When to assist feed?

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

This is what you need to do. 6 quart is perfect, put in a small hide over warm spot and try feeding once a week in the tub without disturbing the snake at all. I would feed her a live mouse hopper in the evening and you could leave it over night if needed as the hopper could never harm your snake. This snake needs security ESPECIALLY for its first meals. I have had hatchlings be nervous before, be patient. Once he feels secure then he will think about ambushing his prey;)

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That sounds perfect. I tried feeding him a rat pink earlier today but nothing. I just put it under his hide with him a couple minutes ago. Should I put it in the hide with him or outside and let him come out looking for it? I noticed him cruising his tub the last 2 nights, I thought maybe he was searching for food since he hasnt done that since I purchased him 2 weeks ago. This calico is definately the most nervous snake I have ever had but again Ive never purchased one this young before especially who hasnt fed yet. Loving the advice so far. I'll keep trying everything recommended. Thanks

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Originally Posted by Homegrownscales

IMO With hatchlings and new babies pinks are never The way to go. Ft is never The way to go. Pinks are too immobile. Ive personally neve had a hatchling take an ft so i dont try. They dont kickstart that feeding response. I've made the same mistake too. But now I only start my babies on hopper mice live. Worry about conversion later. You really want that baby to eat. Try not to offer too much, or change too many things quickly. If you do the process of acclimation starts all over.
Sometimes a black out tub works. I usually have 3 tubs that I've spray painted the outside Black ready and waiting when babies start coming out. Any that have refused 3 weeks in a row or more get moved into te black out. I wait 7-10 days before offering again and that usually does the trick.
I'd let him be for 10 days and then at night offer 1 live mouse weanling.
I'm sure if you do this you'll see that he's just stressed and really not that stubborn. Good luck!


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I think your right about him just being stressed. I dont have many choices on what I can feed him because I dont breed my own rodents(although maybe I should start). The store I go to always sells all their rodents so quick they dont have a chance to get to the weanly stage. I'll wait till they get a new mouse shipment and try to pick out the tinest one and try that(they are usually very young). I think i will try a more secure tub and wait for a week or so as well. Thanks for the help.

Sometimes offering food everyday can stress a snake out and cause a snake to refuse a meal. So long as your husbandry is good,like snug hide,right temps. The snake might just need some time to adjust and be left alone for a while to start eating. That's why I would say leave it be for three weeks then offer a meal.

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the help. I moved him into an even smaller tub, waited, and introduced a weanling mouse and he snatched it up in about 2 seconds.

i have 5 2011's this year - they were all started on live except one - they are all between 65 and 85 grams - 3 of them ate f/t small mice first try - one refused a couple times so i gave in and gave a live which she pounded - then the next week she refused f/t again but this week she slammed the f/t - that leaves me with only one of the 5 that hasn't ate yet - ironically it was the only one started by the breeder on f/t - i strongly believe that it really has to do more with getting settled in and comfortable and proper husbandry of course - they will switch over to f/t - except in the most extreme cases - THEY WILL - when they get hungry enough they will eat - now, i do check weights weekly - as long as their is no signifigant weight loss they will be fine - i strongly believe that the best method is to leave them alone and offer weekly - they will eat - i have to admit that their finicky eating is frustrating - corns, boas - they will not give you this trouble but relax - it will eat:banana:

I'm pretty new at this but I was worried about my new ball not feeding either my issue was the fact that she refused to eat in the feeding enclosure she just ignored the mouse and was looking around this new weird place I put her. As soon as I tried her home not even a minute after I placed it in she ate I personally feed f/t because one she eats them with no complaint and two my fiance hates rodents in the house.