Children Python - hatchling ?

[Binny]

Hi,

I have five Children Pythons just a week old. They have just had their first shed.

Im still trying to get them to feed on pinkie mice.

When would they be old enough to sell?

 

[Reptiles101]

At least after their 5th feed so u know their all feeding well.

 

[saximus]

At least after their 5th feed so u know their all feeding well.

Agreed. Especially with Childrens which are known fussy feeders. You don't want to give an unexpecting newbie that kind of headache

 

[No-two]

I would disagree with both comments above. Childrens can be fantastic feeders from day one. There is no set number of feeds I would give a hatchie before moving it on. It realyl depends on if the snake is 'feeding'. Getting a snake to feed after 20 minutes of hassling it would not be ready for sale even if it had fed 10 times. If the hatchie grabs a mouse and wraps it up as soon as is smells it regardless of how many feeds it has had, it will probably be ready for sale.

 

[zulu]

Feeding well is when you can drop a small mouse in the enclosure and the snake will find it and eat it by smell.

 

[saximus]

I would disagree with both comments above. Childrens can be fantastic feeders from day one. There is no set number of feeds I would give a hatchie before moving it on. It realyl depends on if the snake is 'feeding'. Getting a snake to feed after 20 minutes of hassling it would not be ready for sale even if it had fed 10 times. If the hatchie grabs a mouse and wraps it up as soon as is smells it regardless of how many feeds it has had, it will probably be ready for sale.

I just re-read this and noticed you said disagree not agree lol. Most people I’ve heard of seem to have quite a bit of trouble with childreni specifically. Do you mean Childrens as including maccies and stimsoni as well?

I would agree that it should be unassisted feeds though. I guess that was implied...

 

[No-two]

No, I've bred hundreds of childreni and they're very good feeders. Stimsoni are much more finicky and maccies are the easiest.

 

[RSPcrazy]

I agree with both Reptiles101, saximus and No-two (in part).

I agree that they need to be taking the food relatively easily and stress free before sale, but with that said, I still would not sell a children's (or any python for that matter) without at least 5 feeds. As I have had children's take their first 1 or 2 feeds fine, then decide to be fussy and not eat for a couple of weeks.

I have bred well over 100 children's and spotteds over the past couple of years and I find children's much more fussy with food then spotteds. So it is very important to make sure children's are well established before moving them on.