Hatchling first feeding

GeckoMandi · 03-08-2007, 01:36 AM

Ok I got my first 2 babies, and today I noticed them both getting ready to shed.

I have put a few mini mealies in clear shallow dishes for them but so far they haven't ate them, so my question is when I should try tease them with the tweezers or drop them in front of them to get em to eat. I think they might be full from the shed so should I leave them alone for a couple more days and then try? I don't want to stress them out to much, they scream at me enough as it is LOL.

justin-branam · 03-08-2007, 01:48 AM

id just leave them in there. some of mine last year didnt eat until a few days after their first shed. they may also not know what to think of the mealies. you may have to tempt them with small crickets as they move more and will get their feeding instinct going.

**eyelids** · 03-08-2007, 10:31 AM

Mine get 1 inch mealworms from the start and do great on them. The mealworms you're giving them might be too small and that's why they aren't going for them.

**Zbiz** · 03-08-2007, 11:22 AM

Yeah maybe they are too small to see.

GeckoMandi · 03-08-2007, 01:15 PM

Ok thanks ill try larger ones if they don't go for the mini mealies, thanks!

GeckoMandi · 03-09-2007, 02:53 PM

Just an update I saw baby #2 gobble down 1 mealworm today, and I left 4 in her bowl the past couple days and those were gone, so she is eating good. Baby #1 had the same amount so I took those out and gave her some fresh and we will see what happens

**robin** · 03-09-2007, 03:16 PM

yeah i feed my fresh hatchlings small to medium mealies depending oh the size of the baby compared to the size of the mealie. and some of the smalls are as big as mediums LOL

GeckoMandi · 03-09-2007, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by robin

yeah i feed my fresh hatchlings small to medium mealies depending oh the size of the baby compared to the size of the mealie. and some of the smalls are as big as mediums LOL

I know right, everyone has a different opinion on size of the mealies, like I have the "mini mealies" to me these are small/medium ones. They are not mini at all, mini to would be tinky tiny and these I bought are not, which I expected because of where I bought them from (grubco).

**eyelids** · 03-09-2007, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by GeckoMandi

Just an update I saw baby #2 gobble down 1 mealworm today, and I left 4 in her bowl the past couple days and those were gone, so she is eating good. Baby #1 had the same amount so I took those out and gave her some fresh and we will see what happens

Glad to hear one's eating! I'm sure the other will in no time.

gerryl · 03-09-2007, 08:14 PM

quote thanks to Melissa Kaplan's Herp Care Collection...hope it helps

....

Hatchlings will generally not eat for a week after hatching as they are still living off their yolk. After their first shed, they will they should be fed vitamin and calcium supplemented crickets. Do NOT feed large crickets - smaller ones, even though you have to feed more of them, are more nutritious. Mist several times a week (hatchlings generally need slightly higher humidity than adults)