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85 Posts |
 Posted - 15/11/2009 : 20:19:32
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hi i recently did a swap and got a baby amel corn snake , i was told it sheds and eats fine . since i have had it (over 2 weeks ) it had not yet eaten and wouldnt eat i tried all the known methods but still wouldnt touch it . the snake is that small its probably never had a meal in its life .
so i decided force feeding was the only way , i tried doing it with a full tiny pinky but it was a little to big . so in the end i managed to get it to eat a pinky head and a mealworm ( freshly killed ) that was dipped in nutribol .
what other method could i use ? i was thinking of feeding it a pinky head and a few meal worms each week untill i can get it onto a full pinky then try and get it to eat on its own from there .
any advice or help would be greatly appreciated. Matt |
1.1. corns charlie + charlotte
1.1. corns bubblegum + jaffacake ( gf's)
1.1. bcc Viktor + unknown
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SexyBear77
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3796 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2009 : 20:46:07
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A meal worm? Corns dont eat insects... only mice. You may well make the snake sick, or end up with a regurge on your hands.
What method did you use to force feed? I ask only because it should be attempted by those that have had it demonstrated to them, and then tried themselves under supervision.
What other things have you tried regarding a normal feed? Scenting, braining etc? |
9.11 Cornsnakes
1.1 Hogg island boas
1.0 Dwarf Burmese python
Location: Watford
Website- http://rassnakes.yolasite.com/ |
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HannahB
The Corn Snake Moderator
United Kingdom
5491 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2009 : 20:52:11
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if the snake is super tiny then chopped up pieces of pinkie are probably slightly better than mealworms (not sure how good they are for snakes), chop a smallish pinkie into halves or even quarters when still frozen and then give it once defrosted,
other thing to try is a small section - maybe 1-2cms long - of mouse tail, its not very nutritional but it often makes them realise that eating is a good thing  |
2.0 Normal Royal Pythons - Q and Little One
1.0 Chihauhaun Mountain Kingsnake - Simba
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matty18714
The Count of Corniness
United Kingdom
4428 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2009 : 21:09:29
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Force feeding a full pinkie to a small hatchling just wont work, unfortunatly you have learned that the hard way. I also wouldnt be giving insects to snakes that are not designed to eat them.
Did you try assist feeding first? If not try that with a peice of mouse tail about half an inch long.
If that doesnt work, give it 5 days and do the same but force feed it.
I advise you to find someone local to you that can show you how to do it properly, be that a shop or a keeper. |
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21 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2009 : 21:27:51
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| Force feeding is only used as a last resort and only should be done by people that have been shown how to do it. This will put the snake in alot of stress! Have tried scented pinkies with anole and toad scent? defrosting a pinkie in same bag as a chick to give it a strong scent of the chick? theres also tuna scenting, using chicken broth to scent the pinkie? Mealwaorms are prob not good idea as snakes are carnivours. I too have a snake that dont feed i used beef heart for a while easier to force feed but not to be used as a regular diet as is its high in fat. |
My collection:
1.0 Amel corn
0.1 Anery corn
1.0 Creamsicle corn
0.1 Albino cali king
1.0 Mexican bairds rat
hatchlings (september 09)
1.0 Snow
0.1 Anery
0.1 Amel |
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21 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2009 : 21:29:14
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quote:
Originally posted by matty18714
Force feeding a full pinkie to a small hatchling just wont work, unfortunatly you have learned that the hard way. I also wouldnt be giving insects to snakes that are not designed to eat them.
Did you try assist feeding first? If not try that with a peice of mouse tail about half an inch long.
If that doesnt work, give it 5 days and do the same but force feed it.
I advise you to find someone local to you that can show you how to do it properly, be that a shop or a keeper.
