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My Hatchling wont eat please help!!!

Try an overnight feeding. I had to do this once for my young picky eaters.

Wait 3-5 days since last feeding, get a mouse pinky/hopper and place it in the enclosure at least 3 hours into dark (say 10pm). Leave it all night in.

make sure your python has plenty of hiding and just leave it alone until morning. The hopper will not hurt it if it doesnt eat it.

Hope that helps.

also, I would try to avoid force feeding until the python is showing signs of nutrition deprivation. Which would be sluggish, can feel ribs easily, unable to sustain keeping its head up for several seconds.

At that point, I would take it to the vet ASAP.
 
Certanily not a bad idea if possible. But I've done this myself, taught myself, and it isn't something that should harm your snake if done even half correct.
If you feel more comfortable going to the vet, I would definitely do so but again I don't think attempting an assist feeding is too extreme.

If I had a snake that was already at almost a month without feeding, I would be feeding regardless of a shed or not. If that means you have to go to the vet, than get to the vet.

Good luck on whatever you end up doing. :thumbsup:
 
JustChad04 said:
also, I would try to avoid force feeding until the python is showing signs of nutrition deprivation. Which would be sluggish, can feel ribs easily, unable to sustain keeping its head up for several seconds.

At that point, I would take it to the vet ASAP.
Click to expand...

That's where we differ. Wait around for a snake to possibly get sick, and be visibly deprived:shrug01:. I just don't have that in my heart.
Also, just waiting for it to shed could esentially be doing the same thing. We would all be waiting for these things, hoping it would eat... hoping it eventually eat before it became deprived. You are taking chances there and IMO, they are bigger chances than an assist feeding, regardless of who does it.

I will leave this be, I'm going to go back with making sand castles with my girls and grilling some chicken :D

Good luck again.
 
I also disagree as soon as the neonates body starts using its muscle mass for food and energy its to late. You have what I refer to as the living dead. Seen it happen to many times to risk it anymore.
 
Yeah my description of "weakness" was a little too extreme, shouldnt wait that long lol.

My point is, dont rush to assist or force feeding until you are sure it is the last option. Which usually is when the animals characteristics start to change, but dont wait too long. The symptoms I described you should get it to the vet ASAP.

Force and assist feeding is very stressful to the animal, and as a hatchling might make it go even longer before eating again.

If you are uncomfortable or unnasure of how, get it to the vet.

Hope it eats for ya soon!
 
again if the animal shows good health, dont even bother with the assist/force. Try the all nighter trick first and make sure the room is dark!
 
Coming into this thread a little late, but, from dates, the OP only posted 10 days ago. I like to give my babies the benefit of the doubt and wait as long as I can before assist feeding. But, by no means does that mean your baby should be looking starved. Just means, to me, that your sweetie should be a little more skinny then it was when you received it. They can live a LONG time off what they absorbed in the egg. I have noticed that first hand! Especially if they are a less energetic baby and just kinda hang out, it can take them quite a while before they start to feel hungry. Sometimes the snakes like something which jumps around, such as a VERY SMALL mouse hopper, or, at other times they prefer something which hardly moves such as a pinky. I NEVER try to feed anyone until after they have shed (I make an exception for corn snakes). There seems to be a lot of good suggestions on here. Im sure with all the suggestions and making sure she has the proper set up..i.e. hides, proper heat, proper privacy..that she will get onto eating fine. I would maybe talk with the breeder about them maybe taking her back if you cant get her eating and having them try? Good luck.
 
If there is loose skin,folds or a noticeable loss of wieght, then it does not matter if the snake has shed it is time to assist feed. You can not say wait for first shed I have had hatchlings not shed for a month after hatch date and still eat before that shed. Remember there is always exceptions to the rule not always text book. Or contact seller and get your money back, or have them get snake feeding.
 
gsrept said:
If there is loose skin,folds or a noticeable loss of wieght, then it does not matter if the snake has shed it is time to assist feed. You can not say wait for first shed I have had hatchlings not shed for a month after hatch date and still eat before that shed. Remember there is always exceptions to the rule not always text book. Or contact seller and get your money back, or have them get snake feeding.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

I couldn't agree more.
 
Lol Amanda. I guess I cant argue with that point with the shedding thing. :) Just havent had that happen with a baby where it didnt shed within the first 3 weeks or so after it hatching, so thus, I havent seen a hatchling lose enough weight to make me worry in that time period. BUT>there are always exceptions..;) Radera makes a wonderful point.
 
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