travisreiner
New member
I just fed my corn for the first time and it is taking him a long time to eat. How long should it take for them to eat the pinkie?:awcrap:
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Feeding Problem
- Thread starter travisreiner
- Start date
Chip
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒ&
need more info!
FIRST! What is the temperature of the cage?
Also, is this an '03 corn (from last year?) if so shouldn't still be on pinks... If it's an '04, it's an early bird and probably tiny. Still right after first shed, they can usually dispatch a pink in 5 minutes. The animal's size, age and temperature it is kept at will have more to do with appetite and assimilation than anything. Also, "pinkie" can mean anything from a one day old mouse to a week old. Big size difference there. Let us know and we'll be happy to help you out. Good luck.
FIRST! What is the temperature of the cage?
Also, is this an '03 corn (from last year?) if so shouldn't still be on pinks... If it's an '04, it's an early bird and probably tiny. Still right after first shed, they can usually dispatch a pink in 5 minutes. The animal's size, age and temperature it is kept at will have more to do with appetite and assimilation than anything. Also, "pinkie" can mean anything from a one day old mouse to a week old. Big size difference there. Let us know and we'll be happy to help you out. Good luck.
travisreiner
New member
The snake is an 04'. I have had him in his feeding tray for several hours and am getting worried. I am using a tupperware tray; Is that apropriate? The cage is kept around 75-80. He has bedding material in his cage so I dont want to leave the pinkie in there. He hasnt eaten in a week. The place that I bought him said that he was a good eater. The pinkie isnt that big. He was being fed live food, but I bought 2 frozen and will try those later. I read that if you take the water out of the cage for a few days, then dip the pinkie in water he might eat it. Thank you for whatever help you can give me.
Chip
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒ&
hmmmm
I wouldn't dip the pinkie. It needs all the scent it can get (since you're switching to frozen) and water will just weaken that. I don't see the correlation with a thirsty snake being prone to eat wet prey. Still, I wouldn't worry a bit about one week. It is important that you don't offer food often to a non-feeder. They become accustomed to the smell of food and won't be as likley to have it trigger their feeding response.
The tupperware tray is fine and used world-round!
Let him settle in for several days and then try again. How long have you had him? When was he hatched? Even an early 04 is a young snake to call an established feeder, but if he's ever eaten you're statistically in the "don't sweat it" category.
Keep us updated.
I wouldn't dip the pinkie. It needs all the scent it can get (since you're switching to frozen) and water will just weaken that. I don't see the correlation with a thirsty snake being prone to eat wet prey. Still, I wouldn't worry a bit about one week. It is important that you don't offer food often to a non-feeder. They become accustomed to the smell of food and won't be as likley to have it trigger their feeding response.
The tupperware tray is fine and used world-round!
Let him settle in for several days and then try again. How long have you had him? When was he hatched? Even an early 04 is a young snake to call an established feeder, but if he's ever eaten you're statistically in the "don't sweat it" category.
Keep us updated.
cowtownherper
New member
Not all 03's are equal. I have a 03 purchased in march thats about 30" and 100 grams. I also have an 03 purchased in november thats about 15" and about 20 grams. They arn't all born at the same time and they dont all grow at the same rate. I still have three 03's on pinks and they are doing great. I dont like to rush their growth. I know alot of people feed to push the growth. I'm happy letting them grow at a slower pace. My 03's are getting two pinkies each feeding, once a week. This is just my personal preference and it has worked well for me.
Chip
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒ&
I'm not trying to set any rules in stone here, but an 03 would be at least 14 weeks old, and that's if it hatched on New Year's eve. In all liklihood, even a second clutch (or very late hatchling) would be born in or before October. By week 6 I begin to offer two pinks per feeding and step up to fuzzies around week 12 (if two pinks are being eaten by that point). Without a doubt, there are runts, and there are snakes that just don't take off like their clutchmates. But he'd said it was sold to him as a good eater, and I'd estimate 95% of 03's would take a fuzzy, whether or not their keepers think they could not withstanding. My 03's are on weanlings and small mice, but it's a line of big Okeetees. They grow really fast.
It's a moot point anyway, as he's PMed me that it's an 04. Geez, I'm just starting to pair my breeders up!
It's a moot point anyway, as he's PMed me that it's an 04. Geez, I'm just starting to pair my breeders up!
cowtownherper
New member
Hey elrojo. I dont post with the intention of offendeding any one. It sounds like you have it going good. I guess I do have what you would call a runt. I have two oketees that I got from SMR on about the first of November. I'm guessing 2nd clutch. They were about the same size when I got them. Since then the male has doubled the size of the female. Tuesday was feeding night and it took an hour for her to eat one pink. She has never accepted a second. I weighed her last night and she is only 18 grams. I might add that she did regurge once about a month ago. In the three years that I've been keeping snakes, two with corns, she is the only snake I've ever had regurge. Other wise she seems healthy. I just dont think she is in any hurry to grow up. I still have two other late 03's still on two pinks. I'm gonna listen to you and move up to fuzzies next week. Keep on herping, Jim
Chip
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒ&
Hey Jim
I assume you know the regurge drill (ten days w/no food offered, then a smaller than normal meal, pinkie head etc.) but I think it's prudent to be very careful to feed regurgers small meals until they get their "feet" under them. Good luck with her!
