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New Snake Has Only Fed Once

J

Jase82

New member
Hey guys, I got my baby corn around the 18th of January. She fed just fine on the 23rd. After that she would not eat for a while, but one night i put her in a small tub in her tank and she ate a whole pinky. She also kept it down for about 3 days, but in the morning of the 4th there was a pinky regurg in the water dish. That regurg was about on the 1st of March. After that eat it seemed like i could get her to eat again, but ever since ive had no luck (ive been trying just halves of pinkies. This morning the tank was a little cold, 75 degrees, and she was on top of her hide lookin not so good. I turned up the heat and put her under the hide, but I am now very seriously worried.

The way I feed her is putting her in a small enclosed container with a slit pinky. The problem is from moving her from her hide to the container freaks her out a bit, and she just tries to escape. I try to feed around dusk, and if that does not work after an hour i reheat the pinky and put her in there overnight. The uth is usually running about 88 degrees, and she has many hides.

I dont know what to do now, and I feel like she doesnt have much time left =(
 
Are you sure it was a regurge? After 4 days, I'm inclined to believe it was a genuine poo. Additionally, some snakes LOVE to poo in their water bowls (I guess it's like a snakey bidet). 75 degrees is NOT too cold on the ambient end of your tank.

I used to try and feed snakey in an enclosed container, but it freaked her out too much to pay attention to the mouse, too. I do take her out of her viv, but I usually just feed her on a paper plate which I discard afterwards. Some snakes like privacy and darkness to eat; have you tried putting her in a stapled paper bag and leaving her for a few hours?

Also, are you sure it's a she? Male snakes tend to act fussy around springtime (not eating consistently, etc.) because they're looking for a mate. Snakes can go a LONG time without food! I wouldn't be overly concerned.

On a last note, NEVER reuse/reheat pinkies. Snakes will NOT eat them, and they could be harboring bacteria. Unfortunately, you could have gotten your snake stuck in a cycle of non-eating because of reheating pinks which she becomes used to refusing (rule of thumb becomes: I refuse all food).

Good luck!
 
windowswisher said:
Are you sure it was a regurge? After 4 days, I'm inclined to believe it was a genuine poo. Additionally, some snakes LOVE to poo in their water bowls (I guess it's like a snakey bidet). 75 degrees is NOT too cold on the ambient end of your tank.

I used to try and feed snakey in an enclosed container, but it freaked her out too much to pay attention to the mouse, too. I do take her out of her viv, but I usually just feed her on a paper plate which I discard afterwards. Some snakes like privacy and darkness to eat; have you tried putting her in a stapled paper bag and leaving her for a few hours?

Also, are you sure it's a she? Male snakes tend to act fussy around springtime (not eating consistently, etc.) because they're looking for a mate. Snakes can go a LONG time without food! I wouldn't be overly concerned.

On a last note, NEVER reuse/reheat pinkies. Snakes will NOT eat them, and they could be harboring bacteria. Unfortunately, you could have gotten your snake stuck in a cycle of non-eating because of reheating pinks which she becomes used to refusing (rule of thumb becomes: I refuse all food).

Good luck!
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Hmm thanks, she is lookin skinny and was kinda unresponsive today, but she was also cold...
A big paper bag or a small lunch bag? Thanks

Yea the regurg looked pretty mouse like, i could still see the feet

what should be my gameplan with feeding her, its been about 3 days
 
windowswisher said:
On a last note, NEVER reuse/reheat pinkies. Snakes will NOT eat them, and they could be harboring bacteria. Unfortunately, you could have gotten your snake stuck in a cycle of non-eating because of reheating pinks which she becomes used to refusing (rule of thumb becomes: I refuse all food).
Click to expand...

I don't think he was "re-using" the mice. I've seen it suggested here several times that if the snake hasn't eaten in an hour or so, heat the mouse back up and leave it in there overnight.
 
Ok, thanks, when should i force feed her. Its been very long since shes fed and she seems weak right now
 
Jase82, lets slow down a little and think about what is going on. First off you snake is a baby and is not having any kind of spring time hunger strike. Only sexually mature snakes do that.

Force feeding is an absolute last resort and we are no where near that yet.

We might worry about why the snake regurgitated in the first place. Eating too big of a meal or eating too often is frequently the cause of that. Too cold of temperatures so the snake is unable to digest is also a likely cause.

