How hard should a corn feel?

I guess I don't know any better way to phrase that! Two my corn snakes are both around the same age and they're both about the same length as well. However, I had them both out at the same time yesterday and I realized that one of them has a harder body and the other one is softer. Is that just a difference in how muscular they are? Both snakes get taken out about the same amount, but the harder one is much more active and she's often cruising around her tank.

Both snakes eat, shed, poop, and drink, so I'm not concerned - just curious!

Here's a picture of them (it's very difficult to photograph two snakes!)

Oh, and they're around the same weight as well.

It's probably a muscle tone difference. As long as they are not limp/floppy/flabby it's okay. At this age, they are still filling out and might be maturing at different rates.

Out of my collection, the tub cruising snakes seem more toned and the less active are a bit rounder. Kind of like people, lol!

Originally Posted by BloodyBaroness

It's probably a muscle tone difference. As long as they are not limp/floppy/flabby it's okay. At this age, they are still filling out and might be maturing at different rates.

Out of my collection, the tub cruising snakes seem more toned and the less active are a bit rounder. Kind of like people, lol!

The softer one will come out at night and just hang on his branch; the harder one will be going all over the place! :P

You could maybe try a little swimming, but at this age, I would just see how he matures.

Originally Posted by BloodyBaroness

You could maybe try a little swimming, but at this age, I would just see how he matures.

Of my three snakes, he's actually the only one who seems to not mind being in the water. Thanks for the input!

The soft one probably just has some more fat deposits than the other one. My cornsnakes are sort of the same way. One is constantly cruising and flopping all over the place, and the other just likes to hang out in her hide all day. If you are concerned, you could try holding the softer one more often, or letting him/her swim around in a bathtub as another poster suggested. Also, making her work for her food by dangling it around with tongs might help as well, as long as he/she isn't freaked out by it...

Originally Posted by Optreptiles

The soft one probably just has some more fat deposits than the other one. My cornsnakes are sort of the same way. One is constantly cruising and flopping all over the place, and the other just likes to hang out in her hide all day. If you are concerned, you could try holding the softer one more often, or letting him/her swim around in a bathtub as another poster suggested. Also, making her work for her food by dangling it around with tongs might help as well, as long as he/she isn't freaked out by it...

Thanks for the ideas! He's a great eater - maybe I'll make him 'hunt' for his food more often.

There's some natural variation. All of my corns are in pretty good shape, but my coral snow is SUPER muscular! I don't really understand it, as she's always hiding, but she's buff, LoL.

I've noticed differences particularly in growing babies/juvies. They seem to go through phases of getting fatter, and then stretching lengthwise awhile, and then repeat both steps over, and over...Maybe the softer one is going thru a fatty/thickening growth stage at the moment.