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Feeding habits- first 3 meals...

J

JoshuaNeff

New member
Things seem to be moving a bit "faster" than normal with the new guy... so I want to check with you guys and make sure it sounds like all is well.

Saturday (week +1 day ago)- ate a SMALL pinkie. (even with the biggest area the snake is wide). During this time he was fairly lazy in the tank, but active and smelling everything when held. I figured he was hungry and hunting for food smells when ouy.

Wednesday AM. Shed, perfect, one piece no problems at all.

Thursday PM- ate another pinkie, VERY quickly and aggressively went after it.

Sunday- ate another pinkie, by the books.

I feed again today (Sunday) because he was getting VERY active. This morning he was zooming all over the cage, he came out and was acting like a bumble bee on a string. Now he's back to sitting up in his fake vines and digesting.

I cleaned the tank today, no signs of issues with his first 2 meals... he went to the bathroom so that seems to be going well... I just feel like 3 meals + 1 shed in 8 days is a lot. On the other hand, I'm not sure how long it had been since he had eaten last. I'm looking at his next feeding on Friday of this week. Lumps are gone within 24 hours or so, temps are 83-75, with basking spots closer to the light a bit higher. Aspen bedding with wet moss inside a coconut for a humidity box if he desires it.

(very young, but I haven't weighted him yet... as big around as a pinkie is the best reference I can give.)
 
I have to agree with Bobby. In my opinion, corn snakes shouldn't eat more than every 5 days... MAYBE 4 days. It sounds like you need to move him up to 2 pinks. Basically, follow the link Bobby posted and follow the Munson Plan.
 
I think you're right and three meals in eight days is a lot.

Don't interpret all activity as being hunting behaviour. It's normal for young Corns to explore their enclosure regularly - it doesn't mean he wants or needs food.

The reality is that he'll eat anything you put in front of him - to the point where he throws up, if necessary. In the wild, this is a survival instinct as they wouldn't know when they were next going to find food. In capticity, you guarantee his next meal, but he doesn't know that. You have to control his food intake - once every three days is too often. This is classed as power-feeding and can lead to an obsese snake with a short life.

Once every five days will be fine.
 
Thanks guys. =)

The rough plan was once every 5 days for a while, until he got up to two pinkies, then once every 6 days or so, then once a week from there on. It just shocked me when on his second feeding (5 days apart) he was so excited for a meal. It was VERY, VERY aggressive.
 
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