Here is a link to Kathy Love’s Regurge Protocol. http://myvivariums.com/husbandry/handling-regurges/

This is a very good description of how to help your snake overcome the problems it is having.

People are nuts about feeding in a separate container. If it freaks out your snake don’t do it. There is no reason to stress the snake like that.

At this point I would suggest that you place the mouse outside the snakes favorite hide and leave it overnight. If it doesn’t eat try again in 3 or 4 day.
 
wade said:
Jase82, lets slow down a little and think about what is going on. First off you snake is a baby and is not having any kind of spring time hunger strike. Only sexually mature snakes do that.

Force feeding is an absolute last resort and we are no where near that yet.

We might worry about why the snake regurgitated in the first place. Eating too big of a meal or eating too often is frequently the cause of that. Too cold of temperatures so the snake is unable to digest is also a likely cause.

Here is a link to Kathy Love’s Regurge Protocol. http://myvivariums.com/husbandry/handling-regurges/

This is a very good description of how to help your snake overcome the problems it is having.

People are nuts about feeding in a separate container. If it freaks out your snake don’t do it. There is no reason to stress the snake like that.

At this point I would suggest that you place the mouse outside the snakes favorite hide and leave it overnight. If it doesn’t eat try again in 3 or 4 day.
Click to expand...

Hmm alright thanks, The reason im getting worried is because the snake is getting very skinney (i can see her spine in places) She seems pretty out of it, but i should not try to force feed? I guess tonight I will try to give her a pinky head right outside her hide. What time should i warm it up and place it there? If she does not eat it initially should i warm it up again or should i just leave it in there?

Thanks Wade
 
Snakes for sure can regurge after four, or more days. I'm worried about the lethargy. That, combined with a regurge, makes me wonder if there is something intrinsically wrong with the snake. Over a month is quite a long time for a baby to go without feeding. Where did you get the snake, from a breeder or a pet store? Your method of feeding is exactly how I feed babies.

Force feeding really only works for snakes that are otherwise strong and healthy, but just won't eat what we have to offer. By the time a snake is so weak it is lethargic and can't eat by itself, force feeding probably is not going to help. I would recommend a vet visit. I'm sorry.
 
Nanci said:
Snakes for sure can regurge after four, or more days. I'm worried about the lethargy. That, combined with a regurge, makes me wonder if there is something intrinsically wrong with the snake. Over a month is quite a long time for a baby to go without feeding. Where did you get the snake, from a breeder or a pet store? Your method of feeding is exactly how I feed babies.

Force feeding really only works for snakes that are otherwise strong and healthy, but just won't eat what we have to offer. By the time a snake is so weak it is lethargic and can't eat by itself, force feeding probably is not going to help. I would recommend a vet visit. I'm sorry.
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I got her from a pet store, she has move a tiny bit today after she got under her hide. Ill leave a pinky head next to her hide overnight i guess. what time should i propose it to her?
 
The time you give it to her is not overly critical. Before you go to bed should be fine. Make sure the room is dark and quiet is all.
 
I'm so sorry you had a regurge. How often are you offering food? After a regurge you should not offer food for at least 7-10 days to let the snake recover a bit. Then feed a pinky head, I would give it just before bed and don't worry about watching to see if the snake eats it. Check in the morning as quietly as you can. I would then wait 7 days and then give another pinky head. Do one more feeding that way, then go to feeding half of a pinky. I would feed pinky halves for 3 or 4 feedings, then I would feel comfortable feeding an entire pink.

Ok I have to say this is the protocol I am following right now for my Amel Mot het Caramel Stripe, I would be adding nutribac but I don't have the almost $20 to get it. So far my girl seems really good. I think since yours is going down hill so fast you may have a bad infestation of an internal parasite and a vet visit will be necessary.
 
I'm so sorry...Make her comfortable. Help her get a drink of water. I don't think you could do anything to reverse the situation now, even if you had all the money in the world and the best vet.

Don't lose hope for the future, though. Pet store corns are just not usually a good bet. You can try again with an older, established corn from a breeder- maybe even a sub-adult or adult. Make sure everything is sterilized- wash with a 10% bleach solution and rinse well.
 
I would still try to get to a vet though. Or at least call one. There may be something they can do, some vets will do house calls when things are extreme and the stress of a move might cause death. You never know until you ask. Please keep us posted.
 
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