Getting hatchlings to eat.

[SlitherinSisters]

I have a baby that hatched in July that still isn't eating on his own...however, most will start eating on their own after an assist or two...

I'm in the same boat with two of mine. I've been assist feeding them for 6 months now. I've never had to assist feed more than a handful of times before this year. Like he said, usually it only takes a few times if that.

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[Billy305]

Update. On the third feeding attempt 2 of the babies took live mouse hoppers on their own. The third didn't so I took him to my friend Dustin to be assisted again. When he went to feed her, he stuck the mouse head in her mouth and she bit down and coiled it.

Week 4 I was only able to get some prey that was a little smaller than appropriate but the third one who had to be "assist fed" the week before took it on her own and the others didn't.

Either way I'm very hopeful for them to be on their way

[EME]

Rat pinks are far too small for baby bps, personally I start the majority of mine on rat pups, or for the smaller ones rat fuzzies. I will leave the fuzzies in for a cpl days at a time usually and then if they haven't been eaten after a cpl days I pull them then try a again the following week. Picky eaters get tried on hopper mice after a few weeks of refusing. After a cpl hundred clutches I can count on 2 hands how many assist feeders I have had. I put them onto coconut right after they shed, never have any issues

[Badgemash]

I have a baby that hatched in July that still isn't eating on his own...however, most will start eating on their own after an assist or two...

I'm in the same boat with two of mine. I've been assist feeding them for 6 months now. I've never had to assist feed more than a handful of times before this year. Like he said, usually it only takes a few times if that.

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I'm really glad you both posted this, as I have two that are being troublesome. One was a runt, from a mini egg with only a tiny yolk (hatched at 32g, I let her shed and then intervened when she dropped to 29g), and the other one has eaten only a few times (she'll just starve herself). I was starting to feel like I was doing something wrong, even though I have some pretty expert help around locally. Hatchlings can just be SO frustrating, and I'm at least comforted knowing it's not just me who has "special" babies.

[Wapadi]

I agree with EME

ALL of our balls are started on rat fuzzies for the smallest balls ever and most take rat pups. I know they look HUGE but its what they want. We very rarely have to assist any of our baby balls...

[Badgemash]

I agree with EME

ALL of our balls are started on rat fuzzies for the smallest balls ever and most take rat pups. I know they look HUGE but its what they want. We very rarely have to assist any of our baby balls...

I do prefer that they start on rats, but the tiny one I have is only now big enough for that. When she hatched a day-old rat pink would have been nearly twice her width and almost 1/3 of her body weight . And the other idiot turns up her gorgeous nose at everything, rats, mice, ASFs... so I just keep trying and waiting and trying.

[EME]

I'm really glad you both posted this, as I have two that are being troublesome. One was a runt, from a mini egg with only a tiny yolk (hatched at 32g, I let her shed and then intervened when she dropped to 29g), and the other one has eaten only a few times (she'll just starve herself). I was starting to feel like I was doing something wrong, even though I have some pretty expert help around locally. Hatchlings can just be SO frustrating, and I'm at least comforted knowing it's not just me who has "special" babies.

For babies that hatch that size, (and I had 3 this year, small female, small eggs all 3 babies under 30g) you need to start them on mouse fuzzies, anything else is just too big. Usually takes a month or so then move them to hopper mice for about a month then right to rat pups, usually works no problem

[Billy305]

All 3 took small mice yesterday so it looks like their feeding response is better. One is a little aggressive.

In the next meal or 2 I'll try and switch them to rats