Methods of Feeding Hatchlings

[Nanci]

*keep the babies together as a group until they have shed and fed (you risk cannibalism, some say the competition encourages feeding) (I don't know many people who do this)

*set up babies right away in individual housing

*offer food right in the baby's bin

*offer food outside the bin, in a deli cup

*offer live for the first meal

*offer FT for the first meal

*offer food as soon as the baby hatches

*offer food the day of or the day after the first shed

*wait 5-7 days after the first shed to offer food

I have not tried to feed right away. I wait until after the first shed. This year I waited five days after the shed. I did not have more or less success than feeding the day after the first shed.

I offer FT reds, slit down the head and back.

I feed in deli cups, out of the bin.

I cover the deli for the first feeding, feed uncovered for the second feeding, feed unslit for the third feeding (no one has ever refused unslit after eating slit) (and then I go back to slit).

If a baby refuses, I reheat and leave him with the red overnight, in a deli. If he doesn't eat overnight, I offer again in five days. I try a variety of things if he refuses after that.