Munson Feeding Question for the Experts

[KA2003]

First off, I do need to say this is a very informative site and you all have helped me advoid some very painful mistakes and setting up the correct environment for my new corn snake.

I have a question regarding the Munson Plan (which I have copied below). I was wondering if someone could tell me generally how long one should expect (for male and female) for it to take a corn snake to go from one level to another - I'd like to buy frozen mice and right now the corn is very small - I will weigh him/her once the scale come in, but I feed her one pinkie and the buldge was gone in 24 hours. So my question is bascially how long (or number of feedings), to get from level to the next, and is there a general weight size for a corn that is say 6 months, 12 months, 18 months etc.

I am sorry if I am looking at this the wrong way, I just want to make sure I have some general milestones to look too. thanks in advance.

The Munson Plan (Sample Feeding Chart): Revised 06/08/08
-When they're on single pinks (2-3g), I feed every 5-6 days. (Snake = 4-15g)
-Double pinks (3g x 2) every 5-6 days. (Snake = 16-23g)
-Small fuzzies (5-7g) every 6-7 days. (Snake = 24-30g)
-Regular fuzzies (7-9g) every 6-7 days (Snake = 30-50g)
-Hoppers (9-12g) every 6-7 days (Snake = 51-90g)
-Weaned (14-20g) every 7 days (Snake = 91-170g)
-Adult (20-30g) every 7-x days (Snake = 170+) See below.

Note: Adult females are fed more frequently than adult males (especially following brumation). Adult females are fed every 7-12 days; adult males are fed every 11-14 days

 

[wade]

There is not a good pat answer to your question. I understand why you are asking. I would guess by the time you go through 50 pinkies the snake will be big enough to move up to fuzzies. That is a little more than six months worth. And that is a WAG. Wild A** Guess.

 

[TracieMarie<3]

I'm not an expert, by any means, but my first corn only took a little over 4 months to go from pinks to peach fuzzies. It really depends on the size of the snake when you purchase it. Mine was about 14g but he seemed to grow super fast... maybe that's just me... especially considering, like I said, he was my first corn.

All that said, I would probably take the more experienced members' word over mine. They've been at it much, much longer.

 

[bkelm18]

My corn took about 4 months to go from single pinks to single fuzzies. 4 months later he's almost ready to step it up another notch.

 

[Shiari]

It took Vanay 6 months to go up to fuzzy size, but I also got her when she was 6 grams and I moved her to fuzzies at a later weight (~30 grams because my scale was being stupid and I didn't want to buy a new one yet). And that was feeding her every 5 days. However, she's now 66 grams on hoppers.

 

[wade]

There is not a good pat answer to your question. I understand why you are asking. I would guess by the time you go through 50 pinkies the snake will be big enough to move up to fuzzies. That is a little more than six months worth. And that is a WAG. Wild A** Guess.

As I said, there is not a good pat answer to your question.

 

[jitami]

Just an idea that I wish I would have known about when first starting out... If I were in your shoes I would buy a bag of peach fuzzies and cut them in half (or smaller if needed, but doesn't sound like it would be). Going from 1/2 peach fuzzy to whole peach fuzzy to double peach fuzzies should give you ample time to make it worth buying in bulk. Oh and I was squeamish about cutting them, but it's really not that big of a deal. It's easiest if they're still partially frozen.

 

[KA2003]

Thank you everyone.
My scale arrived today, and I can provide everyone a little more history and some photos.

First, I "adopted" this corn from someone that thought he may like them, but found the corn snake to be too "wormy" compared to ball pythons and wasn't into him/her. So I thought it would have a better life with me, since I had a corn snake back 20 years ago, and of all the snakes I have had, the corn was my favorite. Right now, its my only snake, and given the advice I received by some on this site, I added a proper "belly heat" source, and I actually returned the Zilla 30-40 gallon UTH, which was running 130 degrees and bought a "Living World" brand snake kit heater for $20 which runs at 103. I then bought from Homedepot the light dimmer and dailed it in at 84.5 degrees. I also added aspen bedding, and a branch, vine and one hide, I am going to add another two hides later today.

The Corn was bought at the PA reptile show a couple months back, and I was told it was a "red phase" CB cornsnake, and I'll post a photo (not the best given it was taken with my phone). Any thoughts on the snake would be appreciated.

