Hatchling's first meals

[pythonkeeper16]

I went to try and feed my hatchlings today because they have all shed and none of them would take the pink off the tongs. Is this normal? I left a F/T pink in one of the bins hoping that by tomorrow its gone, if not what should I do?

[Qetu]

might still be full from the embryo? idk

[Shadrach]

You'll be lucky if you get any of them to eat f/t the first time try some live rat pinks. Then after a few feedings switch them to f/t.

[pythonkeeper16]

Ok thanks for the info, I usualy would feed live pinks but no rat babies but now I have an excuse to go to the reptile shop!

[LGL]

I'd offer live hopper mice. The heat and movement should get their insticts going. With hopper mice, you can leave them in there for a bit without harm since their teeth haven't hardened yet. For new hatchlings that don't take fuzzy rats for their first meal, I put a live hopper mouse in the cage and then check on them half an hour later. I rarely have one refuse when I do this.

[JAMills]

I also use live hopper mice to start the 1st couple meals and then go to frozen thawed Rat Pinks and then FT Rat fuzzies as soon as I can after that.

[FL0OD]

I'd offer live hopper mice. The heat and movement should get their insticts going. With hopper mice, you can leave them in there for a bit without harm since their teeth haven't hardened yet. For new hatchlings that don't take fuzzy rats for their first meal, I put a live hopper mouse in the cage and then check on them half an hour later. I rarely have one refuse when I do this.

i agree. i could never get little ones to eat pinks but they take hoppers every time.

[rabernet]

I start mine on ASF hoppers. They have their first two meals on ASF hoppers, then they all switch over to rat fuzzies with no problems. The ASF's get them started, the two meals get that metabolism and feed drive kicked in and the rest is "butter baby!!!"

[WingedWolfPsion]

The earliest mine will eat is 3 days after their first shed--most will eat 5 days after. A few hold out longer.

I offer live rat pinks or fuzzies first. Several of the animals usually take them. The ones that don't, get a mouse hopper--the rest of them usually take the hopper. I alternate the offerings until all the babies have eaten. It never fails that I'll get at least one that has to be assist-fed to start at all, but so far I have gotten them all to eventually start feeding on their own.

If a baby seems reluctant, I have also found that offering a mouse crawler works well. It is less mobile and less intimidating, and can be left in safely for longer. Don't underestimate a hopper's teeth. They can eat lab block.

Interestingly, there are some babies that do not want mouse hoppers--they prefer rats from the start.