hatchling not eating

[somdballs]

I helped my fiancé's brother get a male 2015 hatchling Lesser Pastel and he seems not to be interested in eating. what are some good steps in order I should try? thank you in advance. my 5 are eating great his 1 of course would be the picky eater. he weighs 60grams.

[Jason&Amber]

My 2 when first purchased would not eat I left them alone for one week with minimal interaction (only filling water,cleaning bedding) also had extra hides as they have a 2x2 enclosure. Only out side light from a window in the room. After the week I threw a live rat pinky in after it got dark and went and watched tv for a few hours came back and they were gone worked with both of them. The local store very rarely has rat pinkies so I used a mouse hopper but he moved more than I liked so I just cut the top off the paper bag so he wouldn't run free and when I came back bag was knocked over and mouse was gone.


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[frostysBP]

We need more details than It wont eat to fully help you...99% of the time it is husbandry related...what are the temps humidity tank size substrate how is it heated..what has been offered and how many times.

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[somdballs]

well currently he is in a 10 gallon with several hides and with a cover over screen top to hold humidity in and temp in. it 90-92 hot spot and not sure of ambient temp. I'm working on getting him a rack set up because mine do great in the rack system. now I did just find out the breeder selling him mentioned he just shed and I'm assuming has not eaten at all yet. just using paper towel as bedding for now. tried feeding Live hopper as the breeder suggested to my fiancé's brother and also tried fresh killed hopper the snake is not inter4sted at all and tries his best to avoid the mouse. thought because it was live it moved way to much and was stressing snake. so removed hopper waited a few days tried fresh kill still a no go. I was going over there this weekend and was going to take some f/t hoppers and f/t rat pinkies and see if he will take that. I usually can get a snake eating but this one is being difficult for him, so I will try my luck this weekend. just was seeing if there were some helpful hints I should try or change. another thing I have been telling him was to leave the snake be for several days to a week without handling allowing him time to get use to his new housing and to unwind. but a 15 wants to show his snake off so its been hard for him not to.

I hope that is a little better info to help. I know some about balls but just back into 2 months ago (actually getting snakes) I do tons and tons of research daily and I love the info I get from these forums. I figured if I can get the answers I need it would be here. thank you.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

10 gallons more often than not does not cut it for such a small animal, trying to replicate the breeder's setup until the animals eat and put some weight on is key.

Switch the BP to a 6 quarts tub max until it reaches 150/200 grams. (Security is the number one priority for hatchling that small)

Use aspen as bedding. (Provides additional security)

Provide a hot spot of no higher than 86/87 (in a tub that small to high of temps do not allow much room to get away from the heat if the animals feel the need to)

Offer a 6 inches plastic flower pot saucer as an hide. (Provide tight hiding place = increase security)

Once you made the switch wait a week and offer food in the tub, offering a LIVE mouse hopper. (Getting the animal to eat is priority number one, once consistent you can attempt to switch if this is what you want)

DO NOT handle your BP until it eats for you 3 to 5 times and keep it to a minimum until the animal is a bit bigger.

[somdballs]

10 gallons more often than not does not cut it for such a small animal, trying to replicate the breeder's setup until the animals eat and put some weight on is key.

Thank you so much for the info I will try that and hopefully it works.