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View Full Version : Corn feeding problems


tybaltthecannibal
04-25-2007, 04:41 PM
I need some advise, I have a young corn snake that I can't get to eat on a regular basis. I actually haven't been able to get it to eat at this point in a little over a month. I'll tell you guys the snake's background as far as i know it.

I got this snake from a local pet store after it had been returned and they put it up for adoption. The snake is young but not a baby, if I had to guess I'd say it's around 8 months or a little older. The people who owned it before I got it didn't seem to know much about corns. I'm guessing they put an adult live mouse in the cage for it and left it unattended, because when I first got the snake it has several bite marks. It ate once at the pet store and then after I got it home with me it ate a f/t pinkey with no problem. After that it stopped eating for several weeks until I finally tried to move a f/t pinkey around with tongs for about a half an hour and it finally ate. Now however, even moving the mouse around with the tongs isn't working. I've tried braining the mice with no effect as well. The strange thing is the snake seems extremely interested in the pinkies when I put them in the cage, it scoots the mouse all around the cage with it's nose for at least an hour but won't eat. The last thing I can think to try is to get a live pinky. The snake looks completely healthy, the bite marks are completely healed up, and the snake is active, it's even shed. I just feel at a complete loss as for what to do, any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

waldo
04-25-2007, 05:30 PM
First thing I would try is to put the snake and slit F/T pink in a small container like a 6" deli cup, cover with a towel and leave for a couple hours. I have one corn who seems to have a hard time understanding that he has to open his mouth to eat and he will push the mouse around for a long time too. Make sure the pink is nice and warm.

If that doesn't work then try the same set up but with a live pink, you can even try a hamster pink if you can find one.

If no luck then there are some other things I can recommend.

tybaltthecannibal
04-25-2007, 06:35 PM
Thanks Waldo, I think the next step to try will be with a live pinky and I'll keep an eye out for a hamster pinky. I've actually already tried slitting open a warm f/t and had no luck with that. You're eaxctly right it's as though it's hungry and wants to eat but doesn't understand that it needs to open it's mouth up. I'll keep you posted if the live pinky works out, thanks again for the advise.

*Update* Well good news, I got a live pinky and the snake jumped right on it and chowed down without any problem. :)