Also, my scale came in today and the snake is 18 Grams, and I measured it to be around 18 inches (plus or minus an inch). I don't know much more about the corn snake than what I just wrote.

I also feed it a F/T pinkee which it took with no problem.

I also wanted to share with people on this site that I purchased from Proexotics.com - their temp gun for $25 and it's the best little gadget I own. I use it every time I open the tank, and take a quick read of the temps of various parts of the tank and actually "shoot" the corn to see what temp it is. You'll see a photo of the gun in one of the photos I will post. You can get one at proexotics.com - and no, I don't own the company or even know anyone that works there.

Thanks again for all the information.


Sorry - tried to attached photos and couldn't figure out how to find it on my harddrive - Normally all I do is tap an option and it gets me to "my pictures", but this time it's looking for a http: and that's a little over my head. thanks again.

 

[harm781]

I would say that your snake is ready for doubles if bulge is gone after 24hrs & it weighs in at 18grams.
To upload a pic go to advanced then at top you'll see a paper clip. hit that go to upload and make after you select your photos you hit the upload button on the right hand bottom of box before closing out then you're set.

 

[KA2003]

thank you Harm781. I will now attach the photos - and any comments (positive or negative) would be greatly appreciated. thanks again.

 

[KA2003]

Here is another attachment, for whatever reason my camera takes photos that seem too large for connecting to it so I had to resize. the first two went through without a problem, then i resized the third and its going through now. the fourth can't be cropped as I did too good of a job and filled the frame with the enclosure.

 

[Floof]

There's no one answer, unless that answer is "it depends."

Two of my snakes are clutchmates. Starting from a certain weight as opposed to a certain date, one took twice as long as the other to be big enough for fuzzies.

It will usually take a lot fewer than 50 pinkies or fuzzies to advance in size. I tried that with my first snake, and she was on triple (or more, when she would take them) pinkies and more than ready for hoppers by the time we got through the bag of 50.

 

[Floof]

Haha, I'm a little late in the game. That's a nice looking normal.

The one thing I notice is you seem to be measuring temps on top of the substrate? I might be wrong, but in case I'm not... You should be measuring temps directly on the glass above the heat pad, underneath all substrate. Your corn can burrow under the substrate and burn itself on the heat pad, which is going to be MUCH hotter than the top layer of aspen.

 

[gelshark]

I will now attach the photos - and any comments (positive or negative) would be greatly appreciated.

I was desperately trying to find some negative comments for you but i could not, sorry...
as for positive comments, i offer you this quote from water boy, "You can do it!"

 

[KA2003]

thank you.
I actually have a thin piece of paper down between the glass and the aspen (I was orginally going to use paper, but decided to just go with aspen from the start after reading a few posts. I will go ahead tonite and remove the paper and see what the temp is at the glass. And yes you are right - at the "paper" its 84.5 degrees but if you check the temp at the top of the aspen it is 80 degrees. and it's 75 on the cold side of the tank. Thanks again.

 

[KA2003]

thank you.
Quick question - when you say cut in half, do you mean length wise (so it won't be as much of a buldge in the snake, or cut in half down the middle/waist?
I like the idea a lot and cutting when frozen sounds like the right idea. thanks again.

 

[jitami]

thank you.
Quick question - when you say cut in half, do you mean length wise (so it won't be as much of a buldge in the snake, or cut in half down the middle/waist?
I like the idea a lot and cutting when frozen sounds like the right idea. thanks again.

You could do either, but typically it's lengthwise to reduce the width and make it easier for a smaller snake to eat

 

[Caryl]

KA2003, I just have to say that you're the kind of new owner every snake (& breeder) dreams about! Kudos to you for taking such care with your new addition. It sounds like you're well on top of things.

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

KA2003, I just have to say that you're the kind of new owner every snake (& breeder) dreams about! Kudos to you for taking such care with your new addition. It sounds like you're well on top of things.

No kidding!

And the cut in half idea is GREAT! I wish you'd told me that one week ago!

 

[jitami]

And the cut in half idea is GREAT! I wish you'd told me that one week ago!

Yep, I wish I would have known before ordering 200 xs pinks last year. Good thing I have garter snakes who don't have any issues with multiple (multiple multiple) prey items, but it sure would have saved some money to just go with fuzzies in the beginning.