The hatched ball pyrhons on 12th aug have been tried twice since shed, every 5-6 days! 3 are me assist feeding to get started after they hust struck at everything or just backed away! Mice fuzzy pinks and 6gram multi fuzzy! Multi iv had 4 grab and coil both feeds but 3 im assist feeding!
Is 5-6 days ok or would you drop to 4 days? The snallest one was 32 gram but know 42gram after 2 assist feeds 6gram multi
How long does it take for a assist feeding to start on there own normally ?
Assist feeding is a last resort. It should never be done for healthy hatchlings. Most BP hatchlings in my experience won’t even eat for a week after the first shed. Some will eat 4-5 days after the first shed.
I start mine off on live mouse hoppers. By assist feeding your hatchlings, they’re probably more stressed about the rodents now and may take even longer to properly associate them with food.
If they are active and alert, just wait and offer at 5-7 day intervals. Monitor the body condition and make sure they have water available. If they start becoming lethargic and look like they’re dropping too much weight that’s the time you can consider an assist feed.
A snake that I DID have to start on assist feeding (weak runt that did not absorb yolk) took 3 months to eat on her own and that’s with only 4 feedings over that length of time.
Ahh ok hope those iv assist fed aint to freeked out know but will give them time know to take on own! Yes im about to start my own asf breeding next few weeks as tricky buying in uk shops as dont like selling if think for feeders! Very few private breeders and none within few hours drive!
Is live 100% best chance on starting tricky eaters?
There are many people that will use f/t. It can just take a lot longer for them to realize. Some of it is a test of patience because you have to do the little dance to make it seem living sometimes for new babies.
I’m on the other side of the pond so there’s less restriction on feeding reptiles here. I prefer feeding older snakes f/t. But I do find it easier to start them on live since I already breed my own rodents for feeders.
With the babies do make sure the killed prey is warmed up real good. They’re not as keyed in on scent yet so they really rely on that heat to learn. Try to wiggle the rodent across the floor like a live one would and not just dangle or hold it in front of them. Sometimes you do have to bump the snake a little so they get a little grumpy. It just depends on the personality sometimes. Shy snakes I tend to need to do a gentle bump or two just to let them know it’s not going away so balling up isn’t a perfect option.
One more thing I’ll add that I took note of when feeding my hatchlings recently is that I have one baby that’s more shy that was more comfortable taking f/t or pre-kill prey when the rat’s face/head was facing away from the snake.
I don’t know if this could make a major difference when attempting feedings but it may help