Just a couple words of encouragement to those first breeding/hatching bloods/stp's for the first time. Avoid assist feeding as long as you can. BUT keep offering up different food sources. For the last few years I noticed those with full yolks often hold out long periods of time before even thinking of eating. So starting at week 2-3, offer first meal-live small mice or rat pup. Try again with this one more time. Also try larger sized live mice. Try frozen thawed large mice. Heat the mice up to 100-105F and feed at night, low light. I even left the food on the hatchling and cover with the hide box.

I recently had a batch of stubborn hatchlings go over two months only to take a frozen thawed adult mouse for first meal! Runt animals are far less likely to succeed and eat (those under 40g) and those with what I call "pinhead" or a narrow rectangular head shape unlike the characteristic triangle python head.

Good luck and I hope others can contribute their experiences and wisdom.

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