Eggs due to hatch soon, quick question on feeding!

Hi folks,

My first clutch of eggs is set to hatch in about 9-12 days. I've read the sticky about Hatchling Care, but have a quick question. I know to wait until they shed before trying to feed, and mouse hoppers or rat crawlers are often the first meal. I'm sure that trying to give a hatchling a F/T wouldn't work, or am I way off base here? Is it pretty typical to switch the hatchlings to F/T before selling? Or will they readily accept anything that smells like food as hatchlings?

Thanks!

I've been able to start a majority of my hatchlings on f/t. (Knock on wood.) For me, I wait a week after their first shed and offer each a f/t warmed mouse hopper. I set it in quietly after dark and walk away, not checking in again until the following morning. Some folks zombie dance, that can totally work, too, I just like to keep it quiet. I do give them all hides, I believe that helps.

About half usually eat the first offering, everyone gets the same treatment again one week later. Babies that don't take f/t after the 4th offering get live large mouse fuzzies.

Perfect! That's extremely helpful! Thank you!

I've started plenty of hatchlings on f/t mice or rat pups. Just depends on the snake.

I started mine on live mouse hoppers last weekend, 7 of 9 in the clutch ate. I'll give f/t a try this weekend.

I start on live rat pups with their eyes closed but mobile. However, I know plenty of people do start on F/T. I would recommend the 'leave it and walk away' method over zombie dancing for a little hatchling. I suspect they will be too timid to strike with you hovering over them and you may cause them to have a frightening first experience with F/T.

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Originally Posted by Kourtneyhk

Hi folks,

My first clutch of eggs is set to hatch in about 9-12 days. I've read the sticky about Hatchling Care, but have a quick question. I know to wait until they shed before trying to feed, and mouse hoppers or rat crawlers are often the first meal. I'm sure that trying to give a hatchling a F/T wouldn't work, or am I way off base here? Is it pretty typical to switch the hatchlings to F/T before selling? Or will they readily accept anything that smells like food as hatchlings?

Thanks!

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While getting them started on live is often easier and quicker I know several people that start their animals on F/T.

I feed everything live but will switch hatchling to F/T from time to time but most often on customer's request, I have had great success in doing so, when they are very young, kept in an optimal setup and are voracious they are very easy to switch.

Fantastic! That makes it much easier! Hopefully they'll all take F/T for me ;)