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Stimulating a hatchlings appetite

shaberry

shaberry

New member
As I've heard, it's hard to get some newborn hatchings to start eating. So, I was wondering if adding an appetite stimulant to their water supply would work to help them. If so, would anyone have any recommendations for appetite stimulant brands? Also, would adding Nutribac to the water work? I know it's just a stomach flora supplement, but would it do anything to help with stimulating appetite?
 
I wouldn't try using Nutribac yet. That's mainly used for snakes who threw up their last meal. Try soaking the pinky in a tuna water for a minute or two. It's kind of gross, but some snakes who refused the pinky beforehand can't resist the strong smell of fish.

The pinky also may be too big, try offering a pinky head to the hatchling. Or cut slits in the back of a freshly prekilled pinky. The blood is also an attractive smell.

Good luck! :)
 
Has anyone ever used these products with any success?

- Zilla Jump-Start Caloric Supplement & Appetite Stimulant
- T-Rex HydroLife
- HerpCare Electolyte & Appetite Stimulant
- Nature Zone Appetite Plus
- Flukers Repta+Aid, Critical Care Formula - Insectivore/Carnivore
 
How long ago did they hatch?
Those products don't really work and are a waste of money. At least I have never heard of any success stories. I tried the appetite plus stuff a long time ago and it didn't work. If your clutch is recently hatched then it may take a while before they get hungry. Most breeders wait until the first shed before trying to feed. Tuna juice, chicken broth can be used to scent the pinkies, and some people also try "braining" (poking a hole in the mouse's head) and scenting with dirty mouse bedding, but I find patience is the best way to go. Time is the best appetite stimulant. Remember they hatch with enough reserves to last them a while as it can take them a long time to find food in the wild.
 
Well, I didn't hatch out any snakes yet. I have one egg left over from an unexpected clutch. But, the reason I ask is because I'll be expecting a few corns soon, and just in case I get any problem feeders, I want to see if any products are effective at stimulating a problem feeders appetite. (Aside from the other remedies of tuna, chicken, and anole scenting.)
 
If I get problem feeders I just tease feed them and that almost always works for me. Of course every once in a while you get a stubborn baby that just doesn't want to live and no amount of scenting or other tricks will convince it to eat, sadly the best thing to do with those is to put them down before they get so thin they are suffering. There just isn't any magic formula you can buy at a store though. Even the "lizard maker" and "mouse maker" scenting stuff you can buy I have heard people say don't really work. Don't throw your money away on that stuff.
 
I have used the scenting pinkies for my solomon island, and it no way worked. I even used it for my baby corn years ago, and once again it did not work. Time, patience, and persaveriance is the best key.
 
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