I am getting hatchling balls in and need to know what size mice they start on as i am going to order FT.
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hatchling food size
talace
Apr 10, 2005 06:40 PM
Replies (4)
jmartin104
Apr 10, 2005 07:35 PM
All my hatchlings start out on rats and stay with rats. But to answer your question, it depends on the size of the snake and how much you are going to purchase. If only a few months supply, I'd say hoppers or small mice would be fine.
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Jay A. Martin
toshamc
Apr 10, 2005 08:10 PM
A hatchling can easily take a small adult mouse or rat pup.
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Tosha 
8.13.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
7.9.5 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer
rwoodyer
Apr 10, 2005 09:42 PM
Depends on the size of the hatchling. They vary quite abit in the first few months (I've seen 100 grams all the way down to 30 grams hatch weight). Nothing too much wider than the widest part of the snakes body before eating.
serpentcity
Apr 11, 2005 01:36 AM
....large fuzzies (sub-weanling) to hoppers (weanling) mice for the first few meals...best not to overly stress young bellies that have recently undergone the transition from embryo gut to orally-feeding neonate...
...Jay's policy of starting on fuzzy rats is a good one if you can obtain them...fuzzies about 7-10 day olds are a good start...often it can be difficult switching older balls to rats if they have only been fed mice for the first year or 2...
...note that it can be very tricky getting neonates to start on frozen-thawed...baby balls trigger on the heat and movement of food...it's important to get food into them as soon after the neonate shed as possible, especially smaller hatchlings...those can lose condition fairly quickly...if you don't have access to live feeders you're at a distinct disadvantage...try warming the frozen-thawed feeder item in hot water RIGHT BEFORE you offer it...blot-dry on paper towel...offer food at night in subdued light...
...you might want to pick-up a 12" tweezer to offer food, that way the HEAT FROM YOUR HAND won't confuse and DISTRACT the snakes (see the classified ads/supplies)...
...NOW you're ready!!
Scott J. Michaels DVM
Serpent City
