Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Man I'm so excited. My okeetee x okeetee babies are emerging! Pics to come!

Only one is all the way out at this point and man is HE AGGRESSIVE!!!! My girlfriend went to take him out of his deli cup and he bit and nibbled and bit until he couldn't anymore. I got home from work and he was practically striking so hard he nearly flew out of the plastic shoebox.

questions:

1.) How many hatchings can you put in one container? My first ever hatchling is psycho aggressive and I'm concerned he'll attack a brother or sister if I mix them? My local breeder keeps tons of babies together though when he shows them to me-how?

2.) Are they all going to be this aggressive?

3.) Is there a reason NOT to feed them before the "golden first week" before the first shed? I mean if he's this nippy now why not send a few pinkies down the ole chute and get a great eater trained well!???

thanks everyone!

answers:

1.) How many hatchings can you put in one container?

One.

2.) Are they all going to be this aggressive?

Most likely, especially fresh out of the egg. They should/might tame eventually.

3.) Is there a reason NOT to feed them before the "golden first week" before the first shed? I mean if he's this nippy now why not send a few pinkies down the ole chute and get a great eater trained well!???

Nothing wrong with offering food fresh out of the egg, although if the animals hatch opaque there is a good chance they won't eat until after their sheds. Some but not all snakes will eat right out of the egg.

kk

feeding hatchlings before thier first shed because the first shed is very tight and it can get stuck on a fully belly of a baby snake and cut off circulation. Also a lot of snakes will regurge if you feed them close to shed and that is not a good start for a brand new hatchling.

It's aggressiveness is not because of hunger. It is a defense response. Cornsnakes can live for weeks off the yolk of the egg. That's the reason they stay in the egg after they pip. They are having their first meal. Absorbing the yolk. Although most don't bite like this one I believe it will settle down. I wouldn't try to feed it until it sheds. I would house all of them alone. IMHO

Tim
Southampton Herps

I dont have any wisdom or advice, but I did want to say congradulations, and cant wait to see those pics!
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Blessed Be
Aradia