You can use a full pinkie just have to find a really small 1 lol |
My collection:
1.0 Amel corn
0.1 Anery corn
1.0 Creamsicle corn
0.1 Albino cali king
1.0 Mexican bairds rat
hatchlings (september 09)
1.0 Snow
0.1 Anery
0.1 Amel |
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deleted
85 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2009 : 21:44:26
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i have tried every method going but the snake was not interested in the slightest , i have tried scenting with mice , gerbals and hamsters and the snake didnt touch it in the slightest , i have tried puttin the snake in a small dark tub with the pinky in overnight but nothing .
i tried chopping the pinky but with it being so small i was only able to feed it the head , and as for the meal worm i know there not in the snakes diet but a meal worm with a bit of nutribol is better than nothing right ? i would rather it ate that than nothing at all .
and as for the force feeding it was a last resort and remain that way untill i find a better way , going to try a pinky pump next time and load it with nutrients aswell . i had watched a fair few vids on how to force feed the snake and it wasnt something i jumped into head first without knowing what i was doing . |
1.1. corns charlie + charlotte
1.1. corns bubblegum + jaffacake ( gf's)
1.1. bcc Viktor + unknown
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SexyBear77
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3796 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2009 : 21:49:15
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tbh I would rather let my snake go hungry a wee while longer than force feed it an insect. Their digestive systems just arent designed for that, and you risk doing far more harm than good.
I really would try every other method at least once more before trying a pinkie pump, that too is incredibly stressful and only for very experienced handlers and keepers. Watching videos on that sort of thing just isnt enough.
Are you sure everything with the snakes set-up is ok? If so, and it still isnt eating, I would leave it with an experienced keeper or shop until it all gets sorted, or at least get them to check your force feeding method. |
9.11 Cornsnakes
1.1 Hogg island boas
1.0 Dwarf Burmese python
Location: Watford
Website- http://rassnakes.yolasite.com/ |
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85 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2009 : 22:05:19
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pinky pump was just a idea , but i have tried everything goin and if this baby hasnt fed since it was born ( ive owned it 3 weeks , and its never been to the toilet whilst i have had it ) so its probably atleast 1 1/2 or 2 months old and never had a feed so im running outta time with this one . i will keep of the meal worms and just try feeding a few bits of pinky .
yeah im sure its set up is fine i have been keeping snakes for 6-7+ years now and never had a problem with any of them . it is set up on a thermostat set at 30oc and with a hide and water bowl in a small rub , less than half the tank is heated also . |
1.1. corns charlie + charlotte
1.1. corns bubblegum + jaffacake ( gf's)
1.1. bcc Viktor + unknown
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SexyBear77
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3796 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2009 : 22:10:43
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| 2 hides? Or just the 1? corns need a hide at both ends of the viv or faun to allow for good thermoregulation. |
9.11 Cornsnakes
1.1 Hogg island boas
1.0 Dwarf Burmese python
Location: Watford
Website- http://rassnakes.yolasite.com/ |
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HannahB
The Corn Snake Moderator
United Kingdom
5491 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2009 : 22:24:09
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if you cut the pieces of pinkie small enough they will be easier for the snake to eat than a pinkie head,
another thing to help her get the nutrients she needs without the mealworm is reptoboost, put some in her water and if neccessary give her a short bath in the stuff, will help her get some extra nutrients while shes not feeding,
have you tried tuna scenting and dipping it in an egg yolk? someone told me marmite can work - a friend of the breeder i got most of mine from swears by it, didnt work for me but it might for someone on here! |
2.0 Normal Royal Pythons - Q and Little One
1.0 Chihauhaun Mountain Kingsnake - Simba
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85 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2009 : 22:33:28
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its got 2 hides , but never uses either . its always sat at the top of the rub around were the lid goes .
yeah gonna try more smaller pieces of pinky next week , main priority was just getting some food in her so i knew she would stand a better chance of surviving .
yeah herd of reptiboost , but the nearest decent rep shop is quite far away and hard for me to get to so for the meantime nutribol was the next best thing .
will give the tuna and egg yolk and marmite a go next week and see were that gets me . |
1.1. corns charlie + charlotte
1.1. corns bubblegum + jaffacake ( gf's)
1.1. bcc Viktor + unknown
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SexyBear77
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3796 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2009 : 22:38:24
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If your snake never uses the hides then it could be that they arent to her liking. Too big, to open, or doorways facing outwards are common reasons for not using hides. Corns like small, dark spaces where their coils can touch the sides.
