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How would you feed her?

O

Ophion

New member
A co-worker of mine is moving and she could not keep a couple of her animals. It was more specifically about her bearded dragon who is in bad shape, but she also gave me her 12-year-old female corn snake. She appears to be in good health, active and great to handle. I have two other younger male corns (and five other snakes), so she is not anything completely new.

My pondering is that I have not had an adult corn, but my understanding is adults are fed mice every week or two depending on the individual. This one has been fed live small rats whenever she comes out to hunt. (every few weeks, once a month? Don't know, couldn't get anything slightly solid from the owner, no idea even the last time she ate) She is by no means thin so she hasn't been lacking. She is about 4 ft, but even that seems like a big meal over a long breaking period. (when even she apparently refuses them on occasion)

Would you put of onto mice and feed her on a more frequent schedule? Either way, at 12 would you try switching her to f/t or rather has anyone had success after that long? I would certainly rather have her on f/t. I even tried searching, but there did not seem to be much on the older corn feeding live rats whenever. :)

Here is a picture of Ruby. I have been assuming she is a basic Amel, she is just very light compared to my male. Sweetheart anyway.
2011_11_22_ruby.jpg
 
She is beautiful. If you want her on f/t I think it is worth trying to switch. Most the time you can get them to switch. She might not want to eat mice after eating rats. If you feed mice then I would feed her every 7 to 10 days. I am not real sure what a maintenance diet in rats would be but I would think every 2 weeks if you are feeding her rats.
 
First thing you need to find out if she is going to refuse a F/T adult mouse. If she does scent it with a rat by rubbing the rat over the F/T mouse. I am willing to bet she eats the F/T mouse with no trouble.

Long story short. Friend lost Corn snake for over a year. Snake lived on live wild mice and rats. Found snake and ate F/T mice right off the bat.
 
Thank you. I feel slightly more comfortable. I have yet to see her eat, but I would assume she has a decent enough feeding response to be where she is now and being 12.

I am happy to feed her either mice or rats as long as either are fine for her, just prefer them f/t of course. I just would thing think the mice are generally better. From my understanding they're a little less fatty and thus a leaner food source and I would assume be better for her health and keeping shape.

I can pick one up and give it a try, see how she likes it. Before I make my order and have a bunch of large mice for no reason. :)
 
Not to change the subject, but are you sure this is a female corn? the tail looks somewhat thick beyond the cloaca, whereas it is usually thin with females.
 
Oh no not positive. I was told by the previous owner who was told by the first owner and have no idea how he found out. Since I had no plan of ever breeding her (or of potential him) it really wasn't a concern. Since Ruby has been as 'she' for 12 years it just seemed best to call her, well a her. When I become comfortable with sexing then I might confirm it one way or another.
 
Thought I would update and say I gave her a f/t mouse a few days ago. I took one of the mice I had on hand, still a bit small, but something to test with.

She took it no problem. Acted more like she had f/t then live. No constricting or anything, just took it and started swallowing. So, I'll be adding some f/t mice to my order just for her!
 
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