Brumation for non-feeding corns - partial success (long post)

[vanderkm]

These are clutchmates from a striped female corn, unknown father that suprised us with a clutch late in the summer. Of 19 hatchlings, 8 failed to feed on their own within a month of hatching. I forcefed them whole pinkies for about a month, then brumated them for about 2 months.

Three of the eight commenced feeding on thawed pinks within 2 weeks of coming up to temperature. They are all on fuzzies and small hoppers now and are close in size to the two feeding hatchlings I kept out over the winter. One fed on live pinks only at first and still needs the pinky to be moving, but she is taking 2 large pinks per meal now. The other four did not accept live, thawed or lizard scented pinkies after brumation and were euthanized after a month of trying various approaches (not forcefed again).

I think a 50% success rate is good enough to try brumation again if I end up with non-feeding corns. I think I might have given them more time to start feeding on their own before force feeding but there is little information out there on how to proceed.

They all looked pretty similar in color when I picked two to keep last fall, but have changed quite a bit now.

The original two vigorous ones I kept back
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/509/6304_April_9_Colonel_8_reduced.jpg

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/509/6304_April_9_Redden_reduced.jpg

the non-feeder pics are in next post
mary v.

[vanderkm]

The four remaining normals -

smallest
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/509/6304_April_9_One_reduced.jpg

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/509/6304_April_9_Nine_1_reduced.jpg

largest one
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/509/6304_April_9_Eleven_7_reduced.jpg

pretty female - has become my favorite - having her survive makes it worth the hassle of dealing with the group (it was a good learning experience too)
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/509/6304_April_9_Thirteen_18_reduced.jpg

mary v.

[wolf_010]

nice a good lot of info for newbies like me
sorry to hear about the others though
great normals though i like your fave to

~Katherine~

[Katt]

I have force fed corns up to a year and have had them start taking and vigorously too!

Brumation is a definitely a good way to get non-feeders of just about any species to start eating.

Really like the fave!

[gonesnakee]

I just lucked out too overnight Mary. I have an Albino female(?) Jungle Corn that has been asssist/force fed since July that ate 2 live pinkies for me on her own yesterday finally. Hopefully she will eat unassisted from now on. Nice to know all our efforts are not in Vain anyhow. Good Luck with the little ones. We wants to see the "fave" in about another 6-8 months. should be REAL pretty by then. Mark

[Stockwell]

You guys need pinky pumps, saves lots of hassle.
I couldn't survive without mine... I actually wore one out and I'm on my second one now.. LOL
I use fancy feast cat food in mine, cheaper than pinkies.
Started over a hundred Candoia and lots of greybands and pyros that way.

[Simon]

Roy,

I need one of those pinky pumps....
where do you get yours?
Sigh sometimes its a real big hassle to force feeding pinkies......

Mary,
those corns that you have there are greart looking especialy the last one!

[vanderkm]

How do you guys decide when to start and when to quit forcing - I don't think I would have the patience to persist for a year? What makes you decide it is worth it?

I even question whether I would retain any that need to be forcefed as breeders due to concern over perpetuating the tendency.

I agree a pinky pump would be a good investment - many of these that I forced were not happy to see me coming on feeding day because no matter how practiced you are, or how gentle you try to be, it is still traumatic to them, I am sure. Like the idea of cat food instead of mushing pinkies - they are more expensive per pound than the best steaks we buy for ourselves!!

Any ideas on when and why to forcefeed are welcome,

mary v.