Please help me, confirm I won't hurt my snake mouth

Hi All,

My Luna weighs 31 grams and is about 20 inchs long and is about 10 months old.
I am currently feeding her 2 large pinkies, together the pinkies weigh 8 grams.
I believe this to be right according to the Munson plan.
Maybe even too small a feed!?

My only problem is that her mouth seems to be at FULL stretch.
I was a little concerned that the pinkie is too big and is going to split her mouth.
Looking at the pinkie along side her body its not too big (1 1/2 sized rule).
Can she just have a small mouth or am I just worrying due to me being new to this keeping a snake.

I have two pinkies defrosting now ready to feed her tonight.

Thanks
Dyl

If their head has no reason to grow larger, such as having to stretch to feed on larger prey, then their heads seem to stay small. 31 grams for a 20 inch snake seems kind of light.

They are very stretchy. It used to freak me out too when I was new to corns. If you're feeding the recommended size, and unless the snake refuses the mouse or regurges (throws it back up), you should be fine.

Originally Posted by dave partington

If their head has no reason to grow larger, such as having to stretch to feed on larger prey, then their heads seem to stay small. 31 grams for a 20 inch snake seems kind of light.

Oh $"!+..

I think/thought the breeder was under feeding her.
I was told she was only getting feed 1 pinkie every 7 days.
Hopefully I can get her right.
I am a little concerned she hasn't been cared for correctly before I got her.

Thanks

Originally Posted by Rigby & Marcy

They are very stretchy. It used to freak me out too when I was new to corns. If you're feeding the recommended size, and unless the snake refuses the mouse or regurges (throws it back up), you should be fine.

Thanks
I will up her size of food then.
I will give her her 2 pinkies tonight then 2 more in 4 days time, then bump up her food onto the fuzzies I have waiting for ther in my freezer then.
1 every 4-5 days.

Thanks

I would go no less than 5 days between meals, let her digest then poop and have a couple of days at least to work up an appetite.

And it is amazing how their necks stretch wide when swallowing, I am still fascinated by my younger ones when they eat!

Originally Posted by smigon

I would go no less than 5 days between meals, let her digest then poop and have a couple of days at least to work up an appetite.

And it is amazing how their necks stretch wide when swallowing, I am still fascinated by my younger ones when they eat!

Thanks for your help pal.
I will wait 5 days then.

I have two LARGE pinkies left then she will be on fuzzies.

Maybe not for long though.
But I need her to stretch her head out a bit, don't I?
So she can manage the bigger feeds.


Thanks again

YOU don't need to stretch her head out, SHE will stretch her head out. It is natural for them to stretch their neck and jaws, and they are pretty good at sizing up whatever they are going to eat. The will usually refuse if it is too big.

Here is a video of an egg-eating snake, corns eating mice won't be stretching that far, but you get the idea of how elastic their skin is.

This is one of my favorite pictures!