poll question for hatchlings

Rats were always so hit or miss that I just gave up and feed everyone mice until after their 1st year.

ASF hoppers, then switch over to f/t rats for ones that I'm going to sell. Keepers stay on ASFs. I've had no problems switching from ASFs to rats and back on even adult snakes.

Mice hoppers then rat pups. I feed mine live but I hope to switch the ones I will sell to f/t immediately after their first meal this year.

For those starting on ASFs do you do live or f/t? I'd be interested in trying this but I'd be worried about availability of live.

I have started both of my clutches on rat fuzzies.

most if not all of my clutchs start on live rat fuzzies/pups it sends them into a frenzy. but occasionally you need the mouse to get them going

I feed rat pups for the first meal and really haven't had an issue with doing so. I would say 80% of my babies eat the very first time I offer a live rat pup.

When I get a clutch one day I'll play on feeding rats. I fed nothing but mice till about 2 weeks ago and I'm glad I made the switch it beats feeding 2 mice when they're older.

I've only had one clutch so far but they all took on the first try. I left them together in the incubator until *all* had shed, once they'd all shed each went into a tub of their own. Then I left them totally alone until 7 days post shed, then I offered each a rat crawler. I waited 7 more days to feed again and did this for the first 3 feedings, after which I may switch to a 5 day schedule.

I explained bc I feel like the extra time helped their appetites. I'll use mice or asf's if future hatchlings don't take as quickly, but I'll always try rats first.

I attempt to feed within a few days of their first shed. I offer hopper mice as I feel they move around a bit more and entice the babies to eat. Once they are eating regularly, I switch them over to rat fuzzies.