The Scarlet Kingsnake Dilemma

[toddnbecka]

Another option for feeding tiny baby snakes is to use pieces of mouse tail for assist feeding them until they grow large enough to take "red hots", newly born pink mice. If you do use mouse tails make sure the hairs are pointing in the right direction before starting the piece into the snake's mouth. Assist feeding isn't quite the same as force feeding, the idea is to get the item started in the snake's mough then it will finish swallowing on its own.
Guppies would be the best bet for small fish of you want to try those. Garter snakes love them IME.
Someone told me about a method for scenting pinkies I plan on trying when my baby Dominicans are born, likely soon. He puts a lizard in a blender with a bit of water and runs it until it's basically soup, freezes it in ice cube trays for storage, and then soaks the pinkies in the thawed liquid before feeding. He said it works very well, and never has to feed actual lizards to the babies.
As to whether it's worth the time and effort is entirely your choice. Scarlet kings are best kept in a tank with damp sphagnum moss because they mrrd high humidity, and are a secretive burrowing snake by nature. Not something you'll see very often or be able to handle much.