I hatched a clutch of Eastern kingsnakes last week. They have begun to shed now, and I was wondering what the best food to try to start them on is. I am presuming small pinkys. Can I expect them to require scenting from an anole?
Jim
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Eastern king hatchling question
Godfrey
Jul 04, 2008 01:48 PM
Replies (3)
DMong
Jul 04, 2008 04:10 PM
You want to get them eating mice (pinks) first, as you want them to associate and "learn" the scent of rodent with a feeding response. Scenting would be a last resort if nothing else triggered a feeding response,...."braining" would be the next step. Remember, hatchling snakes have a good head-start from nature with a belly full of yolk, this allows them PLENTY of time to actually get hungry and acquire a feeding response.
best regards, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"
brhaco
Jul 04, 2008 07:28 PM
A lot depends on the region the parents came from. I used to breed easterns which originated in the carolinas, and as many as 2/3 of the hatchlings were very difficult to get started on pinks without scent-transfer techniques. On the other hand, all ten of my S. GA eastern hatchlings have taken unscented pinks with no problems.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG
The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....
peebee
Jul 05, 2008 04:15 PM
Something to keep in mind when scenting pinks.
I've found that hatchling chains, especially the ones from the northeastern part of their range (NJ, MD) prefer snakes, to lizards, lizards to pinks.
PB
