Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've got a beautiful little eastern that I rescued from a shovel blade here at work. It is SOOOOOOO small. Coiled up, it could sit on a quarter. It must have only recently hatched (it can't be more than about 6 inches long, and is probably about one third to one half the diameter of a standard pencil. What would this little guy eat? Even a newborn pinkie mouse would seem to be way too big. I've read some natural history stuff that says they would eat worms and insects, but I find that stuff to be fairly unreliable. What can I feed it?

I am sure others will chime in here, but you can try pinky legs or mouse tails. I have had success with both on small baby snakes like western hogs, gray bands, and small kings. Good luck.

Take care,
Jeff Port

Hard to imagine the little guy tackling even a tiny skink but in the wild, he'd be wrestling siblings or very small ground skinks. Mouse tails (one per week) will get him started and keep him nourished then offer pink heads. If the head is refused, give him a tail and try again in a week. Scenting with diced skink works wonders and they freeze well.
Forget the insects, but a flopping guppy could work (never tried myself).
Nice that you saved him, a relocation might be the easier option.
Good luck, Jeff

Thanks...I'll take all your options under advisement. We may be letting him go in the woods behind my home (not much different than the habitat that surrounds my work)...

Try a head from an extra small pink or even a half head.
Good Luck!