My first clutch all shed Saturday night. Since then, two babies have eaten, and the other two don't seem at all interested. I am offering them live small mice which I introduce late in the afternoon and then take out in the evening before I go to bed. I've heard of people having success with leaving the mice in overnight, but I fear for the safety of the snake if I do that. Are there any tricks I can use to convince them to eat? What's the longest anyone has had a healthy hatchling go without eating?
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Tricks for getting hatchlings to feed?
jason
Jun 04, 2008 05:35 AM
Replies (7)
BRC
Jun 04, 2008 05:38 AM
You could try to feed them when it's dark....turn out the lights and leave the room.....just keep on them.
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pitoon
Jun 04, 2008 06:36 AM
rat fuzzies overnight
pitoon
J35J
Jun 04, 2008 08:15 AM
Don't try to feed them every day...or even every other day, you'll just be stressing them out. Once you attempt to feed them and they don't eat, give them a good 3-4 days minimum before you try again.
jyohe
Jun 04, 2008 03:02 PM
large dark colored fuzzy mice with eyes closed yet ,,(but not too small).......leave it all night.......doesn't work.wait a few days..don't bug them everyday...
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huff747
Jun 04, 2008 03:51 PM
I agree with what everybody else is saying. I try rat fuzzies first because I prefer to get them on rats. Only try once a week if they don't eat. And if they refuse for a couple weeks I try hopper mice. Something about the sporatic movement of hoppers seems to draw a strike from most bad eaters.
Chris
balls4all
Jun 05, 2008 01:09 AM
Use a small tub 6qt and fill the whole tub to top with crumpled newspaper. Leave him alone for 5 days to a week. Try a hopper mouse he will eat !
West Coast Pythons
i95east
Jun 05, 2008 01:20 AM
after they shed, set them up individually, make sure they have a tight little hide out, i use plastic 6 inch saucers from home depot, with a little hole cut in the side. leave them be for a week or so, then try hopper mice. the jumpy movements definately causes feeding response. i always put a rat chow pellet in the cage, so if the mouse gets hungry, it won't chew the snake. try turning the lights on and off once in a while, many times the snake will track the rodent, and the light coming on draws the strike. if you use unweaned animals, try putting 2 in, they huddle and stay warmer, while one may grow cold and be uninteresting. good luck, kd
