Hatchlings first feedings.

[jcoylesr76]

Has anyone has success starting hatchlings right off with F/T's?, trying to locate a supplier for live in my area, but in case i can't i would just like to hear others thoughts on this if they had tried this and how their success or failure went.

[4Ballz]

I like to watch Brian Gundy on youtube for stuff like this.

[Don]

I have, but it isn't always successful. When it works it is usually with the use of f/t mouse hoppers.

[jcoylesr76]

I do not mind purchasing a few here and there from Petco if i am in the area. but to buy live for our expected 10-16 clutches next year is just not gonna happen with Petco. At least for the moment (1-2 years), our place just will not accommodate both snakes and rodents breeding here, that with my rodent allergy, breeding them right now i do not see as a viable option for me personally. especially when i only expect to need them for hatchlings.

[Don]

If you are expecting 10 - 16 clutches of ball python eggs, that is around 60 - 100 babies. If they eat every three to five days, that means you need about 400 - 800 feeders a month. Say you are lucky and convert over to f/t within two weeks rather than a month. That is still 200 - 400 live feeder rodents.

I would highly recommend you have a plan in place for feeders before producing that many clutches. It takes a while to convert a hatchling over to f/t. Most of mine will eat live a couple of times, then convert. Sometimes, they will start on f/t, but not often. So, you do need a good steady reliable supplier of live rodents or you need to breed them, IMHO. Otherwise, you are going to have some very hungry weak baby ball pythons.

It is not very easy getting a hatchling to feed the first time on f/t. And, with more than 60+ babies, that is a lot of work.

[jcoylesr76]

If you are expecting 10 - 16 clutches of ball python eggs, that is around 60 - 100 babies. If they eat every three to five days, that means you need about 400 - 800 feeders a month. Say you are lucky and convert over to f/t within two weeks rather than a month. That is still 200 - 400 live feeder rodents.

I would highly recommend you have a plan in place for feeders before producing that many clutches. It takes a while to convert a hatchling over to f/t. Most of mine will eat live a couple of times, then convert. Sometimes, they will start on f/t, but not often. So, you do need a good steady reliable supplier of live rodents or you need to breed them, IMHO. Otherwise, you are going to have some very hungry weak baby ball pythons.

It is not very easy getting a hatchling to feed the first time on f/t. And, with more than 60+ babies, that is a lot of work.

I hear you there, this is why i am looking into this now to get this in place before i do any breeding. I normally order from Rodentpro, but obviously only Frozen. trying to get feelers out to see what is in or around this area within reason to be certain i can have this stuff available for us. (still learning this area so to say). Just hoping to not have to drive 3-5 hours down the road to get them if i can avoid it.

[Annarose15]

If you are expecting 10 - 16 clutches of ball python eggs, that is around 60 - 100 babies. If they eat every three to five days, that means you need about 400 - 800 feeders a month. Say you are lucky and convert over to f/t within two weeks rather than a month. That is still 200 - 400 live feeder rodents.

I would highly recommend you have a plan in place for feeders before producing that many clutches. It takes a while to convert a hatchling over to f/t. Most of mine will eat live a couple of times, then convert. Sometimes, they will start on f/t, but not often. So, you do need a good steady reliable supplier of live rodents or you need to breed them, IMHO. Otherwise, you are going to have some very hungry weak baby ball pythons.

It is not very easy getting a hatchling to feed the first time on f/t. And, with more than 60+ babies, that is a lot of work.

Don nailed it. I had one hatchling take F/T as its first meal this year, but that was an exception and fluke, not the rule.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

While it works sometimes it not always the case and starting on live for the first few meals will likely be easier.

When you expect to hatch that number of clutches your best option is to breed mice and always have live available to you and euthanize and freeze what it not eaten.

It will be cost and time effective and something you seriously need to consider when breeding snakes.

Next best option find a local mice or rat breeder that can provide what you need as far as live goes.

[jcoylesr76]

Don nailed it. I had one hatchling take F/T as its first meal this year, but that was an exception and fluke, not the rule.

Thanks, i have always offered live for hatchlings in the past, never really thought of F/T's as first meals, but figured i would throw it out and see if anyone had any luck with it in their experiences. i do not mind doing the drive time to get them, but would prefer to not drive 3+ hours.

[MrLang]

I have switched all of my snakes to F/T on the first attempt, however they were all over 150g when I got them.


I recently got a hatchling mojo under 100g. I've had to feed live every time to provoke a feeding response with her. When they're small and fragile, you don't really have the luxury of trying a bunch of times.