Whats do babies have for their 1st meal?..

i am having trouble giving my baby bp's food :(

they are now... 18 days old... from 6 of them.. 2 has eaten.. rat pup and mice pinkies.. since this is my first clutch... i was wondering if there any tips... to encourage the rest to eat.. :)

thanking everyone!.. :) :bow:

18 days old is nothing given they had their first shed about 4 days ago it might take a few more days weeks before they all eat, I generally offer food 5 to 7 days after their first shed usually the majority will eat.

People offer food after the first shed not before that (just in case)

Now as far as food they are usually started rat crawler or hopper mice, rat pups are too big and mice fuzzies are too small.

Now when it comes to starting hatching the most important is your setup and security.

Do you have them in a 6 quarts tubs, with aspen bedding?

Have handled them?

Can you give a run down of your setup.

Many will start on rats some however won't and will need to be offered mice, I generally do after 2 refusal, than if they persist even with mice I do not start to worry before week 4 after the first shed (of course depending on the overall health of the animal and whether or not there are other factors involved)

i have separated them before they shedded.. in tubs as big as shoes boxes with aspen bedding... a small waterbowl.. i am missing a hide though.. i just got some small pots today.. that i plan to put in tomorrow...

i have one that is very agressive... when i offered food.. but... it only seem to attack in a defensive way.. :confused:

and.. i think i got the names wrong.. the last time i offered is rat pinkies.. 1 day old.. i just notice i wrote rat pup.. :) way way to big... hehehe.. :D

If your setup is optimal and you refrain from handling them I would not worry too much, again it's very early as it has only been 4 days since their first shed.

Simply offer once a week and if rat fail to do the trick offer live hoppers.

Do not offer more than once a week make sure they are well hydrated and healthy and if in a few weeks no progress as been made than that is when you will need to be concern.

You should be offering large pink or small fuzzy rats, and hopper mice. Not newborn rat pinks and certainly not mouse pinks.

Offer food no more often than once every 3 days.

so actually the food also must be too small ?..

i'll give it a try... :) ,.. wish me luck... :please:

Yess! Every single one have started eating... Thank you for all the suggestions ! :gj: