| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| hayleyf |
Posted - 26/11/2012 : 21:30:47
Hi I have been looking after a baby corn snake for a few months who was a fussy eater. I read lots of books, looked on the forums and spoke to the breeder to find ways to encourage him to eat. After what seemed like a lifetime of worry the little fella began eating small pinks then 2 pinks each week and was beginning to fill out nicely and was very friendly. The owner returned and sadly took the little guy away to live with him in Bristol for a month before deciding that he couldn't have him after all!!! Now he is so thin I am worried to death. The ex owner says he kept regurgertating his food or refusing feeds. I have had him back for 4 days and he has eaten a very tiny pink and has kept it down but he is painfully thin with loads of loose skin. I am worried sick. What should I do? please help |
| 13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| herriotfan |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 19:44:36
So sorry to read that the guy didn't make it. 
At least he was loved for a while and you did your best.
RIP little one. xxxx |
| Moppet |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 19:34:57
Sorry to hear that Ugh, bad petshop advice strikes again! Poor little snake, but at least you tried to get him better, he had a comfortable home for a while. |
| Razee |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 18:22:06
So sorry to hear that he didn't make it, poor little chap.... but you gave him a good home and did everything you could for him, and that's the main thing. |
| coxymk2 |
Posted - 06/12/2012 : 08:25:56
So sorry poor little thing. My local petshop provides a care sheet with all the animals they sell you would think that in this day and age all stores could provide a proper caresheet it's not rocket science after all |
| Emmzi |
Posted - 05/12/2012 : 22:57:44
Awwh so sorry to hear hope you are alright and at least you gave him a loving home before he lost his fight |
| hayleyf |
Posted - 05/12/2012 : 22:29:29
Hi everyone so sorry for not replying sooner. I had connected to the facebook link from this forum and was using that. Also I couldn't find a link back to this post {new to this!}. We tried very very hard to save the little fella, we upgraded his viv with a desert floor heat pad, thermostat, digital thermometer. We also brought some prebotics for his water. We gave him a warm bath to rehydrate him as also suggested by members of the forum, he seemed to perk up for a while. On Monday evening, after refusing several tiny pinks he became lethargic, floppy and then it seemed like he had a lump in his tummy - like he'd not long eaten?
I was beside myself, we rang every vet and they weren't much help. We eventually got an appointment for the following morning at 10.30 when a vet with knowledge of snakes would be available. We had so much online support from the wonderful members on the fb page but alas the little guy lost his fight for night curled on my hand shortly after. Needless to say I was devestated and am still upset by the whole thing. In the previous owner's defence, he has since informed me that he brought a corn snake starter kit from the reptile shop along with the baby corn and they told him to wall mount the heat mat and that he didn't need anything else - no mention of digital thermometers, thermostats or that by placing the heat mat on the wall, it was merely heating the ambient air and not the base/substrate as needed. When he visited them regarding the snake not eating they never once mentioned the temperature or the effect that could have on him and told him to stop reading things on the internet it was all rubbish!!!
Thanks to all of you who messaged me back x |
| cobweb251 |
Posted - 28/11/2012 : 22:12:28
it sounds like you know what you are doing and i think its just a case of back to square one, do what you was doing before and I am sure he/she will recover just fine :) |
| eac84 |
Posted - 28/11/2012 : 21:57:54
I went to the vet recently with non feeders and the vet recommended using AviPro Plus. its a probiotic that is added to water with other multi vit added to help the little fellas out and give them a bit of a boost. I got mine at the local pet shop and believe its common and easy to get hold of. good luck and good on you for doing the extra for him even when his original owner never. |
| musical2one |
Posted - 28/11/2012 : 19:51:51
I agree with the others. His original owner must have had him in a condition not suitable. Also, the little guy may be stressed out from being moved around several times. I would do what the others said, which is feed it every 5-7 days, but try not to stress it out.
You just don't know what happened with the other owner, so you gotta take things carefully. A vet trip may be a viable option, with a poop check. Also, check this sticky out: http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3720
may be of some help in the long run. |
| Nasicus |
Posted - 27/11/2012 : 19:05:07
I'd get him checked out by a vet, if he's gone from healthy to very thin in a month :S |
| Criminal Nails |
Posted - 27/11/2012 : 10:35:24
Hey! That owner was shameless... I can't believe people mistreat their pets like this. I am glad the snake is back with you, and as others said I am sure you will be able to get it to the right condition again. Try not to feed him too much too quick for now though, because his body needs to get used to feeding again. After a couple or three feeds, increase the size of the prey gradually.
I am sure it will be fine :) |
| herriotfan |
Posted - 27/11/2012 : 08:18:48
Hi and welcome to the forum.
You managed to get the little guy eating and in good health before so I'd do the same again to get him back there again now.
What a pity the 'owner' let him get in this state. Shame on him.
He's already kept one pinkie down for you so that's a good sign.
I'd offer him a pinky every 7 days. I would say 5 days but I'm not sure he could cope with them just at the moment if he's been almost starved.
You must have got the setup correct or he wouldn't have done so well before.
I'm sure things will be ok if you take the 'slow but sure' road. Good luck.  |
| Razee |
Posted - 27/11/2012 : 07:38:22
Hello Hayleyf,
and welcome to the forum.
You got him eating before - and then, when he moved back with the owner, problems started again?
I'm no expert - but it sounds there might have been issue with the conditions he's kept n , i.e. temperature - if that was too high or too low, he might not have wanted to eat, or regurgitate, if he was handled too early after feeding and not left to digest for a couple of days etc.
With all the loose skin, it sounds like he could be dehydrated, too.
What is your set up like - your low and high end temperatures, etc. and have you got the heat source on a thermostat?
I' wait to see, if he keeps the pinkie down, and gradually build him up again to bigger feeds, every 5 - 6 days. You've done it before already, so you must have been doing it right.
If he starts eating well, but stays thin, you could always have his poo checked for parasites. But as he was improving before in your care, hopefuly, he'll do the same again.
Good on you for taking him in :-) |
