hatchies not feeding......

[Treg92]

hi everyone

ok, i have come to the point where i need some help. i have been to proud to ask for it up till now, but i am starting to despair.

i bred a pair of coastal last year, which resulted in 23 eggs. Incubated the eggs and got a 100% hatch. this was really cool, and i started to think that i was pretty good at this snake thing. anyway, they hatched early January, and shed a couple of weeks later, this was when i started offering food. one took it strait away, and ate it all up. the others didn't.
then i had to go away for a couple of weeks and left them in the care of a friend (never again). anyway, one go away, but none wanted to feed. i just cleened out 8 of them, and none of the 8 were interested in food.

Is there any trick to start them feeding. i feel terrible cos they arent eating and i know they can go ages without eating, but surely by now more would be feeding.

i am starting to regret breeding them and it is very disheartening, any help would be greatly appriciated

Josh

 

[pythonmum]

You need to make sure that they are warm enough on both the warm and cool ends. You also need to insure that the food is really warm when offered. A cool rodent is not appealing to the new feeder. Don't start to stress until 2 months, but offer regularly. They may feed better if they have something to climb on. My Darwins like to strike from a perch. You can start with fuzzy mice for a coastal. You probably should have more feeding, but check your setup first and feed at night in low light for best success.

Are you trying to feed when cleaning? Don't disturb them before a feed. Babies need to feel very safe when starting to feed. Clean in the morning, feed at night.

 

[Wrightpython]

if you get desperate and they dont feed when you get hot end up to 34 degrees then offer live pinkie up to a couple of days old, dont roast me for offering live i did say if desperate. other option is skinks then wean onto pinkies later when they are responding well at no time until very late try to force or assist feed this is last resort

 

[MrBredli]

How do you have them setup? Tub size, hides, perches, temps etc. What have you tried so far? How do they react when food is presented?

 

[Treg92]

How do you have them setup? Tub size, hides, perches, temps etc. What have you tried so far? How do they react when food is presented?

i have them in 300x200mm tubs, they have a hide and a water bowl one end and an arch of green plastic trellis up the other end, hot end is about 31, cool end 26ish, i have tried frozen defrosted in hot water,(they were warm, but not piping hot), also sipping in egg yoke (friend of a friend said it worked for them). when i present food, some of them are indifferent, others run away and some just strike randomly at me, the mouse and the tongs, but don't hold on.

python mum, generally just before cleaning, but i will have a go with some nice hot ones tonight when its dark and see if any bite

 

[Wrightpython]

Up the temp at the hot end to around 34 if you can keep the cool end at same temp as you have that way half way will be 30 degrees, they wont get over heated. i would also move hide closer to hot end so they feel safe when getting warmed or they may not heat themselves due to being scared. Also cover all sides of click clack except front for veiwing that way they feel safer because its darker

 

[MrBredli]

Sounds like you've got most bases covered mate. I would bump the temps up a degree or two to start with.

If you jave access to live fuzzies, i would try offering freshly killed rather than frozen thawed.

Try to access the tub with as little disturbance as possible. Try feeding just after dusk. For now i would try feeding every night, but only snakea that are sitting on their perches. Use your forceps/tongs so that the fuzzy is below the snake and the snake is looking down at it from above.

For any snakes that show interest but don't strike, try rubbing the fizzy gently on the neck of the snake (still using the tongs). This is a good little trick for Carpets. Failing that, tcontinue trying to initiate a strike as you have been doing. When you manage to get them to hold onto one, freeze, don't move until they have the fuzzy more than half way down their gob or until they spit it out.

Any that freak out when food is presented, just try them again another day.

Any that show a lot of interest but won't strike, try the above techniques but also consider scenting if you have access to skinks or geckos.

I also agree with WrightPython, live pinkies dropped straight into the tub with as little disturbance as possible is an option if you're starting to get desparate. I would only bother doing this when snakes are sitting on their perch, particularly if they are sitting with their eyes focused on the floor (ambush position).

Good luck! And remember, persistance pays off!

 

[solar 17]

Theres some good advice in the above threads, the only two points l will mention is don't soak pinkies directly in water with non eaters, it washes a lot of scent away put them in a cup or mug and put that into the hot water one other little point is leave the food in over night and retrieve it if any 1st. up in the morning and dispose of it/them....
.......solar 17 (Baden)

 

[Wrightpython]

Finally a thread with some good sound advice without all the other crap

 

[MrBredli]

Sorry about all the typos in my last post, using my phone and it's a real struggle typing but moreso trying to read what i've typed. Might have to check out that Tapatalk thingy...

 

[pythonmum]

Theres some good advice in the above threads, the only two points l will mention is don't soak pinkies directly in water with non eaters, it washes a lot of scent away put them in a cup or mug and put that into the hot water one other little point is leave the food in over night and retrieve it if any 1st. up in the morning and dispose of it/them....
.......solar 17 (Baden)

True. Although I use hot water, I like to thaw fuzzies with a bunch of rats - cross-scents them and makes them more exciting. That is often the first time my new hatchlings will take it rather than when just fuzzies are thawed. It also gets them used to the eventual switch to rats.

 

[Dmnted]

Are you offering Mice, Rats or baby Quail as a first feed?
Maybe try something else?

Are you using tongs or your hand to offer feeds ?
Sometimes the hatchies may feel a little overwhelmed with a big hand hovering over them when offering food.

Maybe try leaving a feed overnight in a few cages directly near the heat source to see if they take it.

I have one hatchy not feeding well.
No matter what I did it wouldn't take with all of the above.
After 8 weeks it started to become lethargic with slow strikes.
I assist feeded with no luck.
A week later I force fed and then left another pinky mouse in overnight and it was gone.
Since then, it still won't eat when I offer but will strike defensively.
Now, if I leave one or two pinkys in overnight, they are gone in the morning.

Do any of the hatchy's strike when you touch their body ?

Like everyone else has said, temps may be the issue considering most are not feeding.

Edit: Ooopps sorry, just read about the tongs and striking

 

[Treg92]

cheers guys for all the replies, i will have to try some new things. it can all be a bit too much first time round

 

[mungus]

How do you have them setup? Tub size, hides, perches, temps etc. What have you tried so far? How do they react when food is presented?

Nice to see ya back

 

[saximus]

All the responses here are really good Treg so you're lucky there. As a breeder this is the frustration that people have to deal with unfortunately. Makes you appreciate all those breeders you deal with more I reckon.
I had a Woma and a Darwin hatchy that were being annoying and I found quail (or quail scented mice) worked for them. I tried the egg thing and the tuna thing but as soon as they smelled the quail they both hit it instantly

 

[abnrmal91]

Quaill is awesome for non feeding snakes from hatchies to adults.

 

[pythonmum]

Quaill is awesome for non feeding snakes from hatchies to adults.

Except I have a Darwin that will only eat quail if he has been fasting for several weeks. He is a pig with rodents. There's always a stubborn exception....

 

[Miffy]

Can also try scenting the pinkie or fuzzy with a dead gold fish. They smell like skinks to snakes.