How long should I give hatchlings to shed?

[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.