Changing substrate during acclimation?

[Kaianuanu]

So I've had my new coastal hatchling for a week now and I have not been able to get him to eat yet, however I think part of the problem is that I may have attempted to feed him too frequently, and that I may have bothered him a little more than I should have. Anyway, I have him on repticarpet now, but I am wondering, if I change his substrate to reptibark now, would it disrupt his acclimation to his new home?

[red ink]

So I've had my new coastal hatchling for a week now and I have not been able to get him to eat yet, however I think part of the problem is that I may have attempted to feed him too frequently, and that I may have bothered him a little more than I should have. Anyway, I have him on repticarpet now, but I am wondering, if I change his substrate to reptibark now, would it disrupt his acclimation to his new home?

Get him feeding properly first before you make any further changes to the environment... you hit the reset button with him everytime you make a change while he's trying to acclimatise.

[snakeman879]

I would ent make eny changes till ur snake has fed once or even a couple times to be honest

[MrCaveman]

Yeah dude I wouldnt even open his cage at all for at least 1 week except to change water and spot clean etc, depending how old and large he is, 2 weeks would be better. Many of the python species such as GTP, carpet and balls are very skiddish feeders and will not eat if they are not 100% comfortable. Make sure his habitat is right and if hes already had a few food sources in his stomach since birth then I wouldnt worry about him not eating a few weeks. And substrate is probably very unlikely to make him start eating, so I wouldnt change its totally soaked with water or something.

[MrCaveman]

I just looked at the snake's pictures and he's definately large enough to go few weeks without eating. It wont kill him

[Kaianuanu]

I just looked at the snake's pictures and he's definately large enough to go few weeks without eating. It wont kill him

Just so you know, this is my little 15" male coastal hes a tiny little thing, not my jungle who is at least 2 feet.

[MrCaveman]

Oh my bad, I was looking at the recent post of the 2ft one

[Terranaut]

How old is the hatchling? I didn't even attempt a meal until after first shed. Also go straight to rats. A baby carpet can eat a pinky rat without issue. This way you do not have to change it later on.

[Kaianuanu]

How old is the hatchling? I didn't even attempt a meal until after first shed. Also go straight to rats. A baby carpet can eat a pinky rat without issue. This way you do not have to change it later on.

I don't know exactly how old he is, but the store that sold him to me said they were feeding weekly on fuzzy mice. And the smallest rats I can get locally are pups

[Donnie]

Not sure if it is the same over there but rat pups are the smallest size we can get over here so it is possibly the same as a rat pinkie.

[Kaianuanu]

Not sure if it is the same over there but rat pups are the smallest size we can get over here so it is possibly the same as a rat pinkie.

These rat pups are the size of weaned mice.