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Can a Snake Forget How to Constrict?
- Thread starter ReclusiveDemon
- Start date
7legion77
New member
So what should I do feed him hoppers every two months and make him swim for 2 hours a day? Maybe I can build an obstacle course that he has to climb through to get to the mouse.
It's not like I've been power feeding him... maybe the first 10 feedings were more frequent and sometimes 2 rodents, but I've slowed it down greatly since then.
I'd say he's fat, but not horridly obese... anyways I'll stay the course and hopefully he slims up over the years.
It's not like I've been power feeding him... maybe the first 10 feedings were more frequent and sometimes 2 rodents, but I've slowed it down greatly since then.
I'd say he's fat, but not horridly obese... anyways I'll stay the course and hopefully he slims up over the years.
Weda737
100% Soul free.
Here's my theory on constricting, every little bit goes a long way, think of how much muscle tone development and weight loss morbidly obese people get from simple exercises that mostly consist of moving or waving their arm in some way. Of course this is combined with good diet but for a somewhat sedate animal like a corn snake any exertion will make a difference over a long period of time. Not that all are very sedate, lol if my old man Rufus doesn't have a full belly then he's out on the prowl. Just my 2 cents on the matter though, my girl launches and constricts zombie mice like a mad lady.
7legion77
New member
Well when I bought him the guy at the pet store said he's 2 years old. It's been almost a year since then.
I wasn't ready for the fact that 2 or 3 instance of overfeeding could permanently make a snake this fat. I was told to feed him every week... I read that 1-2 rodents every 1-2 weeks was a standard feeding schedule so that's what I went with.
At this point, he's gonna get an adult mouse per month. I don't really have the time to handle him that much. I just don't understand why my snake got obese so easily. I guess I'll just starve him back into thinness.
Chip
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒ&
It can't. He may well have been fat when you bought him, but it takes a regular procession of big meals than needed to fatten a snake. 2-3 overfeedings would likely not make them gain 5-10 grams.
You can either stretch out time or food size. 1-2 rodents per 1-2 weeks is very vague. I'm sure one mouse every 2 weeks would not have him in that shape, 2 mice every week would in a summer. Try weanlings or big hoppers rather than adult mice for a few weeks. They never truly get "full" and tend to be more active. The two girls I got back fat are both always hungry now, I feel bad for them. I'm thinking of breeding them next year just for the weight loss!
A mouse a month won't hurt the animal, but my inclination would be towards smaller meals, and maybe cut him back to every 2 weeks. A month between meals sounds miserable. But I have male hognose that go 6+ weeks every summer on their own, so maybe it's not as bad as I imagine. But male corns love to eat, and I also wonder if the body doesn't start saving resources from starvation.
Nanci
Alien Lover
There's no reason to starve him. Just put him on a "normal" diet and that will help a lot. If you only feed him once a month, he will be so frantic to feed that it's quite likely he would bite. I have about six big adults that get fed every three weeks, and they gain about 5-10 grams per feeding, but I sure wouldn't go farther apart than that.
He isn't going to drop dead tomorrow if he doesn't lose weight, but I think he will live longer and under less strain if you thin him down a little. He surely isn't the fattest cornsnake I've ever seen- far from it. He just looks like what would be called in the horse world an "easy keeper."
He isn't going to drop dead tomorrow if he doesn't lose weight, but I think he will live longer and under less strain if you thin him down a little. He surely isn't the fattest cornsnake I've ever seen- far from it. He just looks like what would be called in the horse world an "easy keeper."
SnakeAround
Formerly Blutengel
Just don't expect him to slim down fast, snakes burn not a lot of calories let alone their fat reserves.
captainjack0000
Student
How long was he in there for? What was the temperature of the water?
7legion77
New member
about an hour/lukewarm
7legion77
New member
Well, he's back to normal now.
The bathtub seems to be the only way to force him to get a work out, because he has to keep coming up for air. For his sake I'll make it shorter next time.
But the "exhaustion" I guess is a sign that he really burned as much energy as he possibly could.
If he's gonna lose weight, I need to be serious about it and put him through strenuous exercise.
The bathtub seems to be the only way to force him to get a work out, because he has to keep coming up for air. For his sake I'll make it shorter next time.
But the "exhaustion" I guess is a sign that he really burned as much energy as he possibly could.
If he's gonna lose weight, I need to be serious about it and put him through strenuous exercise.
Chip
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒ&
I don't know that I wouldn't build up to strenuous. Small meals, some handling, and an occasional bath/swim should do wonders. He didn't get chunky quickly and I doubt he'll get thin quickly safely. Perhaps get out your scales, and find a target for this time next year.
Shiari
Blutterer
Legion: Don't make the water so deep next time. Just a few inches is necessary to get them 'swimming' because they don't have traction and that way you don't exhaust them into near-drowning. And only do 15 minutes at a time.
You basically made him do the equivalent of a marathon when he's out of shape entirely.
You basically made him do the equivalent of a marathon when he's out of shape entirely.
captainjack0000
Student
Yeah, I agree with everybody else.
IF you are going to put him in water, then measure that water temp.
I wouldn't even put him in the water. You don't want it fighting for its life. That seems like a lot of stress on the animal. It seems like proper diet and some handling would be good enough.
IF you are going to put him in water, then measure that water temp.
I wouldn't even put him in the water. You don't want it fighting for its life. That seems like a lot of stress on the animal. It seems like proper diet and some handling would be good enough.
7legion77
New member
Guys, thanks for pointing that out. I didn't realize how overweight he really is until now.
In the morning, he's sluggish and barely willing to lift himself up, he'd rather just just flop down and drop to the floor.
In the evening, however, he's a lot more willing to flex and strain and its satisfying know that he's still fully alive and active and it hasn't made him lethargic.
Been interacting with him & handling a lot more now, I'm on a mission here.
In the morning, he's sluggish and barely willing to lift himself up, he'd rather just just flop down and drop to the floor.
In the evening, however, he's a lot more willing to flex and strain and its satisfying know that he's still fully alive and active and it hasn't made him lethargic.
Been interacting with him & handling a lot more now, I'm on a mission here.