New Corn - First Feeding Question

[ALGeckos]

So yesterday, Leon and I bought our new corn snake, Wendell. After dropping off Leon to work, I head in to PetCo for a quick pick-up of frozen mice. I was so excited and was thinking of the other reptiles I picked up, that I got 2 frozen small pinkies @ ~2g/each.

Then I get home and weigh in Wendell at 25 grams. Big enough to be fed small fuzzies @ 5-7g! Would it be alright to feed Wendell both of the frozen pinkies I bought for his first feeding, then switch back to a small fuzzy after 5 days for the 2nd feeding?

He's getting comfy in his new home, so I don't plan to re-handle him and feed him until Tuesday night.

Thanks!

[Lennycorn]

To be honest, I would wait a day or two more to let him settle in be for I would feed. Then feed in a low lit room in a separated vent container, without disturbing the snake. But the pinky I think would be good to start with. Then move up from there.

[NFS07]

To answer your question, yes you can feed both pinkies for the first meal until you are able to get fuzzies. The best way that I have found is to offer one than wait about 5 or so mins and offer the second one. You don't want to offer the second one if the first is still really close to his mouth. I found where the spot where the pinkie stops moving and it sits there, thankfully there is a big spot on the snake in that same area so I can find it each time but when it reaches that point I know that I can feed the second one. Try to find the spot where the food stops moving downward, it's your best bet to know when you can feed the second one.

Good luck. I hope your feeding goes well. Let us know afterward!

[ALGeckos]

Thank you Lennycorn & NFS07! I will try both of your techniques and move the feeding day to Wednesday or Thursday night instead of Tuesday so he isn't stressed out :) I'll let you guys know how it goes!

Thanks again :D

[ALGeckos]

I fed two 2-3g pinkies to Wendell today and he took them in quickly with no problem. I also noticed that he'd rather take them in a plastic cup than from a dish or tweezers :p

Next feeding will be a small fuzzy, now that I know his weight.

Just an update! I'm happy :)

[Sanebedlam]

You are feeding them in a separate container right? Not in his cage?

[NFS07]

I'm glad it went well. I hope he eats well for you for as long as you have him!

[ALGeckos]

Yes, I fed him in a separate container.

Even though I read about a lot of people doing well with feeding inside the viv, I don't want him to think that me opening his enclosure means food. And just in case he decides to move off the dish, I don't want him accidentally swallowing some pieces of substrate. I also plan on handling him first since I won't be handling him for 48-72 hours after feeding. :)

I'm glad he did well and he'll be moving on up to small fuzzies in the next feeding! :D