Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just a question to get an idea of everyones experiences. Do most of you wait for hatchlings to shed their first shed before offering food? Or if it happens to be feed time do you offer anyway? If you have offered prior to first shed how many have fed for you first time? and did they continue to eat better than waiting?

I always offer food when in the room with food prior to first shed. This is only the second year I actually had campbelli eat prior to first shed. Just my experience.
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Jimmy Tintle

Jimmy, I always wait until their first shed. Now anyways. I have tried offering food prior to their first shed but have never had a taker.

Thanks Joe, that usually is the concensus. I just thought it was kinda weird. The kicker was it was even F/T too.
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Jimmy Tintle

Thanks Joe, that usually is the concensus. I just thought it was kinda weird. The kicker was it was even F/T too.
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Jimmy Tintle

Jimmy,

I haven't ever had much luck with the pre-shed meals, so I stopped offering them. To be honest, some of the NA stuff doesn't even begin feeding until after the 2nd shed. It's all about how much yolk they've internalized, I think.

-Cole

L. t. multistrata - Yellowstone Co., MT

Thanks Cole, now that is another killer snake!
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Jimmy Tintle

I ALWAYS wait until well after their first shed. The way I look at it is,....since they already have a good head start with gut yolk, I wait until it gets depleted and I am more certain they will actually BE hungry to get a better feel of their individual feeding responses, and what I might do different with the next feedings if any keep refusing. I just like to do the initial offering when they are actually HUNGRY. I guess what I am saying is that I figure why bother feeding them when I know many might not want to eat anyway.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

Understandable Doug, I just happen to have a couple 2010 hatchlings that are still on pinks and I threw them in their tub just to see, while I fed everything else. When I went back to grab the FT pinks they were gone, and I had a fat snake. I figured most everyone waits til after first shed and if I didn't have some other snakes feeding on pinks still I would have waited too.
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Jimmy Tintle

Yeah, I feel ya!..LOL!

Certainly no harm done either way.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"