Should feeding box be dark?

Hi all,

Will be getting to my first feed of first Corn (hatchling) in a day or two. Has been fed before by Pet Store. Pet Store owner (well known and respected in Cape Town) suggests that the feeding box be dark, and that 2 pinkies be offered, so as to promote faster growth.

Searching this forum gives no specific mention of the container being dark, just feed typically after dark/ in twilight. In fact most give the impression that the feed is a spectator sport, hardly hidden away in a dark container

2ndly, 2 pinkies at a time? Reasonable?

My idea is to put a feeder box into the viv, put a lid on, include 1xsnake and 1x pinkie, and wait for action. Do this once a week...

Comments?

In my experience, it depends on your snake. I have one that won't eat readily unless she feels hidden. So, I feed her covered. My others will eat out in front of me.

Usually people feed 2 pinkies only once a meal of 1 pinkie isn't big enough. If 1 pinkie leaves a lump for 24-48 hours, you shouldn't feed 2 pinkies yet.

There are lots of opinions on how to feed your snake--in the viv, not in the viv, in a container, on a paper plate, etc. I don't have an opinion, but others will probably give you feedback on that.

I fed my hatchling okeete corn for the first time last night. I put him in a shoebox and with the mouse in the middle of the box. I put the cover on him so he wouldnt climb out. I then put the box in the viv and put the cover on the viv. I came back 20 minutes later and the little pinky was 1/2 way down his body.

I suggest covering him up the first time so he doesnt feel scared and gets feeding well. You don't want him to reguratate.

Also - put a peaice of paper on the bottom of the shoe box because my mouse dripped blood all over the shoebox.

For the first feed - give your snake the smallest pinky possible.

I actually found that the mouse dripping onto the feedbox helps facilitate feeding (if you are going to use the same feedbox). The smell, even after it has been cleaned up, can help trigger the snake into feeding mode.

All replies sound fine but I just wanted to say I feed my corn at around noon. I'm pretty confident that time doesn't matter. When he wants a mouse, he's gonna have his mouse. He's not too picky.

Just my two cents.

I've always fed my snakes in the bathtub. From big to little, adult to hatchling and I've never once had a problem. I throw an old towel in the bottom and set the snake in there. I make the F/T meal "dance" with chopsticks.

Two pinkies sound fine. That's what I've always offered for baby corns.

Cheers!

I always feed mine in a seperate plastic container, but put it in a dark corner of my room. He always seems to be fine with it and he doesn't mind if I watch sometimes. I make sure to remain motionless though. While he feeds I usually get him fresh water and do any necessary cage clean-up.

It all depends on how picky of an eater your snake is. We have snakes that will take the mouse right out of your hand and we have others that just don't like to be watched. You will have to see what your snake prefers. You should always feed your snake appropriate sized mice. They should not be much larger around then the thickest part of your snake. Usually if your snake is hungry, weather being an aggressive or secretive feeder, he/she should eat it within the first half hour of being offered. Check to see if he/she has eaten it and if it seems hungry give it another one. But, covering a secretive eater is a very good method, weather placing in a separate feed bin and putting it on a bureau or in a corner or placing it back in the viv. We have never had a problem with being a certain time of day for feeding. We feed all of our snakes on a schedule. They eat every week on the same day of the week but the time of day may fluctuate depending on how busy we are that day. One week they might eat mid-morning and another week they might eat at 8:00 at night but we do keep the exact day of feedings the same. Hope this helped.
Jay & PJ

Thanks for all the replies.

I will offer 2 pinkies tonight, and see how long to digest. It has been 2 weeks since she was last fed, so she's prolly starving...

I will also use a 'viewable' feeding box, but put it inside the darkened viv.

Here is a pic of young Pinky (as named by my son - not 'cos she's pink, but 'cos she eats them )