Assist feeding babies

So, my first attempt at assist feeding was a success but it seemed like she REALLY hated me for it at first. Once I got her teeth sunk into the rat she started constricting my hand quickly though and when I got her off she wrapped into a ball and then started eating it quite happily. However, it seemed really stressful on her to have to hold her head and especially when I was opening her mouth with the rat. My question is: How many more times will I have to do this before she starts eating on her own? I know there's no "set" amount of times but how many times does it usually take? I know it sounds dumb, but I don't want her to start thinking that people are bad news.

depends on the snake.
I had one that only took once while a couple others took 3 or 4 times.

There really isn't a magic number though it typically doesn't take more then a few feedings before they figure it out on their own. Next time try heating up the prey with a hair dryer or something and dangle it in front of her face with some tongs so that she can 'see' it with her heat pits.

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Originally Posted by MarkS

There really isn't a magic number though it typically doesn't take more then a few feedings before they figure it out on their own. Next time try heating up the prey with a hair dryer or something and dangle it in front of her face with some tongs so that she can 'see' it with her heat pits.

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Yes I always pre heat them with a hair dryer and the other babies are eating great but she either tries to run away and hide from it or tries to get out of her tub. No interest in eating at all until the assist feed. She really surprised me with how quickly and aggressively she started constricting. I hope that's a good sign that she won't need me to help her much longer.

Did you try a mouse or soft fur? I have just one hatching last season that wouldn't initially touch a rat. Took a soft fur twice,then it started inhaling rats.

No I didn't try a mouse or soft fur but I don't think it would be a good idea to do that since I have no way of supplying them consistently. I could order some online but I would have to buy an entire bag and there is no guarantee she would take them. Then they would just go to waste. If she did take them and decided that she only wanted that kind of feed then I would be stuck buying bags of ASF for 1 snake which are more pricey and aren't always available. In my case I think it's just better to get her started on the type of food that I always have a steady supply of.

I have a baby that hatched in Nov. 2012 and I am still having to put the food in his mouth, I no longer have to stuff it in his mouth, just put it in his mouth now and he will eat it. I wish he would start eating on his own tho, lol.