I have a hatchling that is reeeeeaaaaally trying my patience. He hatched on 03 July and weighed 70 grams. He shed on 11 July. Began offering hopper mice to him along with my other nine hatchlings. He along with a female spider wanted nothing to do with it. I tried again every 3 or 4 days with no luck. I've tried pinky mice, hopper mice, rat pups, f/t, live, brained, with newspaper balls, with a covered tub, in a smaller tub, on a different shelf of my rack, off tongs, left overnight...nothing works. I've tried assist feeding 3 times now with no luck. I get the mouse head in his mouth and he just spits it out. I've tried holding him the whole time, I've tried putting him down and he still spits it out. I've tried getting the mouse hooked on his teeth and he has no problem shaking his head and dropping it. I'm certainly no expert, but I have assist fed baby balls before with no problems. Once the head is in their mouth they usually either start eating or coiling it up and then eat. Not this guy. Last attempt I sat there holding him with the mouse in his mouth for about 5 minutes and he just sat there. Still as can be. I very slowly put him down and he spit it out.

I've been keeping an eye on his weight: 07/22 he weighed 66 grams. 07/29 he was 62 grams. 07/31 he was 63 grams, and today, 08/04 once again weighed 63 grams. He seems to be drinking fine but just won't eat. Maybe he's vegetarian???

Just wanted to get an idea of how much time I have left and how soon I need to get a little more aggressive with the assist feeding. I'm a little hesitant about forcing anything down his throat, but if it comes to that, so be it.

Here's a pic from today right before my latest failed attempt at assist feeding...

How long do I have to get this guy going???

Thanks for any and all advice. I'm afraid I'm starting to lose a little hope...



p.s. the Spider female is feeding great...she was just a little slower to get started than the others...