If she doesnt use the hides and lives up near the lid then your snake may be stressed- and a stressed snake wont feed. |
9.11 Cornsnakes
1.1 Hogg island boas
1.0 Dwarf Burmese python
Location: Watford
Website- http://rassnakes.yolasite.com/ |
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85 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2009 : 22:45:26
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the hides are small , i have tried alsorts from... small exo terra caves , toilet roll tubes with covered up ends with a smallish hole in the middle ( then same again with slightly bigger hole ) small containers with little holes in . i have spent the last 2 weeks ( had her 3 weeks but let her settle for a week ) or so trying everything going but with no avail .
i am really running out of idea's with this one the rep shop i phoned told me what to do but i had already done everything he suggested . |
1.1. corns charlie + charlotte
1.1. corns bubblegum + jaffacake ( gf's)
1.1. bcc Viktor + unknown
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SexyBear77
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3796 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2009 : 22:52:32
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Is she on a substrate that she can burrow into? Like aspen? that may help.
Also, why dont you post pictures of your set-up.
Just thought... is your mat monitored by a digital thermometer or do you just go by the dial? the stat dials are really inaccurate, so if not monitored there is a good chance you have been cooking your snake! |
9.11 Cornsnakes
1.1 Hogg island boas
1.0 Dwarf Burmese python
Location: Watford
Website- http://rassnakes.yolasite.com/ |
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deleted
85 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2009 : 22:59:22
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i have lost the camera cable , i am using kitchen roll as substrate at the min but may swap to corn chip's or what ever its called didnt think of the burrowing part .
the mat stat is pretty accurate have checked in with a digi and its been very close to the stat temp . i have a glass thermometer in there at the min to keep a eye on temps . |
1.1. corns charlie + charlotte
1.1. corns bubblegum + jaffacake ( gf's)
1.1. bcc Viktor + unknown
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SexyBear77
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3796 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2009 : 23:03:56
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I would seriously consider investing i 1 or 2 digital thermometers, the glass one wont be very accurate at all. Also, from experience, stats are useless at getting to and maintaining the right temp. When setting up my second viv (minus snake) I set the stat to 30c and it got to 44, dropped to 26, and then went back up to 30. By fiddling around for a few days with the aid of the digi thermometer I was able to get the stat to the right temp.
One of my dials reads 25, the other 23. |
9.11 Cornsnakes
1.1 Hogg island boas
1.0 Dwarf Burmese python
Location: Watford
Website- http://rassnakes.yolasite.com/ |
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deleted
85 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2009 : 23:12:11
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i have a hand held digi one that i use to check the temps a few times a week and it always reads the same ish temp . think i will defo have to get another in tank one though , used to have a few but they went missing .
as for substrate i have just put her on corn chipping and she burrowed under pretty much instantly and has stayed there foe the last few mins , so hopefully that might help a bit , i have lowered the temp a bit more as i know some snakes just prefer it a bit cooler .
plattsy help with what ? |
1.1. corns charlie + charlotte
1.1. corns bubblegum + jaffacake ( gf's)
1.1. bcc Viktor + unknown
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SexyBear77
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3796 Posts |
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deleted
85 Posts |
Posted - 15/11/2009 : 23:22:06
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| yeah she appears to like them and is investigating just hope everything works out well now . yeah i will get a few ordered just keep falling to the back of my mind and end up forgetting like everything else , will order some asap |
1.1. corns charlie + charlotte
1.1. corns bubblegum + jaffacake ( gf's)
1.1. bcc Viktor + unknown
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deleted
893 Posts |
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non feeder baby
