Non-growing corn

[Auskan]

I bought a little creamsicle at the end of November '03. At the time, she weighed 12g. Since then she has eaten every 5 days (except for the 9 days when she was an escapee!). I started out feeding her pinkies, and have gradually worked her up to small fuzzies or rat pinkies, which she is able to swallow without too much difficulty. She is eating those every 5 days now.

My question is this: In all this time, she has NEVER shed (unless it was during the 9 days she was on the loose & I've never found the shed skin, but that was Jan 1st-9th). Not only that, but when I weighed her last night, she weighed.....12g.

I had a fecal done about a month ago, as I was sure parasites must be to blame. It turned out to be a very fresh fecal sample as she gave a sample on the way to the vet. The fecal came back negative.

Husbandry: hot spot of 80-85, cool side 70-75. Hides on both sides. Fresh water at all times. She poops regularly & it looks normal.

Any ideas?

[BoidKeeper]

Hot spot is too cold. Mine are all between 88-90. Heat grows them. Mine that were born in Aug 03 are now on to large hoopers/small adult mice.
I'd bump up the heat.
Cheers,
Trevor

[marisa]

Agree huge with Trevor!

All my corns are offered a 90 degree hot spot. When using such a warm spot you must be sure of your gradient and make sure the opposite cage side is room temp (70-78 or so) so they can get out of the heat. But with that gradient established ALL of my corns utilize the hot 90 degree spot, as well as the cool end. My 03 babies are also HUGE. :)

Marisa

[sapphire_moon]

my corn has a 80-85 hot side. She is an 03' as well, and she is about 2-2.5ft (about 7-9 months old, lost the book that had her exact hatch date) and takes TWO 1wk old rats (so about an adult mouse or a little bigger?), she was on every 5 days, but we will see if she is hunting when the time comes.

[Andy_G]

I agree with Trevor and Marisa, too cool of a hot spot.

[gonesnakee]

The too cool of a hotspot is minor, but could be slightly warmer, no biggee. Irreguardless it has nothing to do with the "problem". If the fecal came back negative one must possibly look to the genetics of the animal & the possibilty that it is going to be stunted or dwarfed as a result of them. If the specimen keeps feeding etc. regularily things should be OK with it but I can't blame you for wondering. Doesn't make sense that it is not shedding or growing???? Strange indeed, anyone have a logical scientific explanation? Mark

[Auskan]

Thanks Mark. I did raise my temps a bit, but that explanation (low temps) doesn't really get to the root of it, because she is one of 9 corns all being kept in the exact same conditions and the others are growing like weeds.

[marisa]

Well I certaintly don't believe its at the root but I think it will help. Higher temps mean you can feed larger meals more often helping the snake gain weight faster than its sibs.

I would get a fecal, obviously....and if no parasites are present...then you can assume genetics etc play a part and maybe its a slow grower...I have heard of a few people with smaller than average corns so maybe it will be one of them.

Marisa

[Auskan]

Thanks Marisa. I did get a fecal done about a month ago and it was negative. I've raised the temps a bit since my original post, however since she is currently eating a small fuzzy every 5 days, I don't think the feeding bigger meals more often is the key either! Being a creamsicle, I would have expected her to grow faster than the average, but perhaps I am destined to have the world's first 12g adult corn LOL.

[vanderkm]

With many species, some juveniles simply remain 'poor doers' for their life. There are various reasons including damage to the absorptive surfaces in the gut early in life that leave them unable to either digest or absorb food, liver or pancreas abnormalities or any one of a number of congenital problems. The effect may not be apparent immediately at birth, but can stunt growth.

I currently have one youngster that has experienced similar problems - he is only a quarter the size of clutchmates that are managed in the same way. Unlike yours, this guy sheds every time he eats, but is still not growing and may have more underlying problems. As long as he is feeding well, I will continue to monitor him, but I don't hold out great hope of him doing well in the long term.

Creamsicle corns, from what I know, can often be thicker than pure corns, but many do not have the same length, so are not really bigger. I currently have two males, same age, and one is twice the size of the other. Both are thick bodied compared with my pure corns of the same age.

Good luck with your little one and keep us posted as to how he does,

mary v.

[Auskan]

Just wanted to give you an update. Still no growth, but I did raise the hot spot to 90 and all 9 corns immediately moved to the cool side of the enclosure and haven't moved back to the warm side since - even right after eating.

[sapphire_moon]

Personally, I would lower the temps to no more than 85-88. My corn refuses to go on a hot spot that is hotter than 87. And won't even go on that side of the cage until it's lowered to about 84-85.

[KingFfaj]

feed it to a king

[marisa]

All cornsnakes are a bit different. I find mine ALL use a 90 degree hot spot but I have a HUGE gradient in my cages and they are 36 inches long....(the cages) the gradient is a 90-room temp one.

Anyways lower the temp a few degrees. You'll want them to be moving back and forth, get thermoregulation going. You'll find the right temp. In either case I think you probably just have a smaller than average baby, and maybe it will catch up, maybe not. As long as its eating, parasite free and healthy thats all good. :)

Marisa