Best Christmas present ever !!

Out of all the hatchlings I had, there was/is one "problem" feeder.

The Emperor Pinstripe female. Never took a meal on her own. Tried ALL the tricks. Different feeders, live, f/t, prekilled.
They are raised in small tubs, with plenty of privacy and security. Husbandry SPOT ON.

Also tried PATIENCE and time. Eventually had to assist feed. Which I've done before, successfully, with other hatchlings (rescues, and friends, not mine).

This one? It fought it. It always took more then one try. It wasn't force feeding, but it wasn't a easy assist feed either by far.

In between assist feedings I kept trying the other tricks. Always giving it time in between.

After 4 of those feedings I got the little one up to a decent weight and past the second shed. I did one more assist feed and then I was simply going to wait it out.

This is the third week that I tried the "once weekly" offering of food and for the first time the little one seemed interested, rather then scared. Still shy though, so I left the
frozen/ thawed hopper mouse in the tub and left (tried that before, too).

Just came back and its GONE !!!!!!!!!!! WHEW !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really started to think about giving up, since those feedings were a struggle that was stressful to us both, and I didn't want to go back to that.

Incidentally, I changed my remaining 4 hatchlings to coco substrate from paper towels 3 days ago. The other 3 took their meals immediately, too. The Pastel Enchi and Super Pastel Enchi
have always been good eaters, but gosh, they went from dead asleep curled up to grabbing their food within half a second !!!

The Super Emperor Pinstripe that did eat well, but was really tricky to get to accept rat fuzzies (rather then mice) took her rat fuzzy within a second as well.

I wonder now, if substrate could have possibly made a difference ???

Either way, I'm so happy :)

and here she is...after her meal.

Looking proud of herself ;)

http://photos.imageevent.com/morgens...85416962_n.jpg

Was the same problem I had with dante, he fought the assist feeds a couple times. He took about 2 months to successful do it all on his own. Good looking girl tho, looks like my atlas [emoji16]

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Someone ate her second un-assisted meal today !

Another f/t mouse hopper. Had to leave it with her, but it was gone within 10 minutes. :)

http://photos.imageevent.com/morgens...75530190_n.jpg

Congratulations! She's a beautiful girl. I'm so glad she's finally eating for you.

big congrats to the both of you! WHEW!!!

she's beautiful. [emoji4]

Based on what I have seen and what other breeders that I know experience having a substrate allowing for the snake to burrow like coconut chips or aspen does help.

Now does not mean that sometime you won't have that hard to start one because it still happen, but switching things around and find what triggers them is key.

Good job.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Based on what I have seen and what other breeders that I know experience having a substrate allowing for the snake to burrow like coconut chips or aspen does help.

Now does not mean that sometime you won't have that hard to start one because it still happen, but switching things around and find what triggers them is key.

Good job.

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Thank you :) That means a lot to me, esp. coming from you. I know you have vast experience with those snakes and breeding them. This little one had me worried. I always figured, there are SO many tricks to get a difficult one going, that I wasn't truly worried about it. I had assist fed before.

However, this one was something else altogether. I guess in a way it is good to come across a difficult situation, it sure makes one humble and the learning never ends.

I can't say for sure that the substrate made a difference, but I do feel that it did. All 4 had a better response since then. 2 of them were great eaters to begin with, but even they seem "accelerated" now, LOL. The one that ate well but was picky about switching to rats, went for it immediately since the switch. And the little problem child has finally turned the corner.

Its enough to make me consider switching hatchlings to substrate after their first shed, and after their umbilicus is healed and closed.

Perhaps its the darkness of that substrate (compared to white paper towel)? Or the fact that they can "burrow" into it (although its not a deep layer). I'm not sure, but I'm glad it seemed to make a difference.

Quote:

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However, this one was something else altogether. I guess in a way it is good to come across a difficult situation, it sure makes one humble and the learning never ends

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.Breeding animals will teach you a lot and that is the only way to learn because even if there were books with all the answers experiencing it is very different.

It is possibly a combination of various thing or just that she was ready, usually snakes needing to be assisted only do so 3 to 5 times before they get the idea, then again not always I once assisted a female for 6 months and she actually became one of my best feeders afterward.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

.Breeding animals will teach you a lot and that is the only way to learn because even if there were books with all the answers experiencing it is very different.

