| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
n/a
deleted
7 Posts |
 Posted - 29/06/2010 : 02:14:00
|
my corn snake isnt eatin ive had him 4-5 months am not shur how old he is but hes only shed 1 time from i got him and he hasnt eat atall should i force feed him or wat shud i do xx |
Edited by - HannahB on 29/06/2010 10:13:26 |
|
|
Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 29/06/2010 : 04:08:20
|
Mods.....could you maybe move this to the health section. I have replied to Connie's post in the non-feeding guide, suggesting she start a thread of her own in the health section.
xxx
|
  
   |
 |
|
|
mikerichards
don't say the 'M' word!
United Kingdom
2901 Posts |
Posted - 29/06/2010 : 12:38:34
|
Ok, can we have some more info please, stuff like temps in the hot end and cold end, your setup, how big the snake is and how big the viv is, what you are trying to feed him, when, all the good stuff.
Don't try force feeding, its really hard on a baby and is very easy to do some serious damage. Where abouts are you? I haven't looked, but stick your location in your sig too. |
Location : Worthing, West Sussex
|
|
|
|
n/a
deleted
7 Posts |
Posted - 30/06/2010 : 01:20:06
|
| well his temps never go under 25c and ther never over 35c he hav 2 plants and a rock he sleeps under and hes only 3ft aand his viv is lik 3ft i think and am only tryin 2 feed him mice 1 time a week but he wont eat any and ther frozin am from belfast xxx |
connie crozier
belfast
|
|
|
|
Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 30/06/2010 : 04:20:07
|
Hi Connie. I am not sure if you saw my reply in the non-feeding topic....but Mike has asked some of the questions I did, but not all. You have given us some of the information, but not all and we really need some more.
Do you have any idea how old he is? I know you have had him for about 4 - 5 month. You say he is about 3ft long so he is not a baby. How much does he weigh (that would help)?
You say that you normally feed him mice once a week, is that just 1 mouse or more than one? And what size? You say they are frozen (which is what most of us use)....how do you defrost them and prepare them? Has he ever eaten anything for you since you have had him?
His viv sounds like a good size for him at the moment which is good. You say the temps never go under 25oC or over 35oC. Is this the temp in the warm end? 35oc is much too hot for a corn....you are wanting to aim at a temp in the warm end of about 27 - 29oC. How are you measuring the temps? You really do need to get a digital thermometer so that you can be 100% sure what the exact temps are, it is very important. Has the viv got a heatmat and is is statted? In other words, how are you heating it?
You say he has 2 plants and a rock to sleep under. I am assuming he also has a water bowl  ! He must have 2 hides, one in each end of his viv so he can move from the warm end to the cool end....again, this is vital. Is this the set-up that he came in when you bought him?
If you have a look at this thread (I know it is about setting up a RUB for a hatchling but the basics are generally the same with a viv except the heatmat is inside) you can see what sort of thing you need to aim for with your snake - http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9878
I would definitely agree with Mike about the force feeding....and he is an experienced keeper and breeder so knows what he is talking about. It really is a very last resort and I know it is not one I would happily take on, I am not even sure how I would go about it....so before you do it let us try and work out what might be going on.
Has your snake lost condition? I know this sounds silly but if you were to cut him in half what would his cross-section be....would it be round (which I doubt as that would mean he is over-weight), an arch (which is perfect) or a triangle (which would mean he is underweight)?
Is he drinking and pooing?
Does he behave normally when you handle him?
You say you have read through the topic on non-feeding snakes, what methods have you tried to encourage him to eat?
I am NO EXPERT Connie, but I would THINK that he is not eating because he is stressed as his viv is not properly set up. I know all of this must be very confusing and worrying for you, especially at your age....I know how worried I was when Kellog didnt eat. But if we can work together and get a better picture of what is going on then hopefully we can get him eating for you.
Please read the link I suggested, you need to know as much as you can about how to look after your corn properly....and give us that bit more information.
