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2x New (to me) Corn Snakes (with pics)

M

mislisa

New member
So... I just acquired my friends' son's two x ~8yr old corn snakes on Saturday. I took them as I've always wanted a snake, and her son had lost interest in them (I got them for free).

My friend had really been the one taking care of them for the whole time they've had them, and had been doing what she thought was best, but she had received some really bad information when she first got them as hatchlings... and I guess she never thought to double check the proper care of snakes.

The 2 snakes (1x male & 1x female) are apparently from the same egg cluster, and are ~8-9 yrs old.
Their main issue is that they are very small for their age, which i believe is due to the fact that they have only been fed once a month http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/images/smilies/no01.gif

I don't have any way to weigh them, but I believe that they are too skinny, as I can easily see their spine and they have a bit of loose skin. also, I don't believe they're warm enough, as they only have a basking light, but no UTH. I am in the process of buying one as well as a thermostat and thermometer. I would have one today, but I live in a small town with limited pet supplies. I had thought they came with them, but I was wrong. I need to wait until the weekend before I can go to the larger town and buy supplies at the Petsmart there.

They have also been housed together their whole lives, and will have to continue to do so until I can afford another whole vivarium setup. I have to be very careful what I get as I also have 2 cats that are VERY interested in the snakes.


Anyway, my main question for you is how much I should feed them to get some weight on them. They were fed rat pups (a bit on the big side) when I brought them home (which I now know may have been a bad idea, but they seem to be digesting ok) and I am considering feeding them again in a few days. I had bought a bunch of the rat pups (mice aren't available here for some reason) as I thought the snakes were bigger than they are, but am a bit concerned that they may be a bit too big.

Thoughts?


 
They can take something as bit as 1.5 x the widest part of their body. Before you thaw out the rat pups, I would cut several long slits in the skin to help aid digestion.
 
Good for you to have taken them in.
If they have been eating once a month and you fed them a rather large meal they could easily wait two weeks until you are able to get the right food for them. I don't know what is available for online frozen mouse suppliers in Canada, but worth looking into since you don't seem to have a lot of local options.
 
I really have no choice but to buy at my local store, as I work mon-fri and the mice would be thawed out before I could get them! I'll keep looking though, as something more local might pop up.
 
What I really need to know is whether I should feed them again this weekend. They are only used to eating once a month, but I need to change that.
 
If you feed them food that proportionate to their size you should be able to just feed them every 10-14 days and they will gain weight. Do you know how their length/weight?
 
Just a side note for housing them separately (I had to add an emergency set up before) if you go and get a clear plastic bin with holes punched through (I melt holes by using a hot poker and the stove) and some bungee cords (to help lock down the lid) you can create another temp setup for one of the snakes. If you do have to continue housing them together though you I would make sure there are a lot of different hides for them to choose from. Snakes are picky either. They love boxes just as much as cats do. My big ones love kleenex boxes with the plastic removed.
 
You don't want to feed them too much too fast though, OP. I understand you're worried, but they don't look like they are starving to me - thin yes, but not starving.
No more than one a week, but generally when feeding adults every 10 or so days is enough. Once they are on a regular feeding schedule, they will gain weight. So there is no need to power feed :) that may only cause a regurge, which is very dangerous.
 
*Once a week; as in, do not feed every 3 or 4 days or what have you. I'd say anywhere from every 7-14 days, depending on the meal size. Rats will help them gain weight quicker, but they are fattier. So you probably don't want them eating those for long. You can go with adult mice, too. But a scale is needed for the most accurate feeding.

http://medusa-corns.webs.com/feedingchart.htm
 
mislisa said:
What I really need to know is whether I should feed them again this weekend. They are only used to eating once a month, but I need to change that.
Click to expand...

As others have said, based on age, size and food type... You should probably have them on a 10-14 day schedule. Rat pups will be fattier and slightly less overall nutritionally healthy than adult mice, due to the stage of the bodies development. You could probably go for every 10 days, making sure their food is appropriately sized (if it looks too big, don't risk it... either cut a bit off or find a smaller item). That should help them get a bit of weight on without causing any health issues associated with power feeding. After they get to a nice size and weight, you could easily move them to 14 days for the rest of their life. Adult mice would be be the eventual best meal (not sure if they're thick enough to handle an adult mouse atm, and i know you said there's issues acquiring them).

I know you said you're in the process of getting everything else needed. And that's definitely something I can understand as I've unexpectedly taken in snakes and had to scramble to get proper setups myself. But I do want to stress the importance of separating them eventually. And of course, proper temperatures.

Good luck with everything, and I'm glad these two found a new home with someone who cares enough to ask and educate themselves on their care!
 
Thanks for all the input! I'll try to source some mice, but the snakes will have to have the rats for now. :( I'll be feeding them every 10 days as suggested until they put on some weight, then it'll be every 14 days.

I managed to measure them but I don't have a weight yet, as I haven't been able to buy a scale. I will be picking one up soon! Both snakes are ~ 36" long, with the Amel (supposedly the male) having a thicker girth than the Anery. I'll post weights when I can.

I will be putting more hides in, as soon as I can make/find some. I do plan on separating them, but I don't have anywhere safe to put another enclosure. I also have cats, and making this cage cat-proof is already proving difficult... I've managed to keep the cat out, but the lid (hand made) will have to be redone this weekend when I can get someone to help me. I'm not one for DIY projects, but I have lots of helpers! :)
 
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