Getting hatchlings to feed

[maximum411]

I hatched a clutch of 6 bps on 7/12 and am having trouble getting them to feed. I only have access to F/T rats so I need them to go for F/T fuzzies. One of them has taken a fuzzy, but the rest have consistently refused. Some will strike but then let go of the rat. Any tips on getting them to eat? I really do not want to resort to force feeding but I am getting worried. I have noticed that heat really seems to be important for getting them to notice the rat, so I am trying to keep the rats very warm as I feed them.

[JoshSloane]

I have always used live fuzzies for the first feedings. I think a lot of people on here do that as well. Are you unable to get live feeders cause of your location?

[Galaxygirl]

I personally haven't had success starting them on F/T but I've only had three clutches. I went over a month trying to get ours to eat before we gave them live hoppers and they all took them. From my little experience it's taken at least two live feedings before they switch to F/T

[TheSnakeEye]

I have never tried F/T so I cannot speak from experience there. But I will say this, if you're having with multiple snakes from the same clutch eating, then I would look elsewhere for the problem (other than the snake itself). It could be a housing issue that is stopping them from eating or if could be the FT food. I'm willing to bet that's what it is. I start mine on mice then switch to rats. I've tried starting them on rat fuzzies and I've noticed they don't take then as readily as they do mice. But that's just my opinion. But they ALWAYS take mice, and take them quickly. I've only had one or two non eaters and that problem was fixed quickly.

[Tigerhawk]

You really need to feed them live for there first meals. Force feeding them causes them to much stress. Are you sure you can't get some live feeders. Things will go so much simpler, for you and them if you feed live to start off.

[PitOnTheProwl]

I start all mine on live hopper mice.

[Alicia]

I've been able to start babies on F/T, but have had really lousy luck starting them on F/T rats. If you must start on thawed, hopper mice tend to work best.

What I do:
Give each baby a hide box. Wait a week following the first shed. Heat thawed hopper in the late evening. I use a light bulb, so the prey stays dry and retains maximum mouse smell. Place a mouse in each baby tub as quietly as possible, at the front of to the tub, a few inches from the baby (who is hopefully in its hide box) and walk away until morning. Zombie dancing just freaks them out.

If they're striking and letting go, they are striking defensively. Defensive strikers are great on live prey, which reacts appropriately, and clicks on the, "Oh, I'm supposed to eat you!" part of the baby's brain. F/T, not so much.

Regardless of whether or not a baby eats, it's not offered food again for a full week. Offering more often just scares the non-feeders. Deal wit h the babies as little as possible. If they don't eat the second time, I switch the bedding from paper towel to aspen and offer again -- F/T hopper, laid quietly in the cage, and wait until the next day. If they don't eat after four offerings, or about a month since they shed, I pick up live mice. I always plan for at least two live feedings.

[JoshSloane]

Definitely do not force feed. It's not really fair to subject them to this, if they haven't even had a chance to try live mice. You have to understand that millions of years of evolution prepares these little guys to see, hunt and eat living, breathing, animals, with distinct thermal signatures and smells. Even adult or sub-adult BPs can have a hard time getting to f/t.

I would make ALL efforts to get some live hoppers. After a few live feedings I am sure you will have much better success.

[sho220]

I hatched a clutch of 6 bps on 7/12 and am having trouble getting them to feed. I only have access to F/T rats so I need them to go for F/T fuzzies. One of them has taken a fuzzy, but the rest have consistently refused. Some will strike but then let go of the rat. Any tips on getting them to eat? I really do not want to resort to force feeding but I am getting worried. I have noticed that heat really seems to be important for getting them to notice the rat, so I am trying to keep the rats very warm as I feed them.

Piss poor planning hatching a clutch without access to live feeders. Getting them started on f/t anything is tough, rats even tougher. Find live hopper mice.

[Jamiesniper]

Getting hatchlings started on f/t is easy, I have 6 bps that were started on f/t and have ate frozen all their life, the trick is how you offer them, fuzzy mice with the head dipped in hot water and offered in complete darkness I find gets the best response