It is possibly a combination of various thing or just that she was ready, usually snakes needing to be assisted only do so 3 to 5 times before they get the idea, then again not always I once assisted a female for 6 months and she actually became one of my best feeders afterward.

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Wow, 6 month...

That is dedication!

It is good to know that there is a chance, even after a long time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

I once assisted a female for 6 months and she actually became one of my best feeders afterward.

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WOW!!! what a stubborn one! it's good to hear that you shouldn't give up or feel discouraged right away. but man...6 months. did she grow at the same rate as her siblings, or was she "behind"? jc. :)

Congrats on getting her eating!

I have also noticed an increase in feeding response with reptichip vs paper towels. I chalked it up to them just feeling more secure but it was definitely noticeable when I changed over.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rufretic

Congrats on getting her eating!

I have also noticed an increase in feeding response with reptichip vs paper towels. I chalked it up to them just feeling more secure but it was definitely noticeable when I changed over.

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Thank you, it is good to know, that others have had the same experience.

What I'm wondering about, has anyone had any hatchlings that simply would not / possibly could not eat on their own? Despite nothing visibly wrong with them? Despite trying every trick and patience?

What got me discouraged was that this one just would not want anything to do with any kind of food. Right from the start she would panic and try to get away from any food. Esp. live food. Even when I tried "barely moving" live food. She would always do nothing but try to get away. Same with f/t or even pre killed.

The assist feeding was also stressful with her/for her. The ones I assist fed before would give a bit of a struggle, but with the right technique and a lot of calmness and patience it would "click" for them and they would eventually move the food on their own without to much of an issue.

Not this one. She would fight and struggle and keep trying to get rid of the food. The "click" was very difficult to get with her. I'm glad she finally turned the corner, because I'm not sure I would have wanted to continue this. I wasn't sure anymore if I was helping or hurting, whether I should just let it go..

Happy update [emoji4] Little one took her third unassisted meal!

Not only that, but she took a ft rat fuzzy without a problem. No more mice!! She was VERY interested and hungry. She didn't strike yet, but she certainly wanted it. Left it with her and she ate right away [emoji4]


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Today was the 5th UN-assisted feed !!

Not only that, but for the first time I didn't just have to leave the food, but she struck, grabbed and wrapped it !

So this little Emperor Pinstripe girl is ready for her new home.

I was going to keep her for 10 un-assisted meals but I found a experienced and good home that will easily be able to keep her happy and healthy. Local, too.
Even though this little girl is now for all purposes and intends a perfectly normal Ball Python hatchling, I'm giving her away for free and with full disclosure.

I'm just happy that she is going to a good home that will make sure she keeps thriving. I will let her digest her meal, and if all goes well, she will leave this weekend.

This will leave me with only 2 of my own hatchlings. The Super Emperor Pinstripe girl and the Super Pastel Enchi male. The male I will place, but the girl I will keep for now, mainly because I have a "spot" open until I can find a Pastel Leopard Desert Ghost female (if I ever find one)

Here is the little one after striking and constricting her food :)

http://photos.imageevent.com/morgens...72489034_n.jpg

Almost all my "children" are out of the house now.. :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zina10

Today was the 5th UN-assisted feed !!

Not only that, but for the first time I didn't just have to leave the food, but she struck, grabbed and wrapped it !

So this little Emperor Pinstripe girl is ready for her new home.

I was going to keep her for 10 un-assisted meals but I found a experienced and good home that will easily be able to keep her happy and healthy. Local, too.
Even though this little girl is now for all purposes and intends a perfectly normal Ball Python hatchling, I'm giving her away for free and with full disclosure.

I'm just happy that she is going to a good home that will make sure she keeps thriving. I will let her digest her meal, and if all goes well, she will leave this weekend.

This will leave me with only 2 of my own hatchlings. The Super Emperor Pinstripe girl and the Super Pastel Enchi male. The male I will place, but the girl I will keep for now, mainly because I have a "spot" open until I can find a Pastel Leopard Desert Ghost female (if I ever find one)

Here is the little one after striking and constricting her food :)

http://photos.imageevent.com/morgens...72489034_n.jpg

Almost all my "children" are out of the house now.. :(

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Great Job Lucy. Another one of your successes :)

Found this thread very inspirational considering the 5 weeks I went through with Neo not eating and him being my first Ball Python. Gratz on the success.

Thank you all :)

Little one looks quite fat and happy this morning. This one really was a challenge, but sometimes we need those to keep us humble in our endeavors.

:)