Stubborn Hatchlings..

Hey all. I had 7 bps hatch on the 8/15. They shed around the 8/25. I have tried 2 feedings since then and NO one will eat. My last clutch ate 5 days after shedding so I am concerned. How much longer should I try feeding normally? or should I start to assist feed soon? Thanks a bunch.

I myself am pretty new to this.. had my first clutch this year... out of 6 my lil lesser girl was the last to eat... It was almost a month after she hatched out... NOW..... OMG... she is my crazy feeder.... she dont wait... she comes right at yah.... she wants to eat all the time... hahahaha.....:)

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Originally Posted by CeeJay

Hey all. I had 7 bps hatch on the 8/15. They shed around the 8/25. I have tried 2 feedings since then and NO one will eat. My last clutch ate 5 days after shedding so I am concerned. How much longer should I try feeding normally? or should I start to assist feed soon? Thanks a bunch.

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Just be patient and keep offering. It's too soon, imo, to start thinking about assist feeding. If they hatched with good size and absorbed all the yolk prior to crawling out they can go quite a bit without eating. I have a baby that hatched out on 07/15 and has had one meal...a hopper mouse assist fed. That's it. Many assist attempts but he spits them out every time, no matter how far down I get the rat. Now that's stubborn...:rage:

Post up pics of the babies if you can. That will help determine how they're doing and if anything drastic needs to be done...although I doubt it...

Good luck with them...

a lot depends on how the hatchling looks. average is around 40 to 45 days after hatching. which is about 30 days after the first shed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CeeJay

Hey all. I had 7 bps hatch on the 8/15. They shed around the 8/25. I have tried 2 feedings since then and NO one will eat. My last clutch ate 5 days after shedding so I am concerned. How much longer should I try feeding normally? or should I start to assist feed soon? Thanks a bunch.

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What did you offer?

If you offer rats offer mice, if you offered mice offer rats.

Depending on the animal overall look, whether or not the yolk was fully absorbed or not the time frame before assisting may vary.

Here is what I do, I offer food 3 to 5 days after their first shed, after that I offer once a week. After 3 refusals I offer another prey type.

As far a assisting I generally start to consider it after about 6 refusals. (Granted the animal is healthy and has fully absorbed it´s yolk)

Oh wow. Sounds like I am worrying a bit too soon.

I weighed them this morning. They all are within a 5 grams of their birth weight.

My first offering was hopper mice. My second offering was rat pinks (with some hair) since that was all my local reptile shop had that day.

Oh wow. Sounds like I am worrying a bit too soon.

I weighed them this morning. They all are within a 5 grams of their birth weight.

My first offering was hopper mice. My second offering was rat pinks (with some hair) since that was all my local reptile shop had that day.

If we have a stubborn little hatchling we offer food every 5 days post shed. After 5 refusals, then we assist feed. After 1 or 2 assists, most become awesome little eaters. Good luck, hope this helps!

Hey congrats on your hatchlings!:snake:

Good Luck with the feeding:)