I just got a 7 week old corn snake. Is it better to feed live or pre killed?
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h166/ChristinesKarma/Skittles%20the%20corn%20snake/Snake012.jpg
2007-11-01 08:19:05 · 8 answers · asked by A Fire Inside 3 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
Oh and I don't think a one day old pinkie would hurt it. And I also heard someone say to feed it lizards???
2007-11-01 08:35:17 · update #1
Okay first, NICE SNAKE!
Now on a professional level, a pinkie won't hurt it but it's best to start it on prefrozen now rather than go through the hassle later of getting it adjusted to prefrozen. My boa ate live rats but I knocked them against the wall a few times first. I do that for my milksnake that I have now and I hate it. Please take my advice and start it on prefrozen/thawed now. It's also much healthier for the snake. No risk of mites or diseases killing the snake. Sooner the better. Good luck and again AWESOME SNAKE!
I have a honduran milksnake hence my icon.
2007-11-01 15:09:30 · answer #1 · answered by jade dragon 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Always feed prekilled. The live mouse could injure or kill your snake, even if you are watching. The snake will often grab onto the food, but it can still twist itself around and bite the snake. Also if the snake isn't hungry when you feed it, the mouse will become stressed and attack your snake. You also need to be sure the food is fully thawed before you feed them. This entails putting warm water in a cup and then putting the item into the cup. Make sure the food is fully thawed before feeding, this will take at least 45 minutes. You also need to be sure, the food you feed is the right size, about the same size as the width of his body, or else the food will choke and kill your snake. Feed your snake, by holding the food in front of his face, using long tongs, NOT your hands. You should move your snake to a different enclosure for feeding as well, that way he doesn't get into the habit, that when you open the enclosure, he gets food, resulting in a bite from your snake. Also, do not handle your snake for at least 3 days after feeding and make sure the enclosure is warm enough, or else the food will not properly digest, just rot in thier stomachs, slowly killing them. Make sure to do alot research on your new snake, they need alot of care to be properly kept. Many people kill thier snake, by pure ignorance, so be sure you now your stuff. You should have already known prekilled is better if you had done your research, and don't listen to pet shops, they don't know anything. Do alot of research and make sure you are doing everything correctly. You chose a very good starter snake, so it will be rather easy. Good luck. Oh and no lizards, and even if it's a day old pinky, prekilled. It's not fair to make a day old pinky suffer for your snakes meal. If your snake doesn't like prekilled, you can try braining, you cut a slit in the top of the head, behind the ears, exposing the brain. It creates a more distinct smell, making your snake think it's alive. You can also try holding the mouse in tongs and dragging it around the enclosure. This gives it the appearance of being alive and your snake will chase it to kill it. If that doesn't work there are many other ways to make your snake eat prekilled. Look around the internet and you'll find many other methods.
2007-11-01 15:42:37 · answer #2 · answered by Courtney[Catastrophe] 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Although unable to injure your baby, it's best to feed frozen/thawed or prekilled. Pinkies I wouldn't bother if you're not feeding frozen/thawed-they have no teeth. If you aren't feeding frozen/thawed, you should start. It's a lot easier than having to buy a mouse each week and it's safer. My babies are all started on f/t and have never had a live meal in their lives. They all strike and constrict as if it is alive so there's no difference in behavior. I would never recommend feeding lizards. They carry a host of parasites that your captive bred animal should not have. You would have to de-worm your snake if you fed them lizards. Don't do it.
2007-11-02 05:56:37 · answer #3 · answered by gallianomom2001 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you have many benifits of pre killed (frozen thawed) mice, especially in feeding larger snakes.
get them started on prekilled now. One, as every body else mentions, a dead mouse cant bite, therefore cant kill, scar or mame your pet snake. Also, the freezing process kills off germs, bacteria, parasites or any other bad things that may be lingering on a feeder rodent, therefore healthier. Also, freezing breaks down the cells of a tissue, therefore aiding in digestion (quicker digestion = quicker growth) there arent any real negative side effects to feeding pre killed, feeding live on the other hand can be dangerous not to mention, easier on the concious of some.
2007-11-01 16:12:39 · answer #4 · answered by brian a 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Beautiful snake! A snow? I started all 3 of my babies on frozen/thawed and they ate like pigs. Much healthier and safer. Check out this forum for great info:
http://cornsnakes.com/forums/
2007-11-01 22:57:32 · answer #5 · answered by KimbeeJ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i have 2 corns myself i use prekilled frozen mice that i thaw and toss in a dish and put in the cage it doesnt get much easier than that. both of my snakes are happy and healthy
2007-11-01 17:49:47 · answer #6 · answered by shortnorthg 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Prekilled because a live mouse will sometimes hurt or even kill peoples snakes, unless you have time to watch and wait for it to finish eating.
2007-11-01 15:27:16 · answer #7 · answered by albinopet 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Hi i just feed my bci a mouse in your case a pinky. live just sadly give it a flick in the head it stuns it, not kill it will stun so the snake can finish killing and eating safely!!
2007-11-01 17:03:41 · answer #8 · answered by MaTtHeW e. 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