hatchling

I've been a member for years, and check in off and on, but six snakes later, never actually acquired a BP.
Chester (a beautifully patterned normal) landed in my lap yesterday morning. Needed a home ASAP. He is in a plastic shoe box with a warm water bottle in it. I have a temp gun and a remote probe thermometer, so that low tech option will work for a few days. Heating pad and Herpstat ordered and on the way.

Hatched maybe a two weeks ago? Forgot to ask for date - will get the date, and don't know if he had his first shed. Previous owner went through a lot of mice trying to get him to eat, but no luck. He does have a good strike response, but his aim isn't there yet. He weighs 64 grams.

I am surrounded by mature colubrids, but I feel like a newbie.

If he still wont eat after you have the UTH maybe this will help.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-hatchling-101

Heat pad and Herpstat arrived a few days ago. He has been set up since then.

This afternoon, he ate a three day old baby rat. Forgot to weigh the rat beforehand, but even for a "pinkie" it was a good size.
Fed live this time. Hope he'll be willing to take pre-killed once he is ready for rats with open eyes and teeth.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by distaff

Heat pad and Herpstat arrived a few days ago. He has been set up since then.

This afternoon, he ate a three day old baby rat. Forgot to weigh the rat beforehand, but even for a "pinkie" it was a good size.
Fed live this time. Hope he'll be willing to take pre-killed once he is ready for rats with open eyes and teeth.

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Bit of a scramble for you to set up for this unexpected snake...sounds like you did well. :gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by distaff

...Previous owner went through a lot of mice trying to get him to eat, but no luck. He does have a good strike response, but his
aim isn't there yet....

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That sounds like they offered too frequently & too soon, maybe before his first shed also. Strikes that appear to be poor aim
were likely to be intentional misses because they are just defending themselves & didn't want it. Re-offering too soon after
a refusal just causes stress. Glad he took food for you, you've obviously on the right track.