Feeding Hatchlings

[Mike-n-Nikkie]

we have 5 normal 5 week old hatchling BPs and are struggling to get them to feed for the very 1st time.We have been advised that we needed to give them live crawlers as they would not take their first feed if it was frozen thawed. The predicament we're in is that all our BPs are fed on frozen thawed and we do not have a mouse breeding scheme in place to have our own live to hand.

I'm sure there are many in the same situation and would therefore like to know alternative methods to get them to take the meal. Preferably trying all options before we're resorted to assist feed.

Have heard that tying a bit of cotton to the foot of a thawed pinky and wiggling it around on the bottom of their RUB helps imitate a live one. Not tried that one yet... anyone have any other tried and tested methods that work for you?

[llovelace]

Most hatchlings that are slow starters will go for mouse hoppers, maybe you can find a supplier in your area

[hondo1967]

get the hoppers if u can it should work.

[ClarkT]

I would definitely be looking for a mouse breeder, asf breeder, rat breeder, or even a gerbil breeder in the area where you can get live ones.

[Mike-n-Nikkie]

I have no breeders in my area, i've tried to find some already. I can't seem to find anywhere on the internet that you can buy them as live feeders either. Certainly not here in the UK.

I will continue to find a source for getting live ones but in the mean time, I'm really just trying to see how others have done it. Others that don't breed mice or have access to live crawlers.

Peoples experiences of feeding frozen thawed to hatchlings as their 1st feed is what I'm looking to find ideally please.

Thanks,

[mc5guy]

I heard that in UK you have to feed F/T same as in HK. If that is the case, you need to post and ask in the UK forum. Those breeders will have more experience. In the US it is easy to get live mouse.

[Mike-n-Nikkie]

Ahh thank you, I'm new on here and hadn't realized there was a UK part of the forum. I'll post there now, many thanks.

[mc5guy]

Sorry to mislead you. I don't think there is a UK part here. But I assumed that it must be something like this in UK for ball python lover to ask questions.

Have you try to made them very warm and leave them in the tub with the babies?

[dr del]

Hi,

I start ( and keep ) all my BP's on F/T - it's a pain in the onions at times.

Making sure the mouse is hot enough is a must - I find the hair drier is the best thing to heat the mouses head with as that also blasts hot, mouse scented, air around just before you offer.

Pre-scenting by defrosting it slowly near their enclosures can help get their juices flowing.

Keeping a track of the hatchlings weight is pretty vital so you know how they are holding up before they start eating.

There are loads of tweaks to their enclosures that sometimes help;

Smaller tighter hides.

Smaller enclosures.

Changing the substrate.

Changing the humidity levels.

I have never tried the piece of cotton - I usually just offer it horizontally on tongs from about 3 inches away. I like to hold it level from the back third of the mouse so the nice hot head is clearly presented with no tongs to get in the way of their strike. Getting it too close seems to spook them out of eating at times.

Conversely tease feeding can sometimes induce a strike.

Keep the difference the same but keep pulling it away quickly before slowly returning it.

Sometimes rubbing it agains their back third can irritate them into striking. I wouldn't try and irritate them by touching the first half of their body though - while both can spook them out of eating the front half seems to do it far more often.

Every year though I get some who hold out long enough to end up being assist fed.

I even had one who had to be assist fed for almost a year before she got the idea.

And every year I debate with myself if I should just give in and start a mouse colony a couple of months before the eggs hatch. So far there has always been a reason not to - mainly the rules of landlords.


dr del

[dr del]

Hi,

It might also be an idea to post up pics and temp readings etc of your hatchling tubs to see if anyone can make more specific recommendations.


dr del