I assume you know the regurge drill (ten days w/no food offered, then a smaller than normal meal, pinkie head etc.) but I think it's prudent to be very careful to feed regurgers small meals until they get their "feet" under them. Good luck with her!
travisreiner
New member
It still hasnt eatin any thing and it has been nearly three weeks. We tried to force feed it but it regurged it, after eating half. What do I do?
Please, any help is appriciated.
Please, any help is appriciated.
CornCrazy
What's one more???
If this was supposed to be an established feeder, then I suggest you contact the breeder/store you bought it at. Obviously, it wasn't as established as they led you to believe.
As for the food size issue...most of my '03s are eating hoppers to weanling mice. I also have some that are on peach fuzzies. The ones on peach fuzzies, however, were ALL non-feeders that I rehabilitated. They are MUCH smaller than the others. I will say that the majority of the rehabbed ones are actually on two peach fuzzies now. I will be trying them on regular fuzzies soon.
As for the food size issue...most of my '03s are eating hoppers to weanling mice. I also have some that are on peach fuzzies. The ones on peach fuzzies, however, were ALL non-feeders that I rehabilitated. They are MUCH smaller than the others. I will say that the majority of the rehabbed ones are actually on two peach fuzzies now. I will be trying them on regular fuzzies soon.
Chip
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒ&
NEVER force feed!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can not stress this enough! The likelihood of a regurge after such a stressful feeding is almost 100%. Give the snake ten days before the next feeding. Then offer a pinkie head. Not head & shoulders, just head. If he eats that, wait a week and offer the front half of a pinkie, stay on small items until the digestive juices catch up to him. Odds are no longer in your favor after a regurged force feed. If you can trade him in, I suggest doing so. Best wishes.
Chip
I can not stress this enough! The likelihood of a regurge after such a stressful feeding is almost 100%. Give the snake ten days before the next feeding. Then offer a pinkie head. Not head & shoulders, just head. If he eats that, wait a week and offer the front half of a pinkie, stay on small items until the digestive juices catch up to him. Odds are no longer in your favor after a regurged force feed. If you can trade him in, I suggest doing so. Best wishes.
Chip
aggiemarta
New member
well now what
I am the one who tried to force-feed travisreiners corn snake, after getting advice from my ecology professor, who did her graduate work in snakes and had to do it quite a bit. She said it was fine, just not to do it often. So now I wonder if I have ruined his snake? I dont understand why the snake wont eat, its as if it is punishing itself! I got the pinkie halfway down its throat and it just spit it back out, without ever biting down. I dont think the store will take it back or offer a refund/exchange, so what can we do to help the snake live? I would hate for him to lose the snake, because it was a small investment, especially for a college student!
Any information would be greatly appreciated, and you can reply to either travisreiner or me. Thanks!
I am the one who tried to force-feed travisreiners corn snake, after getting advice from my ecology professor, who did her graduate work in snakes and had to do it quite a bit. She said it was fine, just not to do it often. So now I wonder if I have ruined his snake? I dont understand why the snake wont eat, its as if it is punishing itself! I got the pinkie halfway down its throat and it just spit it back out, without ever biting down. I dont think the store will take it back or offer a refund/exchange, so what can we do to help the snake live? I would hate for him to lose the snake, because it was a small investment, especially for a college student!
Any information would be greatly appreciated, and you can reply to either travisreiner or me. Thanks!
CornCrazy
What's one more???
I don't think you jeopardized the snake too much since the snake never actually swallowed the mouse and started digesting it. You never actually got the mouse down him. Force-feeding is very stressful to a snake, however, and can cause him to continue to not feed. I would refrain from attempting it again.
I do suggest that the store or breeder be contacted. They need to replace this snake. They should be the ones worrying with trying to get him to feed.
What types of meals have you guys actually tried offering? Live, F/T, or what? There are many things which can be tried. If you'll list what you've tried, we can go from there.
I do suggest that the store or breeder be contacted. They need to replace this snake. They should be the ones worrying with trying to get him to feed.
What types of meals have you guys actually tried offering? Live, F/T, or what? There are many things which can be tried. If you'll list what you've tried, we can go from there.
aggiemarta
New member
what we have tried
We have tried:
Live pinkie
Frozen pinkie, warmed up in hand
Frozen pinkie, warmed up in mug of hot water (this we have tried several times)
Thats about it, becuase we dont know of anything else to do!
Help!
We have tried:
Live pinkie
Frozen pinkie, warmed up in hand
Frozen pinkie, warmed up in mug of hot water (this we have tried several times)
Thats about it, becuase we dont know of anything else to do!
Help!
CornCrazy
What's one more???
This is going to sound gross, but try braining a warm F/T pink. Simply take a tooth pick and poke a hole in the pink's brain, smear the brain matter around on the head of the pinky. If this doesn't work, then I'll offer another suggestion. I would give the snake a couple of days to get over the stress of the attempted force feeding, however.
Chip
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒ&
glad to know it didn't keep it down long.
That helps. I've force-fed lots of snakes myself, but the success rate for hatchlings is really small, unless you luck into that occasional one that begins to swallow on it's own after the pink head is in it's mouth. Good luck.
Chip
That helps. I've force-fed lots of snakes myself, but the success rate for hatchlings is really small, unless you luck into that occasional one that begins to swallow on it's own after the pink head is in it's mouth. Good luck.
Chip
travisreiner
New member
It's been a month and he still hasnt eatin. I am gonna call the pet store and make them take him back. I want a new snake. he is pretty but if he wont eat I dont want him. Thank you for all of you help. Hopefully I will get one that eats
travis
travis