I got my corn snake about a week ago. I was told to feed her in four days. On the fourth day, I put a frozen mouse in her cage, but she didnt eat it. The next day I tried again, The next day (today) I put a LIVE baby mouse in there, but she seemed kinda frightened of it, and moved away. Help???
2007-09-15 14:01:17 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Reptiles
Snakes don't need to eat every day, or even once a week. Many reptiles, especially those native to deserts or harsh environmental conditions, go for days and days without eating or drinking.
Your snake may only eat or feed at night. A lot of snakes are nocturnal.
It may also be adjusting to it's newest environment. Give it some time and let iy adjust. Keep food there in the tank, but leave it alone and let it eat when it's ready. The time to panic is when it loses it's color and the scales start looking, well, scaly and extra-dry.
Hope it gets interested in food soon.
Good luck.
2007-09-15 14:12:50 · answer #1 · answered by enn 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thaw the mice in hot (not boiling) water for about 10 minutes before feeding. Poke the belly - if it's soft then it's defrosted. Dry it off throughly, snakes don't like wet food. Give it soon after defrosting so it's still warm - snakes can detect heat and they might miss a cold mouse. Feed at a late time, after it's dark, and keep lighting in the room to a minimum. Don't stand and watch your corn, turn off all the lights and leave the room for at least an hour. Corns are shy and may not eat if you're watching. Remove any food that isn't eaten within 24 hours and throw it away to prevent bacterial growth.
Wait three days inbetween feeding attempts, don't keep forcing it or the snake will get stressed. Get some tweezers the next time, hold the mouse by its tail or foot and wiggle it about where the snake can see it, but not right in the snake's face. If that doesn't work, try getting a knife and sticking the tip into the mouse's brain so the "juices" flow. The snake will smell it and hopefully think yum. Alternatively put a few cuts in the mouse's belly or back to get it to smell a bit more for the snake. If that fails, put the snake in a very small container, with air holes, with the mouse overnight. As small as you can get really, though obviously not squashing the snake.
Please don't try to feed the snake a live mouse again. There's no need for it, 99% of corns will accept F/T food over time and F/T doesn't have the ability to bite your corn and cause infection. Wiggling the dead mouse is enough to make the corn think it's alive.
I know you're anxious but don't attempt to feed every day and don't be tempted to force feed. Snakes can go months without food in most cases. If the snake hasn't eaten in about 4 weeks I'd go to a vet, but I'd bet money that you won't have to. Good luck. :)
2007-09-15 14:15:20 · answer #2 · answered by Snake Lady 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would avoid feeding each day or you'll soon teach the snake not to feed at all. Wait until the next scheduled feeding before trying again. I would also wait a full week without bothering her before trying again. Then try a well warmed frozen/thawed pinky. If she refuses overnight, then wait another 5 days before trying again. If you are feeding in the viv, make sure there is no substrate for her to ingest. If there is substrate, take it out and use only paper towel until you're able to take her out and put her in a seperate container to feed. She could be due to shed and some snakes just won't eat before they shed...often for up to two weeks before. Do you have any feed or shed records to know when she last shed? Were they feeding live or f/t? I wouldn't stress out too much. Snakes can go months without food...even babies... and as long as she had taken 4-5 meals in a row for whoever you got her from, then she shoud resume eating for you.
2007-09-15 15:56:11 · answer #3 · answered by gallianomom2001 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
snakes substitute into very drained after laying off. its relatively a protracted technique removing an entire batch of previous dermis at as quickly as. i does not situation approximately it at this point. attempt returned day after today or the day after. while you're nevertheless fearful approximately her no longer feeding, you are able to attempt a capability called "braining". you pierce the mouses head to allow the suggestions juices out. ( no longer an exceptional theory i comprehend ) whether that's the suited technique for snakes that don't feed. on the different hand, you are able to attempt and jiggle the mouse infront of the snake, this making the snake think of its alive, and it will probebly choose for it, and devour it. yet those are if the snake does not devour with 3-5 days.
2016-12-26 12:28:18 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
look at the color of the snakes eyes if there clouded over they can be getting ready to shed when they shed they will not eat untill the process is over , and then they will eat , another thing snakes like to hunt for there prey and will hunt for moving live bait , so frozen is not advisable , another thing the mouse or mice u tryed to give him may be to big u may have to get what they call pinkies , there lil mice and have no fur it sounds cruel as well , but some snakes need smaller prey untill there older , but like i said atfirst , look at the color of the eyes of the snake if they look cloudy or filmy , dont feed for awhile the snake may be getting ready to shed and when the sheding process is going on they will not eat
2007-09-15 14:30:39 · answer #5 · answered by dale621 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
did you thaw the mouse they wont eat it frozen and if it used to eating thawed mice then i would be scared of a live one
2007-09-17 12:08:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
did you thaw out the mouse?
2007-09-15 14:09:23 · answer #7 · answered by Jeff C 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