Attached Umbilical Cord

[snakehobbyist]

So I was out of town this weekend going to the NARBC reptile show. When I came home, the last of my "rescue eggs" had hatched and the baby had about an inch of umbilical cord left attached. I immediately put her in a deli cup with a wet paper towel. These are my first hatchlings and I'm not too sure what to do now. It was already dry when I got home but I'm trying to keep it as moist as I can.

 

[Nanci]

Here's a link to a sticky I have down in my personal forum about how to handle it. How I handle it.

 

[snakehobbyist]

Thanks so much!

 

[snakehobbyist]

I just went to the rack to check on her and it seems that a little moist paper towel was all that was needed. The little stump fell off and I looked at her belly. She looks good as new like all the other hatchlings. Now...to get them interested in eating.

 

[Nanci]

Wait at least until the last one is done shedding.

 

[snakehobbyist]

half of them have already shed. There were 8 babies total, 4 have shed.

 

[Nanci]

The first couple years I fed them as they shed. The first year, my babies were angels. The second year, I had some non-feeders, and totally panicked and sent them off to an expert after a couple tries. I even lost one. The third year, I let them sit a week before attempting to feed, but still got a few non-feeders, but my expert seemed to have enough on his plate for me to bother him, so I learned how to deal with non-feeders. I learned some good tricks, and no longer fear them. This year, I'm feeding the day after the last baby sheds. I have five non-feeders out of 60ish hatchlings so far- too many for my taste, but so far they haven't had a second try, either, so hopefully they'll be hungrier next time!

 

[snakehobbyist]

I tried to feed three that have shed (one was kinked and I gave her to a friend who wanted to get her started - I didn't complain) but they won't take it. I'll probably just let them sit for awhile and see what happens.