How to Feed Newborn Burmese Python Hatchlings

After your newborn Burmese python hatchling acclimates itself to its new home with you for a week or so, it's time to offer the first meal. Captive Burmese pythons are typically very good feeders, and will even take meals that may appear to be too large for them. It's important to start your newborn hatchling out with positive feeding practices, which will head off potential behavioral issues in the future. Consistent appropriate handling of the young snake and its prey will ensure your safety and the animal's good health, even as the Burmese python approaches and attains giant proportions.

Things You'll Need

  • Container, such as a small aquarium or plastic shoe box
  • Newspaper or cardboard
  • Prekilled 10-day-old "fuzzy" rat
  • Long-handled tongs or forceps
  • Soap
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cover the bottom of a container such as a small aquarium or plastic shoebox with newspaper or cardboard. This prevents the young python from ingesting portions of the substrate while feeding.

    • 2

      Move your newborn Burmese python hatchling to the feeding container. Always feed your snake in a container separate from its home enclosure. This prevents the animal from associating its cage with being fed. The Burmese will be less likely to become aggressive in anticipation of feeding when you stick your hand in its home enclosure.

    • 3

      Choose a prekilled 10-day-old "fuzzy" rat to feed your hatchling python. The circumference of the largest part of the rat's body should be the same size as that of the largest part of your python's head. Most newborn Burmese python hatchlings are released for sale by the breeders when they're about 22 inches long, and fuzzies are usually appropriate. If you're using prepackaged prey, follow the packaging instructions.

    • 4

      Grasp the fuzzy rat by the tip of its tail with long-handled tongs or forceps. The idea is to put as much space as possible between the prey item and your hand. This reduces the possibility of the snake mistaking the hand for part of the prey item.

    • 5

      Lower the rat into the python's cage slowly and dangle it about an inch or two from the tip of the snake's snout. Wiggle it to imitate the movement of live prey, which will stimulate the snake's hunting reflex. Your pet will be hungry, so this will be sufficient provocation to initiate the strike.

    • 6

      Release the fuzzy as soon as the snake strikes and grabs it. The python should quickly wrap its coils around the prey.

    • 7

      Wash your hands and forearms with soap and hot water as soon as you're through handling the prey item. Your python is very likely to attack your hand if it smells like dinner.

    • 8

      Pick up the feeding container with the snake inside of it slowly after the Burmese has completely consumed its prey, including the tail. Carefully lower the container into the python's home enclosure and place it gently on the floor of the cage. Remove the container only after your pet leaves the container on its own. Do not pick the snake up or try to handle it for two or three days after it has eaten. Handling the animal immediately after feeding will cause it to vomit its meal.

    • 9

      Feed the newborn python once each week thereafter. If the prey items you offer are small, then you can feed twice weekly. Overfeeding, or "power" feeding pythons isn't a good idea. Obese snakes are as unhealthy as obese people are, and the animal won't grow any faster just because you overfeed it.

    • 10

      Step your Burmese up to more appropriately sized prekilled prey items as your pet grows.