| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| lee2308 |
Posted - 27/05/2009 : 18:03:29
As a owner of a cornsnake you may encounter times when your snake wont eat,this can be for a number of reasons and the most important thing to remember is dont panic.
A snake can go long periods without food by choice (natural fasting) which is common during the winter months and breeding season and causes more stress to us than them.
If your snake has stopped eating the first thing to do is to start making a record of their weight,if they are holding their weight ok then dont get worrying just make sure that they have fresh water to drink.
POSSIBLE REASONS FOR NOT EATING
1..Have you recently bought or moved your snake..if you have it is recommended to give your snake a week or 2 to settle into it's new enviroment with out handling it as a move can be stressfull
2..Is it due to shed..this will make a snake very uncomfortable and blind during the blue stage of shedding.
3..Are your temps at the correct levels..snakes need steady and correct temps to regulate their bodies,if they are not right they will be unable to digest their meal therefor wont eat it.
4..Vivarium set up..(husbandry)if your viv is too big or not enough or right size hides and foliage a snake may become stressed by open spaces and not enough coverage for it to hide.
5..Size of prey..if your offering prey that is way too small they might not see it as prey and just ignor it..if it's too big they may become threatened by it and shy away.
6..Illness..If your snake is showing any kind of illness take it to a vet asap.
7..over handling..Over handling may put some snakes of there food to,so avoid handling during periods of not eating
WHAT SHOULD I TRY
There are many methords to try and get your snake to eat,they are not garunteed to work but well worth trying
1..Super heating..really heat the rey with pay more attention to the head using a hair drier.
2..braining..this involves slitting the skull from the back of the head to the nose to expose the brain.
3..Leaving prey..leave the prey in the viv on a piece of paper with a hide covering it for 24hours with out looking.
4..Take for a drive..taking it in a tub for a 15-20 min drive might stimulte the stomach juices
5..scenting..you can try scenting with other prey items
6..Alternative prey..other prey items are available such as mice,rats,gerbils,day old chicks and multis amongst others
7..Jacketing,placing the skin of one prey on to another http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy1gAylvb0M
AS A LAST RESORT
After trying these methords and your snake is losing a lot of weight you can try these methords as a last resort.
1..live feeding..This should be done under strict supervision as injurys could be caused to your snake and in the privacy of your own home and not infront of a audience.
2..assist feeding..this is where you assist the snake by gently opening his mouth and placing the head of the prey in to start him off.
3..Force feedingthis is where the prey is forced down the throat of the snake.
[red]I RECOMMEND THAT STEPS 2 & 3 ARE ONLY DONE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF SOME ONE WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING
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| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| rockroyal |
Posted - 19/01/2013 : 18:34:00
quote:
Originally posted by haydenk
@RockRoyal I would guess assist feeding a corn would be just like doing it to a royal.
here is a video I just found, with your corn being 3ft it may be a little easier to pin her. If you do not want to do this then I think you are best visiting your local vet, can't remember what they can exactly do but when I was younger (about 6) our corn was taken to the vet about non feeding and they got it eating better than ever. ;)
your a star hankyou
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NddymiawbLc
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| haydenk |
Posted - 19/01/2013 : 16:10:40
@RockRoyal I would guess assist feeding a corn would be just like doing it to a royal.
here is a video I just found, with your corn being 3ft it may be a little easier to pin her. If you do not want to do this then I think you are best visiting your local vet, can't remember what they can exactly do but when I was younger (about 6) our corn was taken to the vet about non feeding and they got it eating better than ever. ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NddymiawbLc |
| rockroyal |
Posted - 18/01/2013 : 21:44:06
is there anyone who can help me with assist feeding my 3 foot corn is so thin i fear if she does not feed soon she will die |
| Donnie |
Posted - 18/10/2012 : 21:47:14
Hopefully she will start feeding for you soon, good luck |
| ScalySituation |
Posted - 18/10/2012 : 20:51:52
Tried most of these, she's tiny and losing weight, I'm worried I'm gonna lose her :( |
| Dancross0 |
Posted - 29/09/2012 : 09:09:14
Here is a good tip. Yoghurt...
http://www.moreliapythons.com/forums/showthread.php?34799-Babies-refusing-to-eat-Try-Yogurt-! |
| bizzay1 |
Posted - 23/07/2012 : 09:40:43
Small update, bought a heatmat and a hide and also built another hide for her. she seems quite happy now with the temp holding good at 28ish. would definately look to me like she is looking for food, seems interested in any movement near or in the viv. Spoke to the previous owner (who did say "yea good feeder, just hold a mouse in there by the tail and she'll take it") now saying they always had to leave the mouse in there as she was a bit shy feeding and wouldn't take if "shook in front of her" so I'm going to put a medium mouse in with her tonight and leave it for 24 hrs |
| bizzay1 |
Posted - 21/07/2012 : 00:48:03
quote:
Originally posted by kev 5
quote:
Originally posted by bizzay1
I have just (well 2 weeks ago)got a snow corn which was due to shed, she (previous owner says they had her probed)didn't have any heat - only a light. I brought her home and got her a heat rock, all seemed to go well, temp in viv holds good at about 22, after about a week she shed perfectly all in 1 so thought I'd feed her well she strikes no problem but won't take, have tried leaving it in overnight would the next step be to try leaving it hidden for 24 hours ?
