Eggs due to hatch soon, quick question on feeding!

[Kourtneyhk]

Hi folks,

My first clutch of eggs is set to hatch in about 9-12 days. I've read the sticky about Hatchling Care, but have a quick question. I know to wait until they shed before trying to feed, and mouse hoppers or rat crawlers are often the first meal. I'm sure that trying to give a hatchling a F/T wouldn't work, or am I way off base here? Is it pretty typical to switch the hatchlings to F/T before selling? Or will they readily accept anything that smells like food as hatchlings?

Thanks!

[Alicia]

I've been able to start a majority of my hatchlings on f/t. (Knock on wood.) For me, I wait a week after their first shed and offer each a f/t warmed mouse hopper. I set it in quietly after dark and walk away, not checking in again until the following morning. Some folks zombie dance, that can totally work, too, I just like to keep it quiet. I do give them all hides, I believe that helps.

About half usually eat the first offering, everyone gets the same treatment again one week later. Babies that don't take f/t after the 4th offering get live large mouse fuzzies.

[Kourtneyhk]

Perfect! That's extremely helpful! Thank you!

[sho220]

I've started plenty of hatchlings on f/t mice or rat pups. Just depends on the snake.

[bcr229]

I started mine on live mouse hoppers last weekend, 7 of 9 in the clutch ate. I'll give f/t a try this weekend.

[MrLang]

I start on live rat pups with their eyes closed but mobile. However, I know plenty of people do start on F/T. I would recommend the 'leave it and walk away' method over zombie dancing for a little hatchling. I suspect they will be too timid to strike with you hovering over them and you may cause them to have a frightening first experience with F/T.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Hi folks,

My first clutch of eggs is set to hatch in about 9-12 days. I've read the sticky about Hatchling Care, but have a quick question. I know to wait until they shed before trying to feed, and mouse hoppers or rat crawlers are often the first meal. I'm sure that trying to give a hatchling a F/T wouldn't work, or am I way off base here? Is it pretty typical to switch the hatchlings to F/T before selling? Or will they readily accept anything that smells like food as hatchlings?

Thanks!

While getting them started on live is often easier and quicker I know several people that start their animals on F/T.

I feed everything live but will switch hatchling to F/T from time to time but most often on customer's request, I have had great success in doing so, when they are very young, kept in an optimal setup and are voracious they are very easy to switch.

[Kourtneyhk]

Fantastic! That makes it much easier! Hopefully they'll all take F/T for me