I am sorry if I have overwhelmed you with lots more questions  ....but we need as much information as we can to be able to help you.
xxx
|
|
Edited by - Kellog on 30/06/2010 04:58:10 |
|
|
|
n/a
deleted
7 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2010 : 04:55:08
|
no sorry i didnt see it
i was told he was lik 2years old but the guy i got him from was full of ****
he didnt hav a clue cuz i got the snake and cage and all init for £120
... ammm hes really light but lik am nat shur how light ..
just 1 time a week well i try it would be about 3inch mice nope he hasnt eat atall from i got him i just leve him on the windowsil 4 a day then try and feed him that night thats prob the rong way isnt it haha
i hav a digital thermometer and i timer so its on half the day and of the other half i hav a heat mat and a heat light but he was really really cold when i didt put a heat mat in
haha yes he dose hav a water bowl
yea i havnt changed anything
he wud b a bit of an arch but he has lost wight but hes not a triangle
he drinks loads but hes only pooed 1 time and it was lik 2 weeks ago thats bad isnt it
hes alot more panicy wen i lift him out now he wasnt like that when i got him tho he was really cam
ive tryed all i can at the minit lik shackin it infront of him levein it in wit him puting both of them in a box anything els my dad says i shouldnt do cuz my dad tryed 2 feed him and he almost bit him
lmao at my age hanks make me sound lik am 9 hahaha
no its ok if you need 2 no more its fine cuz am happy if he eats lol
xxxx |
connie crozier
belfast
|
|
|
|
Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2010 : 05:28:32
|
Firstly sorry Connie, didnt mean to make you sound so young ! I just know how hard it is dealing with a non-feeder as an adult let alone as a teenager (if you checkout in the non-feeding thread where you posted before you will see my other comment and the fact that I went through what you are going through). And secondly sorry for taking so long to reply, I havent been around for a few days.
I am a bit confused about your set up and how you are heating his viv. You say you have a digital thermometer and a timer and its on half the day and the other half you have a heat mat and heat light.
Corns need heat 24hrs a day. What is best is if you use the heatmat on all the time as long as it has a thermostat controlling the temperature that it is getting to and you have a digital thermometer so you can monitor what that temperature is. I would suggest that you stop using the heat light and just use the heatmat all the time - but you must make sure it has the thermostat otherwise it can get too hot and burn your snake.
If he is getting very cold and going through part of the night/day without heat from either the heatmat or light then that might explain why he isnt eating as he will be very stressed.
Have a look at our care sheet as it has lots of information for new owners - http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/corn_snake_care_sheet.htm, and also look at this thread (I am not sure what your snake is in, a faun?RUB or viv, but the basics in what you need and how to set it up are pretty similar) - http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9878
Maybe get your dad to have a read through as well so he can make sure he understands what is going on.
It would be really good if you could weigh him so you can see if you are feeding the right size mouse and also you can keep track of how much weight he is losing. All you need to do is get a shoe box and poke air holes in it. Use some digital scales and weigh the shoe box. Take the shoe box off the scales, put your snake in it and then put it back on the scales. If you then subtract the weight of the shoebox from the weight shown on the scales then you will have the weight of your snake.
The way you are defrosting is ok, although in this heat it may mean that the mouse is getting too warm and may begin to rot. You certainly dont need to leave it for a day to defrost, a few hours should be enough.
You could try warming the mouse slightly as this makes them smell more and means they feel more like a live mouse. Just put it in a plastic bag and dunk it in a cup of boiling water for a few seconds. It doesnt need much.
I know this sounds disgusting but you can also try to brain the mouse....use a knife and push it down through the skull of the mouse until you hear it crack. Then squeeze the mouse's head until you see blood or brain coming out. Again the smell of this can cause the snake's hunting instinct to kick in.
How was your dad trying to feed him when he almost got bitten?
Is there any chance you could get a pic of him and his set-up for us to look at as that may help.
You say he is a lot more panicky when you handle him.....what is his behaviour like in his viv? Does he spend all his time hiding in one place or moving around and has his behaviour changed at all?
Sorry for talking so much and asking so many more questions, I am just trying to think of anything that might help.....
xxx
|
|
|
|
|
n/a
deleted
7 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2010 : 08:06:58
|
the guys i took tango to told me i had 2 keep his lights off half the day and they said his temps have to be 35c--25c no more no less
if i just hav his heatmat on his temps drop under 20c its really really cold in my room no matter wat cuz i cant stand the heat haha
but he always has his heatmat on his heatlight is only on half the day and hes in a viv i had a look at it and my dad hates him he dosent want me to have him so he wont help me with him anymore
my mum told me i have to leve him for a full 24hours and she yaps at me if i dont and she screams if i put the mouse near water or if i tuch it because i was puting him in a bag and then in water but she had a fit
i think if i tryed to brain a mouse my mum wud just say am being evil and sick saying that id still do it sounds funkey haha
i feed him with a per of tones and my dad was doing that and puting it ryt infront of his face and shakeing him infront of tango and he got ****ed off and went 4 my dads hand and wiped the tones out of his hand
he would go about all his viv then he wouldnt eat and now he always hides at his rock or waterbole and ill try and see wat wight he is today
but if i dont get him eating soon am giveing him to a pet shop because i dont want 2 wake up 1 day and hes lieing ther dead id be a reack
xxx |
connie crozier
belfast
|
|
|
|
HannahB
The Corn Snake Moderator
United Kingdom
5491 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2010 : 10:01:10
|
honestly i think it is because of the heating issue.. the hot end should not be any higher than 29* - 30* at a push, its way too hot for him if his hot end is at 35!
