Food Problems

[Elandra]

Hey everybody! ^^ First, I have a baby red albino, a little over 12". Second, I live in south Lake Charles which was just hit pretty bad by the hurricane. Now, here is my problem. =P

I didn't feed my baby before evacuating because it wasn't quite time yet, and I thought I'd be able to do so when I got back. (Really didn't think we'd get hit so severely) Got back, only to find that the frozen pinkies hadn't dealt very well with the electricity out and the intense heat. The only place that sells them around here is still not open, and it's now been about 2 weeks since I've been able to feed my corn. Hopefully places will be opening back up soon, but until then, is it alright for my snake to go on so long without food? I suppose I would really just like to know how worried I should be, and if anybody has any suggestions?

[zwyatt]

I don't think you need to be really worried yet. Generally, I believe corns can typically go awhile without eating, especially if it was healthy and eating regularly before. But, of course this should go without saying, I wouldn't go any longer than absolutely necessary. I'm not at all familiar with the area you are from but you might have to look into going a little further than usual to get something. If all else fails you can always order something online and have them within a few days (assuming delivery services are running properly in your area). Good luck with the little one! :)

[Elandra]

Thanks for the quick reply. You've made me feel so much better! :) Yes, I considered ordering some, but I'm still not too sure if they will be able to deliver them out here just yet. Anyway, thanks again for the reply. Hopefully everything will be back to normal soon!

[ashleynicole]

I know its not suggested, but maybe you could feed some chicken necks or something in the time being until you can get some rodents? Its not the best nutrition but it should be ok to hold him over until you can get rodents. I wouldn't force him, but if he's hungry enough he should eat it... I think your supposed to boil it first.

[KRISSYK]

As long as he was healthy before hand, I would not worry to much. It is going to take more then 2 weeks for it to effect him that much. If it gets to much longer, just keep an eye on him. You will notice when he is loosing weight.

[Elandra]

Chicken necks? Alright, thanks - I'll keep that in mind if I get desperate. Somebody did suggest feeding him a small fish or a lizard. Would that be a bad idea?

[Roy Munson]

Chicken necks? Alright, thanks - I'll keep that in mind if I get desperate. Somebody did suggest feeding him a small fish or a lizard. Would that be a bad idea?

I don't know how much luck you'd have with fish. If you have anoles darting around outside, you could try those. You'd want to refrigerate them to put them in a dormant state, then freeze them to kill as many parasites as possible. Thaw in warm water, and serve. But I wouldn't bother with this option for a couple of more weeks.

[Taceas]

While I personally think your snake will be fine for up to 6 weeks without food, you are free to try anything in the meantime if he doesn't seem to be doing well without food.

Just make sure he has clean water is the main thing.

Fish can cause a build-up of a substance that can affect the health of your snake in the longterm. I don't remember the name of the substance, but that its mainly present in the Carp family (Goldfish, etc) which are the main constitutes for the feeder fish industry. I did a search for it on here, but was unable to come up with that exact post. I believe it was Hurley who had mentioned the whole thing, if I remember correctly.

Lizards and amphibians can transmit wild-borne parasites into your snake if you're catching the food wild. Reptile parasites are reptile parasites, most don't follow the 'species only' rules like external parasites seem to. Plus in your case, I wouldn't eat anything if it'd been dropped on the ground down there, let alone feeding a wild caught animal to my snake with goodness knows what on it or in it. I wouldn't think most store-bought lizards would be any better, as most of the anoles in the pet trade are wild-caught.

You may be able to offer your snake raw chicken pieces, if it will take them. I would expect the wing would be a good place to start, just cut off a piece with bone that is about the same size food as you were feeding to it before. I don't think snakes were meant to digest cooked food, plus most of the nutrition is lost in the cooking process as well.

But if push comes to shove, food is food. Hopefully it doesn't come to that.

[ultimuttone]

The problem with feeder fish is a build up of thiaminase which destroys thiamine-I did learn something on all those searches for our little garter snake :). However that would be over an extended period of time.

[Elandra]

Alright, from what you have all been saying I'll go ahead and stay away from the fish/lizard area. (I'd feel bad killing the poor little lizard anyway ;)) I will hopefully have a way of getting some more pinkies within a week or so, so I think I'm on the safe side since you say he can go about 6wks. Otherwise, I'll try the chicken. :) Thanks again for all the help!