Feeding Issue

[iamca1977]

Tried feeding my corn (5 yrs old) today, been 8 days since last feeding. He didn't seem at all interested in the mouse so we put him back in his tank (we have a feeding tank for him). We tried again a couple hrs later and he circled around it a few times then went for it, started eating it and got the head of the mouse in then spit it out (no regurgitate) and wanted out. Can anyone tell me what this is all about? We took him out and put him back in his other tank. He's still very active and not sure if I should try again tomorrow or wait till his next feeding day. He's always been fed once a week but I'm wondering if maybe he should be fed every 10 days or more...he's 5 ft long and eating frozen adult mice.

 

[rexracer]

You didn't say if it was the same mouse a couple hours later. If it was, that might be why he spit it out. I would just wait 3-4 days, or even a week, and try again. A 5 year old corn can go 2 weeks without eating easily. As to feeding only every 10 days, it depends on activity level, but it can't hurt him.

 

[Bartholomew]

Wait 10 day s before trying to feed the snake again. If you try to feed the snake again any time soon, it may cause stress and cause the snake to not eat at all. I cant tell you why your snake is doing this prior the the information you gave. Can you give more info? Like the tempurature, any change in behavior since, etc?

 

[bksbuddha]

I would wait until at least his next feeding day to try again. Sometimes they're just not all that hungry or getting ready to shed. At least w/adult corns they can usually miss a feeding or 2 w/out a problem so long as they're eating regularly before the refusal. Is there any chance that the little bugger is gonna shed soon?
My Slither went on a 6 week fast herself for some unknown reason. I even bought her newer mice thinking that maybe the others were no good. I came to the conclusion that I could only thaw the mouse in 2 cups of water & not handle the mouse except by it's tail. It could have just been coincidence that she ate the mouse I did this to, but it worked. So I just keep doing it this way. :eatsmiley
I wouldn't advise trying to feed him again on the same day of the refusal. I do hope that he eats for you the next time ya try.

 

[cornsnakeforsale_com]

Maybe he just got scared? Some of mine will eat fine no matter what's going on and others will eat if they're all alone for a few hours.

 

[Nanci]

I would just wait till the next feed. If it's spring, and they are on hunger strike, if they refuse I skip the next meal, and offer the time after that.

 

[carnivorouszoo]

Any reason you are feeding an adult so often? Is he on the smaller side and very active? My 08 amel male eats every 10 days but is getting a little bigger in a not so good way so I am starting him on a twice a month feeding schedule. I want to catch him early before he gets fat rather than a slight curve to the underside of his belly. I'm taking in a pair of snakes who were fed to a gross weight issue, knowing you care about your snake as I care for mine, be sure to evaluate your snake now and then not just by weight but by shape too. I imagine he wasn't hungry yet. Try spacing out the feedings a little more.

 

[bitsy]

started eating it and got the head of the mouse in then spit it out (no regurgitate) and wanted out.

Mine can do this when either the food is too big for them and they only realise when they start eating, or they're spooked - if I'm moving around near them too much. If the mouse was the usual size, then I'd put it down to him being disturbed. If he's coming up to a shed then his eyesight will be affected, so this could make him more touchy than normal.

He's always been fed once a week but I'm wondering if maybe he should be fed every 10 days or more...he's 5 ft long and eating frozen adult mice.

Depends what sort of size, shape and weight he is really. Adult mice are the right size for an adult Corn. Mine eat once a fortnight, or even once every three weeks through the winter, as more frequent feeds tend to make them put on flab. It does depend on the individual Corn though. Some are fine on once a week.

 

[Kronos]

This is the time of year when a lot of adult snakes will begin to refuse food. Even though your snake is probably captive born, and may not have ever done this before, there may be so distant instinctive memory that it's time to bruminate. Even if it's kept at the proper temperatures.

 

[iamca1977]

Thank you to everyone who answered, very much appreciate it!

You didn't say if it was the same mouse a couple hours later. If it was, that might be why he spit it out.