wouldn't try feeding until you get set up properly. you need a heat mat in your viv that covers around a 3rd of the viv. the heat mat is plugged into a thermostat (mat stat). the probe from the stat is placed directly on the mat. use a digital thermometer with a probe that is placed directly on the mat to. the temp should be 27-29. they need it that warm so they can digest
The previous owner recons she was eating fine with them, although the temp couldn't have been more than 18 with her not having any heat at all but will get down and get a mat first thing and see how she gets on in a couple of days |
| kev 5 |
Posted - 20/07/2012 : 22:49:19
quote:
Originally posted by bizzay1
I have just (well 2 weeks ago)got a snow corn which was due to shed, she (previous owner says they had her probed)didn't have any heat - only a light. I brought her home and got her a heat rock, all seemed to go well, temp in viv holds good at about 22, after about a week she shed perfectly all in 1 so thought I'd feed her well she strikes no problem but won't take, have tried leaving it in overnight would the next step be to try leaving it hidden for 24 hours ?
wouldn't try feeding until you get set up properly. you need a heat mat in your viv that covers around a 3rd of the viv. the heat mat is plugged into a thermostat (mat stat). the probe from the stat is placed directly on the mat. use a digital thermometer with a probe that is placed directly on the mat to. the temp should be 27-29. they need it that warm so they can digest |
| bizzay1 |
Posted - 20/07/2012 : 22:22:21
I have just (well 2 weeks ago)got a snow corn which was due to shed, she (previous owner says they had her probed)didn't have any heat - only a light. I brought her home and got her a heat rock, all seemed to go well, temp in viv holds good at about 22, after about a week she shed perfectly all in 1 so thought I'd feed her well she strikes no problem but won't take, have tried leaving it in overnight would the next step be to try leaving it hidden for 24 hours ? |
| cozy |
Posted - 08/07/2012 : 15:38:47
Hi guys. Have joined the forum as I acquired my first corn "Ruby" last weekend (18 months old, 3' long)and she doesn't appear to be feeding. She had shed the previous week and obviously didn't feed, and I put the move down to her not feeding last week. I fed her yesterday evening with a view to her eating overnight, but she still wont touch her food. I have covered the viv with a dark towel to encourage her, though I would have thought if she is going to eat she would have done it by now.
I am not overly concerned as yet, because she is still lively and inquisitive around the viv, my question is, How long do I leave the feed in with her before giving up? I am thinking 24hrs should be ample, as I wouldn't think she will touch anything that is getting too 'old'.
Thanks in advance for any replies. |
| philiciastar |
Posted - 25/03/2012 : 00:58:58
HI all, i have a young corn who is about 7/8 months now, everything has been going great and she was eating and sheding well pooping well. and for the past 3 weeks she's not interested in her feed at all! i have changed different things like not handling her as much, warming feed up, poping so blood comes out ect, but nothing. she has not lost weight. but she is only tiny and i was not too worried to begin with thought ah its normal ect.. but just tried feeding her tonight and will be the third week she has not touched her feed! I've asked the local reptile shops where i am and they said nothing really apart from when shes hungry she'll eat so to speak =S (cheers great help) all temps are right and viv is ''perfect'' conditions.. I don't want to try live feed if i can help it! and tried all other way covered viv, placing it in a hide ect.. do you think assist feeding would be worth a try? Could it be the breeding season which has made her go off her feed even at her age? any help would be greatly welcome!! |
| Simmy_82 |
Posted - 27/10/2011 : 09:00:14
I dont think there is a right or wrong weight. It varies from snake to snake.
When mine was 17in (when i first got it) it weighed a whopping 14g.
I read somewhere if the snake is shaped like a Tobelerone then its under weight, like a loaf of bread its ideal weight. But again thats just a guide and not something set in stone. |
| mjackson2106 |
Posted - 27/10/2011 : 08:08:18
Great post, have just bought (2 weeks ago) two corns and one wont feed, have tried lots of the things included in the post. Going to start weighing him, but not sure what the right weight is for my snake? He's 3 months old and 14 inches long. Any help would be greatly appreciated Mike |
| Nicole.x |
Posted - 05/06/2011 : 19:33:15
Such a good post - wish I had of seen this when I had first got my corn.
Seems even breeders don't always know best.. I was told to use the 'teasing method' with my 5 month old and that sometimes she would refuse the food so to tap her nose for 15 minutes every hour till she took it - being a newbie I obviously trusted the breeders advice. The first, and only, time I tried this I gave up after about a minute because I felt cruel trying to scare her into eating. Few days later I tried defrosting and just leaving the pinky and in the morning it was gone.
I've had two successful feeds since - I turn all light sources in room off and its gone within half hour. |
| jase81 |
Posted - 29/03/2011 : 13:25:02
thanks for this hopefully i want have to use this guide |
| kirkky |
Posted - 28/03/2011 : 21:05:08
Thank you bud that's been really helpfull will give it a shot was getting worried bout the eating thing like |
| lee2308 |
Posted - 28/03/2011 : 19:25:10
snakes can still lay infertile eggs,get some sphagnum moss,the type you line hanging baskets with,you can get it from garden centers.You need to get a plastic tub and make a hole in the lid big enough for the snake to get in and lay and place it in the warm end. |
| kirkky |
Posted - 28/03/2011 : 18:42:26
Lee2308
no we ain't had it sexd just going by what we were to by the person that we got it off also our snake ain't been near any other snake it's whole life and what kind of moss do u put in |
| lee2308 |
Posted - 28/03/2011 : 18:31:05
quote:
Originally posted by kirkky
My corn is a couple years old and has not ate any thing for the past 4 weeks but he is still out and about alot and trying to escape the viv as normal but he has got 3 or 4 lumps on his side near his bak end dose anyone know what this might be also how will I know when he is ready to eat again all helpmuch appreciated thank you
Have you had your snake properly sexed as it sounds like Your he is more than likely a she and has eggs in her and is ready to lay,i would put a nest box in filled with moss as she is probably searching for a place to lay them. |
