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Feeding a pre-molt hatchling

A

Arachne

New member
I'm not sure if this hatchling has had her first molt, and I've been trying to contact the person who gave her to me, to find out, but he's been scarce. I've had the snake for a week, and she probably should eat, by now. I don't know how long she's been out of the egg, though.

I'm curious if there's any negative side effects, if it's a little too early. Should I try? Should I keep waiting? I'm not the nervous type, but I'm just learning, kinda on the fly here. 10 days ago, I didn't even so much as have corn snakes on my mind, and now I find myself the proud "mama" of an OOE (I just learned that term, here :cool: ) I'm still trying to get in touch with my friend, but I'd like to learn all I can. I also got Karen Love's book, and I'm reading through that voraciously.
 
It sure wouldn't hurt to try. If she refuses, then I'd wait about five more days before trying again. I like to put hatchlings in a deli cup and cover it and leave them alone for an hour.
 
Well, she tries to eat me, every time I go near her, so probably she'd chomp the heck out of a pink, if it's anything like my thumb... Thanks for the fast reply! This is a great forum.
 
I'm going to agree with Nanci, but at the same time, if.it were me, is wait.. if its more likely that the baby is fresh out of the egg & hasn't had its first shed yet, he/she likely still has nutrients from the toll ot absorbed when it hatched. Another breeder here noticed that she had a higher success rate in feeding when she waited a week after first shed to feed(she didn't have pinks small enough when they shed,).
Does the baby look like its in shed now?
 
But if she's had it a week, and it hasn't shed, then it already _has_ shed, unless she picked it up the day it hatched!

I read some pretty good hatchling feeding advice this week. Most of the time, if they refuse to feed, they just aren't hungry enough yet. Most of the time, a hatchling _will_ eat, without any scenting or other magic tricks, once it is hungry enough. Which could even be after the second shed.

It's hard not to worry though, until you have that first meal in their belly!!
 
I missed that part about having it a week, I was reading it on my phone.
Then yes, I agree with Nanci completely on this, I was thinking the baby didn't have it's first shed yet.
 
After I posted, I went to change the water in the tank, and discovered that she shed! So, mystery was solved :)

Later in the evening, I put her in a small kritter keeper to feed, and offered a thawed pink, but she wasn't interested in eating at all. I'll try again in a few days. At least now I know. Thanks again for the info. When I clicked to reply here, it hit me that I posted in the wrong place, I'm sorry!
 
Next time you try, make the pink REALLY hot, 104F. Put her in a _small_ container, like the size of a small margerine dish, with solid, not clear sides (and tiny air holes). Cover her up, don't peek for an hour. Do this in the evening when she is active.

If that was her first shed, I usually try them the next day, FWIW. At this point, I'd wait three or four days, and try. And use a really small, day-old pink.
 
i just had 18 hatch out about a month ago out of 18only one ate i used a small paper bag put a pink in each and a baby in each can somwon please help me with the others
 
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