Is this true? Need some clarification.

[stkkts]

My roomate picked up a corn snake 3 weeks ago at the whiteplains NY show. He didnt ask if it was feeding. 3 weeks go by, and it still hasnt eaten. We tried EVERYTHING! So monday night we force feed it a pinky tail, and it take it down on its own once we helped it get started. Last night we force fed it a rat fuzzy leg, and again, it tok it down fine once we helped it get started. We also noticed last night that the eyes had that hazy blue look to them that indicates a shed. We dont know if it had shed before. Is it true that they dont eat until after their first shed? So far, the animal hasnt regurgitated, and seems ok with eating once we help it get started....Im not quite sure what I am asking, but thats the story. Do you all think everything is OK?

[Jeff_Favelle]

If a snake hasn't has had its first shed, you most certainly should NOT be force-feeding it!!!:mad:

[marisa]

Well since you have had it three weeks, this is at least his second shed. Hatchlings normally shed very soon after coming out of the egg as a first shed. So your guy is on at least shed #2 or #3.

As for the eating thing at this point since he does have some nutrition in him now because you force fed him why don't you try leaving him alone for 7-10 days. He will finish his shed, have lots of time to rest (don't handle him, at all) and get hungry. Then try leaving a live pinky in his enclosure. Throw a towel over the enclosure after putting the pinky in and leave it overnight. (Don't get heat source near towel!lol) If that doesn't work you still have time for another week of rest and another option before force feeding again.

Some just take time to adjust and get on a normal schedual it seems. And of course, this is all in my limited experience & research and IMHO. :D

Marisa

[stkkts]

OK, I figured it probably did have its first shed already, if not 2. # weeks should have been plenty of time to adjust. He is in a small tuperware with plenty of hides. We are going to give it plenty of time to digest and shed now without being bothered. I hope now that it has gotten an OK meal, it will start to take them on its own.

[gonesnakee]

Force feeding is a last resort & should not be done unless the animal is showing signs of weakness & loss of body weight & strength. This time usually doesnt come until at least 2 months of no food. Force feeding will turn some snakes even more off food then they already are. ASSIST feeding on the other hand (just popping the prey in its mouth & leaving it to eat it) can be done right away & will sometimes help a neonate "start off" on its own the next time. If force feeding is required it should only be every couple of weeks. Futhermore if the snake is still pooping & going into shed without any food, it probably doesn't require any yet as it is still digesting & growing. In the wild it is not uncommon for baby snakes not to eat until the next spring & most snakes in the wild will go for 3-5 months without any food every year (ie: winter burmation). If the snake has a big "yolk gut" it can survive off it easily for the first 2 months no problems & suffer no ill effects. I had lots of Corns this year that were huge babies that showed no interest in food until after their 2nd sheds (like 6 weeks after hatching) & some that only ate once & have had 2 or 3 sheds & are doing fine. Sometimes snakes don't eat because they are NOT HUNGRY. I keep all babies on papertowel for these reasons (easy to monitor fecal deposits). Once they stop pooping yolk, its usually an indication that their bellies are finally empty & they will probably be more receptive to a meal once they are hungry. Almost all snake owners "freak out" when their babies don't eat right away, whereas it usually isn't a big deal (except for the petowner LOL). I myself have never had a snake "starve to death" but I have had snakes die from shock due to the stress of force feeding & have seen it happen at the pet stores on numerous occassions to animals that would have been fine if they were just left to eat once they were ready. Forcing it to eat something it pukes up later does nothing but totally stress out the snake. My thoughts/experiences. Mark I.

P.S. Your friend should consider asking some important questions before purchasing an animal in the future. I myself can provide the birthdate of the animal & when/what every single meal it ever had was when I provide a neonate to someone. The purchaser should at the very least know if the animal has ate or not yet. If the vendor cannot answer these important questions you should seek another supplier of animals.

[stkkts]

Well as I am sure you know, when you find something you want, at a good deal, you get excited, and perhaps more important things arent asked. We always ask if an animal eats, he just happened to forget. It happens. And the way you decsribed it, what we did was assist feed more than force feeding. Once the item was in the animals mouth, it did the rest. It went to the bathroom twice since we got it home. Once in its tank (no poo) and yesterday in my hand (no poo). Just a minute amount of urate. Like I said, it hasnt regurged yet. I dont think it should be a problem.