Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My 8 new BP hatchlings should be having their first shed any day now, it's been 10 days since they left the eggs. What should I offer for their first meal? I'm thinking a pinkie rat? What's the best food item to make sure they all get starting feeding right away? Fuzzy or hopper mouse? Pinkie rat? Any advice will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Kirk

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1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snake
0.1 Gray band Kingsnake
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
0.1 Pueblan Milksnake
1.0 Bullsnake
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback (Hondo)
0.1 Spouse (WC)
0.0.8 hatchling ball pythons

Pinkie rats are good for a first meal, get your babies started on rats if you can. I'd offer the hopper mice only if they don't take the pinkie rats. Best Wishes & congrats on the little guys!
NorthernRegius

I travel on business a lot, so 5 of the 8 babies shed their skin and I had to leave town for a couple days. When I returned, they had all shed. I had to leave town again, so I gave them all their new hide boxes, changed the newspaper/papertowel flooring, gave them fresh water and put a live pinkie rat in each of their cages. I returned today and none of them have eaten. It's been 3 days, 5 of the three pinkies were still alive (barely), so I flushed the 3 and put the others out of their misery by feeding them to my other snakes. I guess I'll go get some fuzzy mice tomorrow and try that. I got my Herpstat thermostat and heat tape in the mail today, maybe providing a heat gradient will help increase their appetites. Before I had them in a room with the air vent closed, they stayed between 78 and 80. I'll have much better control of temp now. It took forever to get my heat tape order in the mail. Keep your fingers crossed. I'll feel much better when they have all eaten and passed a meal.

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1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snake
0.1 Gray band Kingsnake
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
0.1 Pueblan Milksnake
1.0 Bullsnake
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback (Hondo)
0.1 Spouse (WC)
0.0.8 hatchling ball pythons

Definitely getting a hotspot over 90 will help them to digest the meal...
You could also try dangling the prey in front of them on hemostats & when they show interest, move it slightly AWAY from them, pause, then towards don't touch it to their face, stop about 1/4 inch short of it. It they strike & miss, lower it closer to ground level so they can hit it. These methods work for me, I hope it helps you too-
NorthernRegius

Cool, thanks for the tips, I'll try that. I bought 8 live hopper mice today. I put one in each cage, about 20 mins later, two of them have eaten theirs. I'll try you suggestions tonight for the ones that haven't eaten.
Kirk
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1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snake
0.1 Gray band Kingsnake
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
0.1 Pueblan Milksnake
1.0 Bullsnake
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback (Hondo)
0.1 Spouse (WC)
0.0.8 hatchling ball pythons

Glad to hear some of them are eating for you now & hope the other follow suit. Deb