Nervous about assisted feeding but might have too.

[seeya205]

when you say put a live hopper in do i just let the hopper roam around or do i get f/t still OR do i take my hemostats and take the live mouse that way. thanks

Live works best for hatchings in my option! They seem to like the hunt! Drop it in and watch from afar and see if your snake shows interest. Mine took the first time in about an hour! Leave the hopper on top of the tank all day to prescent the tank and let him know something is coming. This will usually drive them nuts! This is what worked on my hatchling! Good luck!

[nicktreb]

I purchased a baby ball recently that wouldn't feed for over a month after I got her. I just did the force feed method and it was surprisingly easy. Just watch a video on you tube about it and you're all set.

[zantedeschia]

Another thing to do is leave them alone. I've got a couple that really don't like to be watched. I'm hoping they'll get over that once they get bigger.

[angllady2]

I am far from an expert on this matter but I will tell you my experience. I bought several very young BP's, some of which were undoubtedly younger than they should have been.

To make sure they would feed for me, I started them all on live fuzzy mice, big enough to wiggle around but usually with the eyes still closed, and without fail, each ate well. I feed the little ones every 5 days, and after four successful feedings, I was able to switch them all to F/T with no trouble at all. Once they got used to feeding day and what the sound of the hairdryer means { Everyone else gets F/T }, they all ate their F/T with no trouble at all. In fact, they really acted like they couldn't tell the difference.

Only one still gave me problems, and once I offered her a fuzzy rat instead of a mouse, no more problems. I am not saying yours would not take a f/t to begin with, but I wouldn't worry too much about the switch if you need to do live at first.

Gale

[zantedeschia]

My baby boy (160g now) refused live the one time I tried it on him. He takes f/t just fine tho I have to leave it on the floor of the cage near his hide. He'll poke his nose out and eat it.

[zantedeschia]

My baby boy (160g now) refused live the one time I tried it on him. He takes f/t just fine tho I have to leave it on the floor of the cage near his hide. He'll poke his nose out and eat it.

Okay, he made a liar of me. I offered him another live, took him about 15 minutes to take it, 10 of that he was watching it scamper around with interest. Going with his not liking being watched while he eats, he of course didn't strike until I went out of the room for something.