Feeding a snake?

Question

I have a baby corn snake and it's in a 20"X10"X12" home. My dad thinks I'm supposed to feed it in a seperate place and I don't know either way. Is he right? Also, how fast will it grow.

Answer 1

Hi hon!

Ok, I'm a ball python breeder/owner, not a corn snake owner, but the idea is pretty much the same for most snakes.

Your dad is correct. To avoid being bitten every time you reach in for your pet, you should always feed it in a separate container. Rubbermaid containers are what I use when feeding. They come in many sizes, are low-cost, and easy to clean up after. Make sure that whatever you decide to use is NOT opaque...to keep stress down to a minimum, especially with a hatchling, you want to make sure it feels safe and secure. It can and probably will regurg. it's food otherwise. I know, I know...but it's SO cool to watch it eat, right? Hang in there, as you have many years of feedings to go with your pet! Better to start off on the right foot with it though right?

As to how fast it will grow, well that's mostly up to how often you feed it! Depending on how young your baby is, you should probably be feeding it every 8-10 days. PLEASE do not live feed your snake! Not only is it rather cruel, but it's also extremely dangerous for your baby! A cornered rodent is one of the most nasty customers out there, and I've had to patch up many a rescued python because it's previous owner thought it was "cool" to live feed. Live feeding means giving your snake a live rodent (mouse, rat, whatever) to eat. I personally use "fresh kill" or "frozen/thawed" when feeding. I've found that most often young snakes have to be fed fresh-kill, as the temp. and smell of the killed mouse stimulates their strike/feeding reflex.

Anyway. I really hope this helped you out, and best of luck to you with your new pet!

Answer 2

Your dad is right. The separate container serves many purposes, both helpful for you and the snake. First of all, as discussed before it reduces the chance that the snake may mistaken your hand for food. Also, the separate container is often barren or has just newspapers in it. This keeps substrate like wood shavings and such from being swallowed along with the food. Snakes cannot digest plant material and on very rare occasions, this substrate might clog the intestines. The snake could die from complications due to this. It's a small risk, but not one worth taking if it can be avoided.

Snakes typically grow every time they eat and shed. I had a king snake that reached 3 feet in one year, which averages about a foot to a foot and a half per year. However, each species if different.

Please do a little research while you're on the internet about corn snakes. They have temperature, humidity, and basic cage design requirements that need to be taken into account. If these are followed then the snake stresses less, lives longer, and is less likely to get sick or injured. Ignorance on behalf of the snake owner is the leading cause of pet reptile death and abandonment. Besides, how does it look to have a pet and you don't even know the first thing about it?

Answer 3

The more any living entity eat, the faster it can grow, simple out of the way.
I not say, your dad correct, but, he makes a good observation. Many snakes use movement to strike. Next is smell, to allow them to know prey is there.
Now, my sister had a pet shop years ago and of course she had snakes to sell.
Burmese Python six foot. Fun Snake, heck, I was enjoying the women enjoying the snake. I did admit defeat, as, she (Female) was longer than my snake. OK, joking aside. Snake hungry. Mouse in box. Woman enjoy snake "From Smell" coiling on box. Time to feed? She hold box, I have snake. STRIKE!!!! She go for the "SMELL" & "MOVEMENT". Has woman on arm. Woman Freak. I move and movement give new strike zone. OK, I have snake coiling on my arm for kill. I tell everyone there, do not move, she striking and I have her, on my hand. She WILL NOT give up. She have the taste of the strike and feel the "Beat".
OK, enough said. Best to feed seperate from the home. Why? Nature, the snake hunt, IF, you feed in the same cage/tank, it become both, home and food and gets the smell of food. Snake Strike movement, smell only say food there. So, In my opinion always feed the snake seperate from Home. It give the snake adventure, I always feed in an open area, IF, the snake can hold it's on, I feed live food, if it the size you have, crickets and small frogs. 12 inch snake take down a 2 inche diameter frog or large goldfish. It really cool to watch as the snake un-lock the jaws to take the prey. BUT, always remember, in a live fight, the Mouse CAN WIN!!!!!!!

Answer 4

Just continue feeding it, and caring for it. If it does become very large, you can just move it to a new home. It's really not that big of a deal. Depending on how fast you want it to grow, feed it 3-7 days. They grow to be 4-5 feet long.

Answer 5

Feeding the snake in a seprate container will help avoid something called a feeding responce, this is when the snake associates everything entering its cage with getting food! that animal looking at you from the other side of the glass is smarter than you might thing, but not smart enough to think a warm hand that might smell like something food like (or even assoicating your hand reaching in the cage with something he gets to eat..) isnt food....feeding a snake in a seprate container is the best option, and will keep both of you safe in the future!

Answer 6

I have a python, and I've heard and been told to feed him outside his home, I'm not sure why though. Personally I know it's bad to handle the snake with a full stomach because it can cause it to regurgitate and it wont want to eat. Mine get's fed in his tank, I have a certain dish that gets put in with the food and taken out as soon as he's done.

Answer 7

FEED YOUR BABY IN A TUPPERWARE CONTAINER! do this because if he gets his bedding in his mouth this can block him up and he has to go to the vet also this way you can monitor his eating habits some snakes hide their food which can decay in te cage and cause problems unless you are using carpet or newspapers feed him in a container i use a tupperware container
but i never use it for anything else so when he is there he knows wat gonna happen so he knows it time to eat this lowers the stress the animal can feel

Answer 8

We have a corn snake and feed her in a separate container. We use a tank that's slightly smaller than her habitat and use it exclusively for feeding.

Answer 9

I always move my ball python into a seperate feeding house. when he goes into the feeder he knows it's time to eat.

Answer 10

herptophi is right,,,never associate your hand with feeding .use a set of thongs lone enough to keep your hands out of the feeding process.