How long should I give hatchlings to shed?

[MasonC2K]

So I have 3 clutches out. Clutch 2 is all shed. Clutch 3 is mostly shed. However I still have 2 from my first clutch that still have not shed. It's been 3 weeks since hatching. They are active as any other baby I have. I will say that that first clutch babies are very large compared to the others. Clutch 2 and 3 averaged around 70g a baby. Clutch one averaged in the low 80's. One of the 2 that hasn't shed in the largest of them at 90g.

I am not much for worrying but this certainly seems odd at the least.

[twistedtails]

I wouldn't worry as long as you keep them moist. I have animals shed out from my third clutch that shed before some from the first clutch.

[MasonC2K]

I wouldn't worry as long as you keep them moist. I have animals shed out from my third clutch that shed before some from the first clutch.

And that they are. It's 65% humidity here in GA so I don't really have to try.

[twistedtails]

And that they are. It's 65% humidity here in GA so I don't really have to try.

You should be fine then. I'll bet they shed out today or tomorrow for you.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

Anywhere between a couple days and a few weeks. The longest I've had to wait was 4 weeks.

I still feed a week after they hatch, even if they have not shed yet!!

[RobNJ]

I still feed a week after they hatch, even if they have not shed yet!!

How many of them actually eat?

I have a little runt that's on 5 weeks without her first shed. She was born small and has gotten pretty thin, so I felt it best to assist feed her last night, which she took with no issue. Hopefully a little growth will get that first skin off her.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

How many of them actually eat?

I have a little runt that's on 5 weeks without her first shed. She was born small and has gotten pretty thin, so I felt it best to assist feed her last night, which she took with no issue. Hopefully a little growth will get that first skin off her.

wow, 5 weeks is a long time! Honestly, I've never (edit: this year) had a hatchling refuse a meal. Most of my hatchlings snap up their first meal so quick that they often just miss my fingers when tossing the rat into the tub, lol.

Ever since I turned the lights off in my snake room, eating has been a lot better!!! My hatchlings go into black tubs when they hatch, I find that they eat better than they did in clear tubs. Perhaps them seeing me walking up to the tub spooks them - not sure.

I feed live fuzzy rats for their first meal.

[brobertson]

@MasonC2K how long did it take on average for each hatchling to shed? Thanks a bunch!

[Stewart_Reptiles]

In general they will shed within about 10/14 days of hatching (that's the majority) however some may take longer.

Keep them on moist paper towel and wait in the mean time if they have hatched over 2 weeks ago you can still offer food.

I have an hatchling that has his first shed yesterday (he hatched on 06/21) he has ate twice on his own before his first shed, this is obviously not the norm and this hatchling had a problem to start with.

[kdreptiles]

I had my first clutch hatch this year, and one of them took 71 days to shed!! She shed perfectly, had been eating and growing, I don't know why it took her so long. But she's fine now!