Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Thanks in advance for any help.
Have a few babies that have not started feeding???? I know this can happen, and I know there are some ideas on different things to try.
They are in a baby rack, on p-towel, water, and small hide. Siblings all around them are eating fine. Same set up as last season, where I did not have any refusers...A link to a thread with some suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Jim

Try aspen or some other natural substrate. Even shredded newspaper, something to bury in.

I offer live fuzzy mice several times to hatchlings and when they refuse 3-4 times, I assist feed.

This consists of using a pre-killed small fuzzy mouse coated on the nose with mineral oil. Gently place the fuzzy into the hatchling's mouth and push it back into the throat area with tweezers or use a plunger from a syringe. Gently place the animal back into cage and watch for him to swallow the fuzzy down on his own.
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Susan Sentman
SSNAKES Reptiles
susan@ssnakes.com

I have tried leaving tried leaving a fuzzy in at night for a few hours after it is dark with very good success. Remember nocturnal hunters.

I should add that after an assist feeding, the hatchling will be offered the live fuzzy mouse as usual for 2 more efforts to eat on its own. If it doesn't eat, I assist feed again. Eventually the baby will eat....some take longer than others.

Also, good point with reference to night-time feeding, balls are nocturnal and nights work best!
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Susan Sentman
SSNAKES Reptiles
susan@ssnakes.com

I do the same as both above, with slight difference from Susan, I use KY jelly on nose of the food item. Day old rat pinkies are a little easier for me to use if I have to force, but like Susan, mouse hoppers are better to assist feed. Good luck and have lots of patience. I still have 3 out of about 150 or so this year. Tom Harbin
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Tom Harbin
www.threptiles.com

I do the same. Try 3-4 times and if the baby still refuses to eat on its own, assist feed. I had a male last year that was like that and had to be assist-fed several times until he got the hang of it...Only problem is that now he refuses to eat anything but mice. His sisters are already eating small rats and double him in weight. I have tried to switch him to rat pups, but he ignores them and as soon as I drop a mouse in his tub, he catches it. I have tried getting the scent of mice on the rat pup before offering it to him without success. Last time I used a rat pup to assist feed him. Hopefully he'll realize that rats are food too.

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Sed et serpens erat callidior cunctis animantibus terrae quae fecerat Dominus Deus...