Babies won't eat...need suggestions please

[zamora]

This is my first clutch ever and I had thought I was doing everything right but now I'm not so sure. If anyone can give any suggestions, I sincerely appreciate it. I read the sticky here and have checked with some other guides but I'm still stumped. I'm in no way a new snake owner but this is my first clutch.

I have four babies that pipped on April 20th.
It took 5 days for all of them to emerge.
Baby #1 shed @8 days post hatching and ate an offered F/T pinky rat.
Baby #2 shed two days later and refused a F/T pinky rat.
Baby #3 shed one day later and refused a F/T pinky rat.
Baby #4 shed two days later and refused a F/T pinky rat.

April 30, I tried live pinky rats on the #2, #3 and #4 babies. All refused.
May 4th, I tried live fuzzy mice on Baby #1 which ate and Baby #3 which ate. Babies #2 and #4 refused.

May 6th, tried braining fuzzy mice and both Baby #2 and Baby #4 refused.

I have repeatedly tried to feed them (only attempted every 5-7 days) but I am getting seriously worried now. Isn't this an overly long time for newborns to go without food?

Temps and humidity are spot on, they are on paper towels and have a water bowl and crumpled paper towels in their tubs. These are some KILLER morph babies and I am beginning to get a bit freaked out about them not eating.

Thanks for any and all advice.

[Ace of Snakes]

Hey Zam, no worries about them. Yes they need to eat but try this. With the rat pinks, a lot of times they don't move enough to catch the snakes attention so I bump it up to the next size which is fuzzy rats. They still have their eyes close and I leave them in all night and check the next morning. If that does not work, a hopper mouse 99% of the time will do the trick. Again, leave it in all night and don't bother the baby at all.

[GHOST_584]

I agree...live hopper mice.

[4Ballz]

if that doesn't work....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIfnNYZsNz4

[zamora]

Thanks for the info guys. I have tried hoppers. They lived in there with the snakes for a few days until I removed them. The snakes were NOT interested. It may be that they weren't ready just then and they are now. The problem is that I don't raise my own food. I buy f/t and can get live from my friend's pet store (great quality) but she only gets deliveries on Fridays. That's a LONG time to wait don't you think?

I don't worry about it with my other snake that's picky and will only eat live, she's almost 3 and it won't hurt her to miss an occasional meal but these are such itty bitty guys.

Thanks again.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

What's important with hatchlings that are hard to start

6 quart tub

Aspen bedding

88 degrees max on the hot side

Live hopper no more than once a week

If it does not work try the next feeding in a brown paper bad, put the hatchling with the prey in a brown paper bag and see how it goes.

In the mean time NO HANDLING

[canzoman]

Got any African soft fur scent to rub on them?

[Madkatter]

Hey Z! This is my first year breeding as well and I just assist fed 4 of my hatchlings. It was actually easy and there are a lot of videos on youtube about it. I just gently held the snakes head and nudged the pinky rat into the mouth and held it there. Either the snake will just take or fight you a bit. Even if they fight you a bit don't worry. Just keep the pinky in their mouth and eventually they will calm down and begin to work it down their throat. Then you can put them down and let them finish eating.

[John1982]

It's only been a month, I wouldn't resort to assist feeding just yet. Some take a bit longer to get started, they get a pretty hefty meal from that egg right before emerging afterall. Keep interaction/stress to a minimum and try some of the above ideas first.

[JayCee]

I don't hesitate to assist feed within a couple weeks after shedding. It's easy and they either go for it or don't. I'll try this for a few times and then switch to force feeding (go with smaller prey to start). They will usually transition from force to assist to f/t off tongs without any problems. The time it takes will vary but they almost all get there.