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How long can hatchlings go between meals?

Wizard update

Nanci, I have a question. Wizard turned up his little nose again at last night's offering. After an hour of no bothering him, no peeking, he and the f/t pinky were as far apart in the deli cup as possible. I did the hot dip and brained the pinky. I did actually leave it all night. This morning I still had a skinny hatchling, but the pink's abdoment was ruptured. There was goo (I assume from the abdominal cavity) all over its rear half. Does that mean he started to eat and changed his mind, or maybe just squished the mouse? I'm still not seriously worried, but I'm not happy either. :(
 
It probably just fell apart. They aren't too strong after thawing. That's too bad. What does Susan say?
 
I don't know yet. I pm'd her today, but she's apparently busy and hasn't yet had a chance to respond. (I'm gonna be busy tomorrow with preparations for Gustav.) Hopefully the little bugger will settle down and eat next offering. Thanks.
 
I've responded to Caryl via PM, but since this is the first time I read this thread, will also respond here.

Since he was in the process of eating when you startled him, causing him to drop the pinky (you failed to mention this in your PM), he may have been put off pinkies for a little while. I've learned over the years to ignore hatchlings after I give them their meals, putting them back on the shelf in their deli cups and not checking them until the next morning, that is until I know they are established feeders, which is after they've eaten about 5-8 meals in a row. Every hatchling that has spit out a pinky once it started to eat it has refused several meals afterwards until it's just too hungry to refuse another and/or is offered something so tempting it can't refuse it.

Don't worry yet, but offer him the most appealing meal you can think of (my choice right now would be a live pinky on the small side) in a few days and then completely leave him alone with it over-night again. And if you offer a live pinky, if he hasn't eaten it by morning and the pinky is still alive and kicking, continue to leave him with it until he either eats it or it dies. The paper bag trick is also a good option, especially with a live pinky.
 
Hi Susan! Yes, you've certainly replied via PM and it's much appreciated. I'd posted this thread before bothering you. It was begun as a general query about stubborn hatchlings, not a specific request for help with Wizard.

Sorry I didn't mention in my 1st PM that I'd walked into the room and startled him. In retrospect I wish I'd included that. It didn't occur to me that my checking on him before morning might put him off for any length of time. I guess my "newbie" is showing. I'm sorry.

Again, thank you for your help here and via PM. It is much appreciated. (My smileys aren't functioning, but I'd post one here if I could. :) )
 
I noticed my smilies weren't working either, plus my ability to edit posts properly. I found that when I used Internet Explorer instead of the newest version of Mozilla Firefox, things were back to normal on the editing part. I'll have to check on the smilies thing.

I'm on IE now and :cheers:, everything works as it should. Are you using the new updated Firefox?
 
Hurrah - Gustav has moved on. I'm on IE, still no smilies, but I think my computer has issues. Blah.

On the feeding front, now that the winds aren't howling, I may try Wizard again this evening. There are lots of anoles and tree frogs about; if he doesn't like the pinky he may be interested in pinky-rubbed-with-lizard. He still seems perfectly healthy and I'm sure he'll eat again. This is a tad frustrating, but not terrible. Charm (the female) shed and was fed Sunday.)

Gotta go pick up limbs. No real damage here, thank God, but messes to clean up.
 
Hurrah - he ate!

At long last, my stubborn little Wizard ate his first meal here tonight. This was day 33 since he last ate. That was at Susan's, before I bought him. I don't mind admitting I was frustrated. I'd tried slitting, halving, scenting, and teasing, brown paper bags, deli cups, and in-viv-on-newspaper. Susan offered some tips on a more in-his-face style of tease feeding, and it worked! I've got my fingers and toes crossed, hoping that now that this bridge is crossed, there will be smooth sailing in the digesting department!

Patience isn't easy for me; I'm so glad he finally ate! :eatpointe
 
I'm glad Wizard ate for you. This can be a valuable lesson for newbies like me... ABSOLUTELY NO PEEKING for the first 5 - 8 meals.

Mine had 1 meal down... 4-7 more to go before that eating picture! :)
 
Wizard took his second meal for me last night with no hesitation. I was holding him in one hand and the pinky in the other, just in case, but he took it immediately. Apparently now that he's decided to eat, he's going to keep it up.
 
I'm happy to handfeed! :D It sure beats putting a pinky in a deli cup or a brown paper bag, putting a reluctant baby snake with it, then throwing the pinky away the next morning!

Who says I spoil my snakes?
 
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