Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My new Brooksi' are 1 week old. They have shed and only two out of 10 ate a pinkie. The others didn't try to eat but a couple did strike at the pinkie as though scared of it. Am I rushing by trying to feed so soon? These babies are fat and robust and I can't believe they would be non-feeders. I tried the usual to tempt them. My question is this, what is the usual time when the babies want to consume their first meal? And do I just continue to offer every few days until they accept? Gosh, it seems that my questions never end. Thanks to all.

If your hatchlings are really fat they will take longer to get feeding. Lots of times brooksi like to start feeding on something else like anoles skinks or snakes. You should try senting the pinky first and if that does not work then try feeding something else. I would also suggest freezing any wild cought prey before feeding to kill any parasites.

thanks
Jeff

If the babies are fat and robust, they may just not be hungry yet. I usually try feeding the day they hatch or the day after. I usually get a better overall feeding response later on by feeding before the first shed. Of the 100 brooksi I produce every year, I've never once had to scent pinks. They will eventually eat on their own. Maybe I'm just lucky and have good genetic feeders. Sometimes they just wait. I've had some go 10 weeks before with no ill effects. Just be patient.

Brandon Osborne

I bought 3.2 Outer Banks Kings in August 2003. After many months of zero interest in anything "Rodentia" I started pinky pumping. What a hassle!

They are all feeders now but boy was it a pain in the butt.

I can't imagine that Brooks Kings would give any trouble - they are the most robust feeding Kingsnakes I have ever seen as a rule!

Peter Jolles

P.S. The first of my Maryland Eastern Kings has his little head out of the egg this AM!!!

>>If the babies are fat and robust, they may just not be hungry yet. I usually try feeding the day they hatch or the day after. I usually get a better overall feeding response later on by feeding before the first shed. Of the 100 brooksi I produce every year, I've never once had to scent pinks. They will eventually eat on their own. Maybe I'm just lucky and have good genetic feeders. Sometimes they just wait. I've had some go 10 weeks before with no ill effects. Just be patient.
>>
>>Brandon Osborne
>>

I'm like you, Passport--I want them to feed immediately! The only time I bred kings, I was upset the babies didn't eat off the bat, but they were fat. I kept a couple, sold the rest pretty much out-the-egg. I had to go out of town for a couple weeks and from the moment I returned, the pair I kept never never never ever refused a meal. I'd let them decide when before resorting to other methods. They might not be ready.

Hope this helps,
fliptop