Update on my Hatchlings

[Jay_Bunny]

One hatchling, after having taken 3 good sized meals, went on to live with a friend. The remaining 7 are still with me. All have names and are likely to stay with me for good. Six of them are doing really well. They are eating every week and 2 have even gone into their 2nd shed cycle. I need to weigh them all. The little snow that has not eaten, still will not eat. I have tried everything I can think of now. Live, pre-killed, frozen/thawed, rubbing it in tuna juice, leaving it in there for short periods of time, and long periods of time (24 hours +), in complete darkness. Everything. I'm really worried because I'm starting to see the difference in the hatchlings now. The ones that are feeding look good and healthy while this one is beginning to look skinny. He hasn't eaten at all since coming out of the egg, almost 2 months ago. Is it time to assist feed?

I'll post updated pictures of all the hatchlings at some point tonight.

[joepythons]

One hatchling, after having taken 3 good sized meals, went on to live with a friend. The remaining 7 are still with me. All have names and are likely to stay with me for good. Six of them are doing really well. They are eating every week and 2 have even gone into their 2nd shed cycle. I need to weigh them all. The little snow that has not eaten, still will not eat. I have tried everything I can think of now. Live, pre-killed, frozen/thawed, rubbing it in tuna juice, leaving it in there for short periods of time, and long periods of time (24 hours +), in complete darkness. Everything. I'm really worried because I'm starting to see the difference in the hatchlings now. The ones that are feeding look good and healthy while this one is beginning to look skinny. He hasn't eaten at all since coming out of the egg, almost 2 months ago. Is it time to assist feed?

I'll post updated pictures of all the hatchlings at some point tonight.

Have you tried placing him and a live pinky in a paper bag for a couple hours? You could try placing the head of a pinky in his mouth to see if he gets the idea.In all the ones i hatched out i had 1 that never ate ,just to let you know.Thats great to hear on the others

[AkHerps]

Yes, if you can't get him to eat asap, you will need to assist feed, two months is a pretty long time for a hatchling BP.

[Jay_Bunny]

It is a hatchling corn, but a long time all the same. I'm going to try putting the pinky in his mouth the next time I go to feed him. He is just so small. I feel like I'm going to hurt him if I try that.

[Blue Apple Herps]

Have you tried braining it? Cut the head of the pinky (f/t - not live!) open with a razor blade. That works sometimes, too.

[MissDixie]

I've heard other corn breeders will wash pinks in ivory soap, sometimes it will help...let us know how it goes!

[PyramidPythons]

My breeder friend has a trick that sometimes works for stubborn hatchlings that won't eat. He'll heat the pinky up normally, then allow it to cool to room temperature. While doing that, he'll get the hatchling in its feeding container (if it is in a sandwich container already, he leaves it in there). Then he'll take the pinky, put it in his palm, cup his hand around it and blow heated air from his mouth onto the pinky in his closed palm. He does this a few times and then immediately sticks it into the container with the snake. I have seen this actually work...back when my hatchling, Odysseus, refused to eat for so long. I think he was off food for almost 2 months. Believe it or not, the snake actually ate the pinky. I don't know if it will work for your little one or not, but figured I'd offer the suggestion. I sure do hope the baby eats for you soon without assistance......and if it needs the assistance, that it quickly catches on.

[jfreels]

I'm sure your vet could do the first force feed....

[Jay_Bunny]

I'm going to give the vet a call today or tomorrow about having her force fed. I weighed her today. She hatched out at 7g. She is now down to 5g and her tail is getting really skinny.

The other hatchlings are doing great. All are above 10g now and 4 had their 2nd shed this week, and 2 are currently in shed. They look so great!

[Jay_Bunny]

She ate!

Today I fed all the baby corns since one of my mice had a fresh litter of babies. I killed one pink and took the little corn and shoved it in her mouth. Once the pink was in her mouth, it took her a second or two and then she started chowing down. Because of her small size, it took a bit to get it all the way down. The last 1/2 of her body is very week and skinny, but she got it down. Now the wait to see if she regurgitates it. If not, I'll repeat the process next time and hopefully get her eating on her own.

Thank you so much everyone! I am so relieved. All of the others are doing great! Everyone is eating like little machines and they are growing so fast. They were mere noodles 2 months ago. Acutally, the little corn that ate today, the one with all the problems, is 2 months old today. The rest will be 2 months old on Sunday.