where is your stat probe for the mat positioned? my heatmat easily reaches well over 40* if i leave it to run by itself, with a stat it will easily reach 30 and be the right temp for tango - make sure the stat probe is over the mat and not halfway up the wall 
have a read of the care sheet - its got the temps/heating/feeding and everything on
http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/corn_snake_care_sheet.htm
dont mean to sound rude but i wouldnt listen to anything the guys you got him off tell you - corns dont need a day/night light cycle - they can get that from where their viv is placed, either a light or a mat will do - they dont need both, did you buy everything from their store?
once you get the heating sorted he should feel better and he might eat - but it will take time - but dont panic too much about him not eating.. some people on here have had their snakes go for 3/4 months without feeding, its fine, my smallest snake didnt feed for 3months after she was hatched and shes doing just fine now |
2.0 Normal Royal Pythons - Q and Little One
1.0 Chihauhaun Mountain Kingsnake - Simba
|
|
|
|
Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2010 : 11:54:07
|
I think HannahB is right Connie. Tango will definitely be stressed cos of the heat in his viv not being right.
Does the heatmat have a thermostat controlling what heat it gets to? If you look at the back of the viv does the plug for the heatmat plug straight into the wall or into something else that has a sort of dial on it (that is the thermostat)? If it doesnt it needs as a matter of urgency. You would normally set the thermostat to around 28oC and it would then turn the heatmat off if it goes over that heat and on if it drops under that heat (give or take a few degrees). If your heatmat has not got a stat then it can get so hot that it can burn your snake.
Also, how are you measuring your temperatures in the viv? I would guess that you are using the dial thermometers stuck on the wall of the viv, just because of the way you have described the temps. If you are using the dial ones they are useless and you need to get some digital ones as soon as possible so you know EXACTLY what the temperature is at the substrate level in the warm end. As HannahB has said, anything over 30oC is way too hot. A lot of us use these digital thermometers from ebay....they are cheap, work well and come quickly - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230467620317#ht_2935wt_946
You certainly dont need to be using the light and the heatmat. Tango can get enough of an idea of the day/night cycle from the light in your room. A lot of us only use lights in our vivs for our benefit, so we can see them. We use very low wattage ones so that there is very little heat coming from them, not enough to effect the heat of the viv. Is your heat light a ceramic one or a normal bulb? If it is a normal looking bulb, then does it have a guard over it? If not then there is a danger of him burning himself on it or crushing it.
Please read the care sheet that both I and HannahB have given you the link to....you really do need to learn as much as you can about how to look after Tango and how his viv should be set up. And I definitely agree with HannahB about ignoring the advice you have been given....I am just glad you have found us to help you.
I am so sorry your parents are not being very supportive with you keeping him....how did you talk them into letting you have a snake in the first place?! Cant you tell them how scared you are about him dying and ask for their help, get them to read some of the information on here and help you check out that everything is set up correctly?
I can totally understand how scared you are....but try to see if you can sort out the heat in his viv and see if that makes a difference. HannahB is right that corns can go a long time without eating and hopefully once things are right with his home then he will feel happy to eat. One bit of advice though, when you offer him the food dont do what your dad did and shake it in front of Tango's nose....it probably really scared him which is why he went for your dad.
Where do you live Connie? I am just wondering whether there are any forum members nearby who could help....if your parents would let them.
xxx
|
|
|
|
|
n/a
deleted
7 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2010 : 00:57:09
|
thinks everyone but i took him 2 the vet 2day and got him sorted out and it ended up he had bin feed a bad mouse by the people i got him from it had poysin init and it was roting his tum from the inside out so they put him down
xxxxx |
connie crozier
belfast
|
|
|
|
Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2010 : 03:07:21
|
quote:
Originally posted by connie_foxtrot
........i took him 2 the vet 2day........so they put him down
xxxxx
I am so sorry Connie, you must be heartbroken to have lost him like that - but at least you know that it wasnt because of anything you did or didnt do. He is now out of his pain and is in a better place, it will have been the best thing for him and I am so glad that you took him to the vet and they worked out what was wrong.
I do hope that this doesnt put you off having a corn snake and that your parents allow you to have another one.
Again, I am so sorry Connie but you did everything you could for him....remember that.
xxx
|
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
why isnt my snake eatin
