Feeding Hatchlings Question

[adam_c]

i had a clutch of six eggs hatch out a month ago. i have two from that clutch that have eaten 3-5 times and one that has eaten 1 time. the other three don't want anything to do with food.

does anyone have any tips on what i should/can do to get them to eat? (and yes, i have tried mouse hoppers)

and at what stage of the game should you start to worry/thinking about assist/force feeding?

any help would be much appreciated! thanks!

[MrLang]

Smaller, darker enclosures and crumpled newspaper mostly filling the tub and hides to provide more cover are things to try.

[adam_c]

i have them in 6 qt tubs in a black rack. it can't really get much darker/smaller than that haha. and i had hides in there but they weren't using them. they were just going under their paper. so i don't really think its either of those things. i can try putting the hides back in but i'm not sure if that will do much.

thanks for the reply though!

[Rickys_Reptiles]

What and how are you feeding?

[Anatopism]

You said you tried mouse hoppers, what else have you tried? When have you offered food? Have you been leavin them alone otherwise?

[WingedWolfPsion]

I personally go with 3 weeks after shed, for normal weight hatchlings. If they haven't eaten by then, I assist-feed. No sense in letting them weaken and get too thin.

Things to try first:
A hide (if using racks without them)
Crumpled newspaper trick
Different prey (if trying mice, then try rats, and vice versa).

Usually, assist-feeding is all it takes to 'prime the pump' and give them an appetite, but a few might require more work.

[adam_c]

i have tried feeding pretty much everything appropriately sized from fuzzies to hoppers i even tried rat pinks. nothing. i have left them completely alone other than trying to feed every few days. i have left prey alone inside their tubs with them and i have tried off tongs.

[grizzjr1]

i have tried feeding pretty much everything appropriately sized from fuzzies to hoppers i even tried rat pinks. nothing. i have left them completely alone other than trying to feed every few days. i have left prey alone inside their tubs with them and i have tried off tongs.

Have you tried live yet? Some people have a lot better luck getting their babies to feed with live then switching to f/t.

[snake8myelbo]

ASF rats are a last resort feeder for me that work extremely well!

[adam_c]

yes i tried live first. nothing. F/T still nothing. i tried assist feeding and got 1 out of the 3 to eat. now it's down to 2. i have tried everything from live to f/t to assist feeding to different sizes and types of prey. everything. and nothing is working. the only thing left to do is force feed unfortunately. thanks for all the help everyone.