Feeding hatchlings first time

OK sorry for being such a pest but how long do you wait after shed to feed and do you just throw a pon key in the tub and close it and check the next day or what?

1.1 pastels, 1.0 lesser, 0.1 spider, 1.3 norm. 1.0 fire 0.1 RTB 0.0 sav. Mon.

I wait about ten days then I offer a fat mouse fuzzy turn off the light and come back in about an hour. This works 80% of the time for Me.

I wait 7 days after they shed, and I repeat feeding every 7 days - most of them eats after few times :).

+1

I wait 7 days after shed and try a rat pinky. I try every 7 days until they eat. After 3-4 weeks if they haven't eaten, I try a mouse hopper.

Day one post shed.... half of mine will eat then. Some need a week or two. It hurts nothing to try a little mouse fuzzy/hopper.

I offer a live mouse hopper day after shed

So most people it seems don't start with rat pinky.

1.1 pastels, 1.0 lesser, 0.1 spider, 1.3 norm. 1.0 fire 0.1 RTB 0.0 sav. Mon.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ironpython

So most people it seems don't start with rat pinky.

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Hoppers are much more active than rat pinkies so it gets the snakes attention and feeding response to kick in much sooner than a rat pink.

I offer meals on my next feeding cycle after they shed. Everyone gets fed at the same time with the exception of younger snakes which get offered twice a week. For hatchlings, first two feedings are hoppers/small mice then the third attempt is usually a rat pink.

I start most of mine on rat pinkies. If they refuse them a couple times I give them a hopper mouse.

Rat pinks. I open their tub, put them in their hide (if they aren't already in) and put the pinky in the hide with them. Check back in an hour. Repeat every few days until they start eating.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ironpython

So most people it seems don't start with rat pinky.

1.1 pastels, 1.0 lesser, 0.1 spider, 1.3 norm. 1.0 fire 0.1 RTB 0.0 sav. Mon.

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I have tried rat pinks with some success but in my experience most will take the mouse hopper before the rat pink. I think they smell more maybe because fur holds smell better? Not sure

I'm assuming you all mean live? Got a few clutches due soon and I'm guessing live is the way to go for hatchlings?

Live is probably better like 90% of the time.

That said, I started my babies on f/t hopper mice last year. It was very low-effort -- just warmed mouse hoppers and left them alone until morning. Trying to zombie dance for the babies just seemed to scare them.

But, anyway. Yep, 7 days after they shed here, too. Then I offer once a week, no more, and use hopper mice. Babies get little hide boxes and slow starters get switched from paper towels to aspen.

Well I offered live mouse hoppers today and all but one super pastel ate but I left the hopper in her tub so maybe she will get it tonight. Yipee!

1.1 pastels, 1.0 lesser, 0.1 spider, 1.3 norm. 1.0 fire 0.1 RTB 0.0 sav. Mon.

Nice one! :D