Getting hatchlings to eat.

Hello all. I have 4 snakes that came out of their eggs November first and then shed about a week and a half later. A few days after that I left rat pink in their 6 quart tubs overnight. None of them ate so I waited 4 or 5 days and tried again. They still didn't eat so today I tried mouse hoppers and left them in. 3 of the hoppers are still in their cages, 1 is dead but not eaten.

Any advice on getting these little girls started?

Try again in a few days. Make sure their humidity is still pretty high and temps are correct. I keep my babies at 70-80% humidity for the first month or so and slowly wean them down to 50% humidity. They eat within the first week after their first shed. Babies like it warm and humid. Maybe get some fuzzy crawler mice, or just repeat with hoppers in a few days.

How open are the cages? It might help to add some extra "stuff" to the cage fore security...something as simple as an extra PVC tube for hiding really made a difference for a friend of mine last season when he had a few picky eaters.

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Originally Posted by Physician&Snakes

How open are the cages? It might help to add some extra "stuff" to the cage fore security...something as simple as an extra PVC tube for hiding really made a difference for a friend of mine last season when he had a few picky eaters.

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They are 6 qt sterlite tubs with just paper towels on the bottom. Maybe I should add some crushed newspaper to fill up some of the space. Maybe some aspen instead. Some of my smaller snakes seems to like and dig a little in it.

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Originally Posted by Billy305

They are 6 qt sterlite tubs with just paper towels on the bottom. Maybe I should add some crushed newspaper to fill up some of the space. Maybe some aspen instead. Some of my smaller snakes seems to like and dig a little in it.

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I would almost bet that is the issue, some snakes like the idea of tight solid spaces in their environments so I usually recommend something like opaque plastic cups or PVC pipe, but sometimes yes shredded newspaper does the trick. Of course there are also specimens out their that would eat in an open hockey ring.

Most of mine will eat soon after their first shed. I have had a few this year (from different clutches) not eat for a few months after hatching, not for lack of trying. Some took to a frozen/thaw rat pink better than a live one. I was starting to get really worried, but eventually everybody ate and they are now eating like pigs. Some just don't want to eat right away.

Adding an extra hide also helped. I cut sections of 4" PVC pipe down the middle and it makes a pretty good hide for babies.

Yup. Definitely give them some hides and extra security. Then try mouse hoppers again for the next scheduled feed.


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I have better luck with starting them out on aspen (a more natural substrate). Fill the tubs about halfway, that way they have a lot less empty space. I also like to fill mine with crumpled newspaper. Also, make sure the hides are snug for them.

Update.

Unfortunately I found one of the babies passed away last week and with none of the others eating we decided the other babies should be assist fed. All the took mice assisted and next week didn't take a meal again so they were assist fed again.

I guess the plan is to offer weekly and if they don't take assist until they learn to eat on their own.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation and how long did it take them to start eating on their own?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Billy305

Update.

Unfortunately I found one of the babies passed away last week and with none of the others eating we decided the other babies should be assist fed. All the took mice assisted and next week didn't take a meal again so they were assist fed again.

I guess the plan is to offer weekly and if they don't take assist until they learn to eat on their own.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation and how long did it take them to start eating on their own?

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I have a baby that hatched in July that still isn't eating on his own...however, most will start eating on their own after an assist or two...