Acclimating hatchling - when to feed?

[NH93]

Hey, thanks everyone.
Shera, that was a very good point about the opportunist feeding... I had totally forgotten about that. Snakes aren't as "domesticated" as some other pets; I should have kept that in mind. I will offer food tomorrow night!
I still am unsure how I'd like to do it. When I went to pull out the shed - evidently right near Beau's face - he curled up into an "S". I was expecting a strike, but he didn't. He is definitely in hunting mode though, and has been the last few nights. Tongue flickering like crazy, scoping the place back and forth, up and down.
Maybe I will offer the food to him in a cup. I also don't want him ingesting aspen shavings, as the kind I have is the larger, flakey stuff.

Crazymonkee, "what's best" for anyone or anything is completely subjective, and so what you think may be common sense and what is best may not be what I think is common sense and what is best. I do take every opinion into consideration, especially as I don't have much experience. Most importantly, I take the care of "my" animals to heart. Not every method works for every person, and the reasons behind those are not without concern. However, I, like everyone else, have no need to explain myself and my beliefs to anyone - unless, of course, I do so in a post because I am in need of assistance, such as today.
But thank you for taking interest in my post, and for having Beau's welbeing in mind.

[Cobaltfang]

You know you have to post a pic of him eating right? .
And one of him just doing his thing...
And one of him reading my post....
And one of him ... ... ...
.
Oh and i held my ball the first day i got her and fed her in a tub never had any problems. And i know they can vary just my two cents on the whole thing.

[Borgy76]

Man these things are worse then human babies, they don't come with a manual, and they all respond different to everything.

[NH93]

So here are his post shed pictures (without and with flash). Much more vibrant than before



And the shed (which came off nicely, until Beau started to ball up, so this happened):





And finally... as predicted... the non-eating picture. He was just so excited.



I tried to leave the mice in the tank with him afterwards, buy no go. He just cruised around instead.
I will attempt another (in tank) feeding in a few days. I'm not discouraged at this point; it's only been one trail.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

He's used to eating rats. You may want to try rat pup instead.

Oh - and he looks awesome

[Crazymonkee]

He's very nice! I agree ^^^^^

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 4

[NH93]

Thanks! Those are rats... but pinkies :/
Unfortunately I did not know what size he was eating, and so bought these at the show where I also bought him. The breeder did not say a specific size, and I asked someone who sold the rats, and they looked at my python and said "pinkies".

There is another show coming at the beginning of October, and so I will purchase some rat pups there!

[Rickys_Reptiles]

Thanks! Those are rats... but pinkies :/
Unfortunately I did not know what size he was eating, and so bought these at the show where I also bought him. The breeder did not say a specific size, and I asked someone who sold the rats, and they looked at my python and said "pinkies".

There is another show coming at the beginning of October, and so I will purchase some rat pups there!

oh. you said mice by mistake in your post.

Yeah, those are for sure too small for him. Good luck with the feeding!

Not sure how you're feeding him, or if this will help... but here is a little info-gif I made once upon a time

[NH93]

Beau ate today It was my second attempt at feeding. It was a frozen thawed pinky rat (I had two plus a fuzzie mouse thawed, just incase he was picky).
I let it thaw in the fridge all day, then at about 9pm put in a warm cup of water beside his vive for 15 mins or so.
I used the tongs to put the rat in, kinda dangled it near him. He didn't show interest right away, and not until I accidentally dropped it and walked away did he eat it. He ate it backwards... and kind of did a funny thing. He swung the rat around in the air a bit (I have seen my corn snake do this too), but he kind of quivered and shook while trying to swallow it. Not sure if this is ok? I've never seen a BP eat before. Unfortunately I could not get any pictures of him eating.
He didn't show interest in the other pinky, but at least he ate something!