One hatchling refusing to eat

How many times does a hatchling have to refuse for you to start thinking about assist feeding? I have a hatchling from a clutch that hatched 5/20 and shed on 5/30. He has refused every time I have offered him food and I’m seriously considering assist feeding him. Any ideas?


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Depends what you mean by assist feed. I've seen that used a lot of different ways. Usually after 3 or 4 failed feedings (at week apart minimum) I will do it where you gently tease the head of the prey into their mouth and most of the time they will coil and swallow on their own from there. I try to avoid anything more aggressive than that until I feel like they are getting too close to emaciated that if I go any longer it's going to be really rough on them to recover, at which point I'll use a large pinky mouse or small fuzzy mouse to make it pretty much impossible to spit out so they can still swallow on their own.

It depends on the condition of the animal, I had a twin egg runt at 29 grams I assist fed after two weeks. Usually I always offer live hopper for my first feeding, if they do not eat after 5 weeks I take a mouse fuzzy and assist feed by inserting feeder in his mouth and letting them swallow on their own. Usually after 2-3 assist feeding they start to eat on their own for me.

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Originally Posted by nikkubus

Depends what you mean by assist feed. I've seen that used a lot of different ways. Usually after 3 or 4 failed feedings (at week apart minimum) I will do it where you gently tease the head of the prey into their mouth and most of the time they will coil and swallow on their own from there. I try to avoid anything more aggressive than that until I feel like they are getting too close to emaciated that if I go any longer it's going to be really rough on them to recover, at which point I'll use a large pinky mouse or small fuzzy mouse to make it pretty much impossible to spit out so they can still swallow on their own.

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Assist feeding to me is exactly what you described. I’ve watched a few videos of how it’s done but I have never physically done it. I just don’t want to stress him to the point where he doesn’t want to eat unless I assist feed


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Originally Posted by mdb730

It depends on the condition of the animal, I had a twin egg runt at 29 grams I assist fed after two weeks. Usually I always offer live hopper for my first feeding, if they do not eat after 5 weeks I take a mouse fuzzy and assist feed by inserting feeder in his mouth and letting them swallow on their own. Usually after 2-3 assist feeding they start to eat on their own for me.

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He has lost 10 grams (he was 73 after his first shed) and it looks like he has some loose skin towards the end of his tail. That’s why I’m starting to worry a bit


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Have you tried the hairdryer method ??


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Have you tried the hairdryer method ??


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No, I’m dealing with live prey not frozen thawed


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Originally Posted by CK BALLS

No, I’m dealing with live prey not frozen thawed


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Ah . .. apologies


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Ah . .. apologies


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No worries. I might as well try ft, I’m willing to try anything at this point


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Originally Posted by CK BALLS

No worries. I might as well try ft, I’m willing to try anything at this point


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I’ve sent you a pm

It’s just a copy - paste method


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