On our first clutch of 10 it is 4 weeks tomorrow. Only 2 of them have eaten. I have friends say wait 5-6 weeks before assist feeding. But I have seen things say 4 weeks. They were all about 62 grams when born. I will weigh them tonight but I am nervous and would like some advice please.
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What kind of animal are you feeding? I assume ball pythons with this weight and age.
Do you have a photo so we can see body condition?
How long has it been since the first shed?
What are you trying to feed them?
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yes ball pythons. We will get current pictures. we have tried fuzzy ASF and newborn pinky rats. they shed at days 11 -12 post hatch.
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Are they separated into their own tubs?
Sometimes on a picky baby changing up the substrate to a different kind can help. Or putting a paper towel or a hide over them to make them feel safer on the first ‘hunt’.
You may need to try a hopper mouse because the fuzzy ASF may not move enough. I usually start mine on rat fuzzies or mouse hoppers. usually the hoppers get them going for me.
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Ok will look into mouse hoppers. at what time frame do you think to try to assist feed if they don’t eat?
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There really isn’t a time frame that I go by. I keep an eye on how the hatchlings look and react.
I’ve only had to assist feed 2. One very early because she was extremely small (27 grams) and lethargic because she didn’t absorb most of her yolk. Another when they started to drop weight around week 5 (4 weeks after the 1st shed). They weren’t really lethargic, but showing a bit more of a head bobble than usual hatchlings because they were low on energy.
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really appreciate the info. We have them in their own 7 qt totes but we put hides in them tonight. We have been using paper towels after we had a couple of infections in our snakes in the past.
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When I come across a hatchling not wanting to eat like this, I always wait a bit before jumping to assist feed. I don’t offer food until a week after their first shed. Then I’ll put a fuzzy/hopper into their individual tub. In their tub they are on a paper towel and have a little water dish; no hide. If they don’t eat the first meal I’ll mark it on their tub and move on. I feed hatchlings every 5 days. If they refuse by the fourth meal, then I will add a hide to their tub. Wait the 5 days, and then offer. If they continue to refuse three additional meals after that, then I’ll assist feed. Now during that time of offering meals 6 - 8 and they still refuse, I’ll change something in their tub. I’ll add clutter after meal six. Meal 7 I’ll add a cold hide, and meal 8 I’ll change substrate.
Thankfully I’ve only had to assist feed 3 animals so far over the course of 4 years. Most of the hatchlings pick up the idea by the 3rd meal if they’ve continued to miss. This is what I do and what has helped me, so I thought I’d just share. 
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Just a thought - are you offering live prey, or trying to start them on frozen/thawed or prekilled?
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