first meal???

[dvs]

Hi, I was wondering if someone could help me out a bit..... About how long after hatching do babys usually take there first meal??? and about how long would you go before you began to worry if it doesn't take?

[BurmBaroness]

If I am not mistaken, the first feed should come after the first shed. Usually 7-10 days or so. As far as how long before you worry, neonates cannot go as long as juvies or subadults. assist feeding would be first choice, force feeding last resort. I feed neonates every 4-5 days, and would only go about 2 weeks before trying assist feeding. If I am mistaken on this, please, corey wood, come and correct me......lol. Good Luck!

[dvs]

Yeah it's about that time now..... I bought him knowing that he hasen't eaten yet ( I know I shouldn't have ) but he was only $30 and had a really nice color and pattern to him and seemed to be from what I can tell pretty healthy..... not to mention very sweet. I wasn't even looking to buy anything when I seen him but I couldn't pass him up. The guy said he was 2 weeks out of the shell when I bought him and I've had him now for 3 days.... I handled him a little when I first brought him home but since then I've been trying just to let him settle in. I offered him a small rat pup the first night for a little while just to see if he would go for it but he didn't so I took it out just so he wouldn't be stressed out and I've left him alone ever since. I was going to try again at the end of the week with a pinky or fuzzy....... should I wait that long? or try as soon as possible??? I wouldn't say he's skinny but he is on the slim side.

[Linds]

Was it live or dead prey? It's best to start them out on live and then make the swtich to prekilled or f/t. I wouldn't get too worried yet, the poor little guy is still new to the world, that being stressful enough he has just been shoveled around place to place. Give him a few more days of peace and quiet (no handling at all!) and try offering a live rat (you could use a mouse hopper, but I would recommend rats to save the headache of switching, and to minimize risk of injury from the prey). Good luck with the little guy ;)

[dvs]

Yes, it was live...... he just wasn't interested. I'll probably try a hopper first just to get him eating.... then maybe next time I'll try a rat pup..... I don't think he knows he can swallow something that big yet. He gave me a look when I offered him the first rat pup like " what the hell do you expect me to do with that???" I swear I could see it in his face..... I've barely handled this guy and I can already see why balls are so popular.... very sweet personalities.

Thanks for the reply's......

[dvs]

First feeding went great....... offered him a small hopper first and he didn't seem interested, but then the little hopper came face to face with the snake without realizing it and BAM!!! He went for it..... seeing how easy he put it down and how quickly, I offered him a rat pup next and he swallowed it without even constricting or killing it.

Glad I won't have to go thru the hassle of switching form mice to rats with this one.