Yes, it was the same mouse. He didn't touch it at all the first time we tried, so we put it back in the baggy and warmed it up in warm water again for the secod try.

Can you give more info? Like the tempurature, any change in behavior since, etc?

Temps in both tanks are where they should be, I use a heat pad on his warm side as well as a heat lamp if the warm side gets to cool. There's been no change in his behavior, he's usually more active when it's close to feeding time, which he was when we took him out to feed. This time however was during the day, while the other times we fed him were at night. Not sure if maybe that would cause it.

Is there any chance that the little bugger is gonna shed soon?

I'm going to wait until his next feeding time to try again. He's not in shed (just shed 2 weeks ago), and ate great afterwards. This is the first time he's ever did this.

Any reason you are feeding an adult so often? Is he on the smaller side and very active? My 08 amel male eats every 10 days but is getting a little bigger in a not so good way so I am starting him on a twice a month feeding schedule. I want to catch him early before he gets fat rather than a slight curve to the underside of his belly. I'm taking in a pair of snakes who were fed to a gross weight issue, knowing you care about your snake as I care for mine, be sure to evaluate your snake now and then not just by weight but by shape too. I imagine he wasn't hungry yet. Try spacing out the feedings a little more.

The people we got him from were feeding him every week so we were doing the same thing, he's definately not on the fat side or underweight, I'd say he's the perfect size. He's a very active and healthy snake. We also have a female corn who's 3 and 3 ft long, and she feeds every 10 days (we just got her and that's what her old owner was feeding her), so we're going to try the same with "Larry" and see how that goes.


We usually buy our mice at Petland but yesterday we got them at Petsmart (cheaper). I bought a box of 4 adult mice for Larry and a box of 4 hoppers for our female since I always thought from her size that adults were to big and I could always give her 2 hoppers if I had to.

The mouse we gave Larry yesterday was the last one we had from Petland. When we came home from getting more mice, we thought to compare the size of the mice and the one we gave Larry in which he refused was the size of the hoppers. Doubt if this has anything to do with it but thought I should mention it. We're definately sticking to Petsmart from now on.


I've enclosed a pic I took of him this morning.

 

[OkeeteeMom]

Gorgeous Viv!

 

[bitsy]

This is the time of year when a lot of adult snakes will begin to refuse food. Even though your snake is probably captive born, and may not have ever done this before, there may be so distant instinctive memory that it's time to bruminate. Even if it's kept at the proper temperatures.

I have to disagree with this as a generalisation. None of mine have ever refused food at this time of year. I've never brumated and the UTHs remain at the same temp all year round.

The only regular refusals I've experienced have been a couple of males that go on a traditional breeding season fast around March and April. Even then, most of my adult males don't do this.

However... do you know whether the previous owners brumated him? If he's been accustomed to slowing down at this time of year before, then it could be a continuation of his normal annual routine.

If not, then I think you should look for a factor other than the season.

 

[carnivorouszoo]

Nice snake, yeah from that pic he is not fat or even a touch pudgy lol. Hope eats next time without issues.

 

[Kronos]

I have to disagree with this as a generalisation. None of mine have ever refused food at this time of year. I've never brumated and the UTHs remain at the same temp all year round.

The only regular refusals I've experienced have been a couple of males that go on a traditional breeding season fast around March and April. Even then, most of my adult males don't do this.

However... do you know whether the previous owners brumated him? If he's been accustomed to slowing down at this time of year before, then it could be a continuation of his normal annual routine.

If not, then I think you should look for a factor other than the season.

It doesn't seem as prevalent in CB corns as it is in other snakes, but I have had some older, mature CB corn snakes slow down in their feeding in the winter months. It's just one more possibility to consider. Interestingly different people will sometimes have vastly different experiences with these fascinating creatures. I would agree with other posters to wait until its next scheduled feeding time before trying again.

 

[Ares2010]

He's beautiful.

Maybe try a different mouse. Maybe he thinks something is wrong with the one you tried to give him. Maybe it smelt different or weird to him.. who knows..

I might be wrong, but well, worth a try at least.