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How do you make sure a new snake eats f/t?

P

Protector

New member
I know most corns will very readily eat already dead food, but how do you know for sure before you get a snake? I definitely could never feed live, or kill anything, so if I got a corn that wouldn't take frozen rats/mice I don't know what I would do. I'm going to adopt a corn from someone on craigslist later on and the person probably wouldn't lie about their snake's diet... but all the same... Would I need to ask for a video of the corn eating to be sure?
 
Usually you can just ask the breeder you get the snake from what they are eating. If you tell them you need a snake that will take f/t, a good breeder will accomodate.

That being said, I got a 2 or 3 y.o. female and was told she had only been fed live. The first time I offered f/t mice, she took it with no hesitation. Most will, but it's best to ask first to be sure.
 
Most of the time they just take it. If not there are a few tricks you can use to encourage the switch over.

The Zombie Dance
Tease feeding
Scenting
Warming way up
Try fresh killed first

That's just a few. I would give the snake a chance before really trying any tricks

Wayne
 
Yeah, I thought it should be pretty easy with corns. I guess what I'll do is just ask the owner and avoid anyone who says their corn won't eat f/t, just in case.

Usually you can just ask the breeder you get the snake from what they are eating. If you tell them you need a snake that will take f/t, a good breeder will accomodate.
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Yeah, but I'll probably adopt from someone who has a corn they want to sell because people are always selling corns with a full set up on craigslist so I figure I might as well get my corn that way. I like to always try to adopt if I can and I want a young snake but not a baby, because, being new to snakes, I think it would be best to get an older one. Like over a foot long (I'm always seeing ones about 15", which is perfect).
 
Protector said:
Yeah, I thought it should be pretty easy with corns. I guess what I'll do is just ask the owner and avoid anyone who says their corn won't eat f/t, just in case.



Yeah, but I'll probably adopt from someone who has a corn they want to sell because people are always selling corns with a full set up on craigslist so I figure I might as well get my corn that way. I like to always try to adopt if I can and I want a young snake but not a baby, because, being new to snakes, I think it would be best to get an older one. Like over a foot long (I'm always seeing ones about 15", which is perfect).
Click to expand...

If you do get one on c.l., I suggest a trip to the vet first thing for a checkup. A lot of people dump snakes who are sick on them or they can't get to feed. Do your homework to ensure the people are honest.

Good luck!
 
You can ask the person you are buying from if they have any extra frozen mice and offer to buy them.
That way you can see exactly what the snake has been fed.
That is what I do, because generally people tell you what you want to hear.

Kudos on adopting a snake.
Look for mites and Respiratory Infections, both which are treatable but will cost you an extra $100 or so at the vet.
 
Can mites that are on snakes give other animals, like hamsters and birds mites? I wouldn't want my pets to get mites. He will be quarantined from my other pets when I get him but I don't know how you can tell if a snake has mites or whether they could usually travel on things, even if I changed my clothes every time I held him/cleaned him out etc??

And how do you treat them? http://www.anapsid.org/mites.html On there it says by cleaning the environment and by...

Would I get betadine from a vet?
"Snakes should be soaked in a dilute Betadine bath as described above for lizards. If the snake persists in climbing out of the tub or is too small to put in a bathtub, place it in a plastic, lidded container into which air holes have been punched, filling it 3/4 full of the Betadine/water solution. You may wish to bathe the snake in a plain water bath first to allow it to drink first, adding the Betadine after it has done so. If the snake defecates in the water, drain the tub, clean it, and draw a fresh Betadine bath.

Whether or not the snake's head was under the water, dab the eyes and heat pits with mineral oil after removing it from the bath. Check the groove under the chin as well as under all the belly scutes and in the vent folds to make sure there are no mites, dead or alive, lodged in those areas. If you find mites in these areas, you can remove them by gently rubbing them from between the scales and folds with a cotton-tipped swab dipped in mineral oil."
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Just wanting to research as much as possible so I know these things ahead of time.
 
Snake mites are species specific. A rodent may carry a mite to or from a snake but they wouldn't become infested with them. You could carry them to or from. The same apply to bird mites, etc.

You can soak a snake in a slightly warm bath with a little dish soap in it to clean them. Then a light towel drying. Also a good quarantine protocol is advisable. I usually quarantine new snakes for around a month.

Wayne
 
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