possible problem?

[Laura&Mark]

hi everyone

well at the moment we have 55 babies hatched from our 89 eggs,
the first clutch are approx four weeks old (9/20 eating), the next three weeks (5/15 eating)and the last two weeks(4/20 eating) out of the 60 babies we only have 18 eating!
we have tried pinkies, braining, chick legs plus various other things but they just dont seem to want to eat!
they are all at between 85-86 degrees. ive been told it could be due to incubation temps, because we did have a problem when the temp rose to 96 degrees for a hour - hour and half, could this be the problem? or am i worrying to soon??
they dont have any deformities, they all look perfectly healthy!
any advice would be appreciated!
thanks

 

[Roy Munson]

I guess it's possible that they have internal problems/deformities that are the result of the spike in the incubation temps. But I doubt if that's the reason for the non-feeders. There are three options that you didn't list, and these things have actually been the ones that have been most useful to me.

1. Live pinks.
2. Pinks washed in mild soap and rinsed THOROUGHLY. (Try f/t first, then live.)
3. Anole scenting. Rub pinky's head around the inside of an anole's mouth. With water, paste scraps of anole skin on pinky's head.

Good luck.

 

[Susan]

Also, make sure you leave the hatchlings alone with their meals over-night. Many a non-feeder turns out to be just a shy feeder for their first few meals.

 

[Laura&Mark]

cheers for your replies.

yeh think the next stage is going to have to be live which i aint over keen on but if it will get them feeding then i will!
ive tried leaving them overnight but no such luck
good news is tho ive been feeding tonight and have got two more feeding! yey!!
i guess time will tell, when should we start really worrying, how long? the first clutch are three weeks old today.

 

[Roy Munson]

You probably have at least another four or five weeks before you REALLY have to start worrying. Hopefully you get them straightened out before then. Of course, some hatchlings just seem to decide to never eat. Be prepared...

 

[MegF.]

Or longer than that. I had one hatchling that never ate and it went months before it really showed any signs of becoming thin. Washing the pinkies in a mild soap, rinsing well works well for many. I've had good success with anole scenting. I still have the anole in the freezer for this years batch! I washed the pinky first, then scented with anole. I had 3 that would only take live at the beginning.

 

[Laura&Mark]

thanks for all your help!
last year i had only two that didnt feed that was why i was so worried this year, but those two eventually fed themselves one taking nine months of assist/force feeding before he finally started eating himself and now hes growing like a weed!

thanks again

 

[Kevin McRae]

What are you keeping them in?

Deli cups work best for small baby herps, they feel secure in a small container. I've had non feeder milksnakes, sand boas and cornsnake and putting them in a deli with a moist piece of paper towel and leaving a f/t pinkie in the deli cup overnight always does the trick.

 

[Laura&Mark]

hiya
well weve tried washing pinkies in soapy water for 13 of the non feeders and straight away 4 fed!, ive had to leave the rest in overnight because i had to go out so heres hoping that they feed to.
were keeping them in 3 ltr tubs and they are fed in there as well, i might try your idea of feeding in deli cups if they dont eat the washed pinkies.

thanks for all your help everyone!