Babies first meal

I had a clutch of 8 eggs hatch 25 days ago. They shed about 15 days ago. 4 have been eating great and have had 3 meals. However 3 of them have not eaten any meals at all. They look a bit skinny, but they have lost almost no weight since hatching. One ate one meal and now isn’t taking another. Any tips on what I can do. I offer live hopper mice every couple of days. I got a couple them eating by sticking them in a small dark container with the mouse. It’s not working for the other babies though.


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You’re most likely offering to frequently and stressing them out. Leave them for a week since last attempt and try again. You can also offer fuzzy rats, I have some who won’t eat live hopers but will take live fuzzy rats. You have them in racks I assume? Do you have any hides in your tubs?


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Originally Posted by Snow Balls

You’re most likely offering to frequently and stressing them out. Leave them for a week since last attempt and try again. You can also offer fuzzy rats, I have some who won’t eat live hopers but will take live fuzzy rats. You have them in racks I assume? Do you have any hides in your tubs?


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That is possible, I have been offering every 5 days or so. I offered fuzzy rats once with no luck. I do have them in a rack and test they each have a cave.


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Speaking of stress, I wouldn't be weighing snakes that aren't eating either. Yeah, I know you'd love to monitor their weight loss, but if it only increases because you're handling them & they won't eat, where's the benefit?

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Speaking of stress, I wouldn't be weighing snakes that aren't eating either. Yeah, I know you'd love to monitor their weight loss, but if it only increases because you're handling them & they won't eat, where's the benefit?

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I definitely agree. I weighed them once the day they hatched and once last week. Otherwise I try to leave their bins closed.


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I would leave them alone completely for the week (I wouldn’t even check their water) and try to offer again, and like Boger said don’t weight them either. I had a hatchling this year refuse food for 8 weeks and just when I was about to assist feed she finally took a rat fuzzy. Sometimes all they need to do is starve, they’re weird animals. I have confidence if you just leave them alone they will all eat eventually. Stay calm and don’t panic


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I think it's more than just giving time for their hunger to kick in- I think that stress interferes with their instincts & ability to focus on food. Some stress easier than others (just like us, haha!), & many things can cause them stress: they may initially see us as big scary predators lurking about, so handling them is even worse. I quite sure I wouldn't like to be picked up by a giant that's 200+ times bigger than me, & if I were, I sure wouldn't be thinking "what's for lunch?"- I'd be thinking it was ME! :O