dominance to me. All snakes should have their own enclosure.

[rabernet]

a friend of mine found them for me from a small breeder. i have been trying to feed her pinky asf rats. at the moment i have the pair together in the same sterilite 12qt/11.4L bin ( shoebox size) aswell as them both having their own hide. i was told by a friend that keeping them together till they get a little more size on them would be fine. do i need to separate them? no i have not taken her as i am not sure there is a problem yet. she apears healthy at this time and still has the strength to rap around my wrist and squeeze. thank you for the prompt response. ps. i have them now on my rack with the other new snakes and have been monitoring the heat religiously. i tried to add a pic so that you could visualize what i was talking about but do not know how.

Two snakes housed together equals one dominant, and one submissive - with the submissive one not feeding. House them separately, and offer bigger than pink ASF's - hatchlings right out of the eggs are offered ASF hoppers here (eyes and ears open, fully furred).

Wait 5-7 days after separating them, and offer food IN the same tub (I'd move the little one down to a six quart tub) that she's housed in.

All hatchlings here are housed individually.

[bads15]

thank you, great i will try to separate them. at what point do i say she needs medical help?

[Kaorte]

well, you have only attempted two feedings, correct? I would say if the baby doesn't start eating a week or two after putting it in its own tub, then it might be time to see the vet.

I am 99.9% sure that it is because they are housed together. Once there is no dominance, the snake should start eating just as well as the other.

[bads15]

im happy to say they are now in their own bins. only time will tell. thanks again

[bads15]

alright, so like i said in my last post i separated the two girls. the smaller one seemed pretty comfortable in her new home and i had a small fuzzy asf still so i thought i would give it a try just to see if she would show any interest. i know it was a little soon but she was starting to appear week so i didn't want to wait too long. i tossed it in her bin, leaving her in her hide for added comfort and closed the lid to trap the smell in there. i kept my eye on them the hole time to make sure she was ok and shortly after she began to take interest. after about 5 minutes of her watching it she finally ate. SHE FINALLY ATE! thanks for the advise, i think she will be ok, and i learned something new.

[Kaorte]

Glad she ate for you! Keep her on a 5 day feeding schedule and she should start gaining lots of weight