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First Feeding, Not Sure If Correct Size Available

Ersetz

Ersetz

New member
I'm planning to do my first-feeding of a newly-arrived hatchling this Friday, and the breeder said he was eating pinkies. I asked if it was a specific stage (red, large, etc.) and she said "small pinkies."
From what I can gather, small pinkies are between 2-2.5g, however, when I checked the stock at several of my local pet stores, the available sizes were pinkies, fuzzies, and adults. I know the latter two are far too big, but would the pinkies be too big as well?

I've yet to weigh my snake--still letting him settle in--but I estimate him to be 7-8" and less than a pinky finger in width.
 
Feed him pinkies that are roughly the diameter of the thickest part of his body. He should be eating smalls at his size.
 
If you can't get them small enough, buy frozen. Cut them in half before you thaw them, and feed a half.
 
This seems like it would be a very simple answer, but I have to ask it: cut the pinkie vertically or horizontally? I assume I'm addressing the issue of width, so I'd think vertically.
 
Cut horizontally. They are very soft once thawed. He will get it down. Day old pinkies are pretty small without any cutting.
 
If he doesn't eat easily, boil some water and drop the pinky in for 30 seconds. Then wiggle it around in front of him using feeding tongs. They usually love boiled pinkies. Its a good way to get them eating well.
 
Just wanted to tell you I fed him yesterday, went for the half-pinkie. Next time I will definitely cut it in half while frozen; very messy otherwise. But he took to it after a few minutes and ate it easily. Thanks so much for the advice!
 
They are easy to cut once boiled, too. Did the pinky leave a lump? If not, try a whole pinky, they really can eat a bigger meal than they look like they can. Go for the "eyeball measuring" way, if the pinky is 1.5 times as wide as the snake's widest point then it is a good size. If the pinky is much larger, keep cutting them.
 
The pinky was just about the same width as him, perhaps a few mm larger, but I went the more cautious route, especially because it was his first feeding. I didn't weigh him this time, but in several days he's up for another feeding, so I'll do it then. I think I'll stick with the half-pinky again, just to be sure, but if he's at a good weight I'll give him a whole one on his 3rd feeding. He stretched out in the cage recently and I measured him at 13" long--I really underestimated him!
 
He had a successful bowel movement a few days after the first feeding. Second feeding was done, a whole pinkie but a smaller one (2g) while he was at 8g. He took it very easily and, again, after a few days another successful b.m. Now that I've got a scale I'll be keeping up with his weight and food needs. I'll follow the Munson Plan but probably wait until the upper-ranges of weight before moving him onto the next tiers.

Question: when it says "2 pinkie mice" is that two at the same time, as in, as soon as he finishes swallowing one I immediately feed him another? It'll be awhile until he gets to that stage but I just wanted to be sure.
 
Ersetz said:
He had a successful bowel movement a few days after the first feeding. Second feeding was done, a whole pinkie but a smaller one (2g) while he was at 8g. He took it very easily and, again, after a few days another successful b.m. Now that I've got a scale I'll be keeping up with his weight and food needs. I'll follow the Munson Plan but probably wait until the upper-ranges of weight before moving him onto the next tiers.

Question: when it says "2 pinkie mice" is that two at the same time, as in, as soon as he finishes swallowing one I immediately feed him another? It'll be awhile until he gets to that stage but I just wanted to be sure.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's what it means. When I feed doubles, I wait for the first one to be completely swallowed and in their stomach and then I offer the second. Although putting both in at the same time shouldn't matter because they still can only eat one at a time.
 
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