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Snake Weights and Established Feeding

The_Thunderer

The_Thunderer

New member
Hello, friends!

I was just wondering at what weight would most of you say that a hatchling / neonate is "established" and is more likely than not to continue to be a good feeding, healthy snake?

I ask because I have quite a few hatchlings that are below 12 grams... several of which have been finicky about their eating habits.

I know that the answer will be pretty subjective, but at least I can have some sort of goal to get all of them past, and therefore be able to "see the light at the end of the tunnel". LOL.

Thank you in advance for any help!

Moderators, if this needs to be somewhere else, I apologize. Please feel free to move it as necessary.
 
I am at the understanding that they are considered established after eating so many consecutive meals (4 I think) without a refusal on regular f/t and no regurges during that time. Otherwise they would be considered a finicky eater no matter what their weight is. Again, that's just my understanding so hopefully somone with real experience will post soon. ;)
 
Hmmmm... I've heard that before. However, the ones that I have trouble with had eaten that many meals before... and now, they've started to get finicky. I have checked the temps and they're fine 75-87 (cool vs. heated) in the hatchling rack. They've got water and they've got plenty of air, so I'm at a real loss as to why they would "un-establish" or "de-establish" themsleves.

Good news... the one that I was most worried about did eat last night... but I just wanted to get some more information.

Thanks! Anyone else?
 
It's nice when you can get them up to fuzzies- then you start seeing a more rapid weight gain. And they really take off on hoppers. I've got a couple 2007's who are 25 and 29 grams, FINALLY. My other 2007's range from 65 to 110.

It seems like, if they hatch as good feeders, snakes can only go downhill from there- picky about being covered, picky about time of day, picky about quietness or darkness when feeding, picky about preferred size, picky about having the prey really hot, picky about eating when blue. I stop worrying so much about growth once they are off pinks, but I have a few "established" snakes that have become finicky.
 
Nanci said:
It's nice when you can get them up to fuzzies- then you start seeing a more rapid weight gain. And they really take off on hoppers. I've got a couple 2007's who are 25 and 29 grams, FINALLY. My other 2007's range from 65 to 110.

It seems like, if they hatch as good feeders, snakes can only go downhill from there- picky about being covered, picky about time of day, picky about quietness or darkness when feeding, picky about preferred size, picky about having the prey really hot, picky about eating when blue. I stop worrying so much about growth once they are off pinks, but I have a few "established" snakes that have become finicky.
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Thanks, Nanci! I never had a corn that was picky after fuzzies... but I never had so many until NOW! LOL.

I'll aim at getting them to fuzzies, then. Which means I've got a long haul ahead of me! BUT, I asked for it when I bought them! LOL.

I appreciate the help. :)
 
I should have known Nanci would chime in with some good info. ;)
I was thinking the question was more related to selling a hatchling, silly me. I'm glad the one you were worring about the most finally ate, that must be a huge relief! Best of luck to you, I hope they get up to fuzzies for you sooner then later.
 
Was that the cubed you got from me? I know he refused for you a couple of times and did finally eat (thanks for letting me know BTW - I was very happy to hear it). I put it up for sale and considered it established enough to sell because it had eaten several times in a row for me and no refusals - I remove baby snakes from for sale lists for refusing a meal and don't relist them until they eat a few times again with no refusals, unless the person interested is aware of any feeding issues but still wants the snake, in which case I tell them what's working for me- teasing, braining, etc...
I have a lot of this years' babies that have eaten two or three times for me here that I am still waiting to list because I like them to have at least five meals under their belt to sell them.
There's all kinds of reasons why snakes go off their food, and sometimes size just doesn't have that much to do with it. They can be in blue, still getting used to their new surroundings, used to a certain smell (like if you always used TMF pinkys I might not get them to eat a rodenpro one right away) or feeding arrangement, want dark, or live, or just not hungry yet because the last pinky they ate was bigger than normal, all these and other reasons... I really don't start to worry about it unless I see a snake is losing condition or weight and looking thin. (Just wait, you wil find sometimes older ones balk at anything with fur and still want pinkies, and once your males are breeding age you will probably have hunger strikes too. ) Not trying to sound discouraging but it's part of keeping corns. I wish I could guarantee every snake I ever sold would eat every single time it was offered food. Nobody can do that...
 
Whew :)
Still, the same applies... it could be a number of reasons why a snake will stop eating...and just as mysteriously start again. If only they could tell us, it would be so much easier...
 
Nanci said:
I wonder if I would like it if my snakes could talk...
Click to expand...

I think everytime I went to open Mali's tank she'd yell 'DON'T EAT ME!!' in a dramatic girly fashion. :laugh:

Though at the same time, if they could talk, then it would stand to reason they could comprehend us when we talk (considering their language would be the same or similar to ours) then we could tell them that we aren't going to hurt them. It could be pretty neat. ;)
 
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