View Full Version : Runt
My corn is atleast 8 months old however I got her over the weekend.
From what I could measure shes between 14 and 15 inches long.
I got her in a small rubbermaid that had been her home for the last 6 months however now shes in a 20 gallon.
The person told me to feed her a pinky every 7 days. Can I progress to a bigger size?
I attached a picture of her current habitat and one of me holding her so you can best see her size.
CanadianEryx
02-23-11, 06:07 PM
The general rule for feeding snakes is the prey should be 1-2 times larger than the diameter of your snake--it needs to leave a small bulge when eaten. From the photo, I would stick with pinkies for a bit, although you can sometimes find small fuzzies that are around the same size as large pinkies--check out the size of prey items the next time you shop for them and keep in mind the loose rule stated above. You could also try to feed your snake a couple of pinkies at a single feeding if (s)he still seems hungry after one. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
presspirate
02-23-11, 06:10 PM
I would move her up to a fuzzy, or perhaps offer her two pinkies for a few feedings and then move her up.
Lankyrob
02-23-11, 06:14 PM
You needto add an additional hide so that there is one at the hot side and one at the cold side, otherwise snakey has no choice about where he hides away and cant thermoregulate properly.
Wondering if a younger snake should be fed every 5 days as oppose to 7 day!
infernalis
02-23-11, 07:42 PM
It's nearly impossible to overfeed a baby.
They are little chow hounds.
As for runt status, I have quite a few runts, some I had given to me, some that were born here, and they grow up fine, just smaller than most.
Thanks guys!
I put a make-shift hide in there untill I can get to the pet store, and I will try to feed her 2 on Friday..... :)
infernalis
02-23-11, 09:59 PM
Why spend money on a hide? small cardboard boxes work great, those dog food bowls with the hand grips on the bottom make double duty water bowls, the snake will hide under it.
I find the small ones at dollar stores all the time.
The aquarium section at wal mart has cool things for a lot less than most pet stores that work great for hides.
The ones I like are sold as "neon cave" (ask a wal mart employee in the fish tank section) they are about $3 and are decorative as well.
This blue water bowl is normally about $1 most places I see them... and the snakes spent a lot of time exploring under that sheet of cardboard too.
http://www.thamnophis.net/images/pair.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.net/images/dk.jpg
Bah! When you only have one baby, spoil it...decorate that cage to your hearts content ;) Adding another hide is a good start, they should have one on the warm side of their cage and one on the cool side.
Your corn looks like it has a good body shape. Mine that are about that size are on 2 pinks. A good feeding guideline is the Munson Plan (http://iansvivarium.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=410), and I emphasize guideline as the mouse to snake ratio is a good method as well, you just have to figure out what works for you and your snake.
Your right wayne those are great ideas but I plan on spoiling her :) I can't help it, I have a shopping problem tee hee
infernalis
02-24-11, 10:24 PM
No offense, but your spoiling yourself ;) and that's quite fine.
Snakes don't care how pretty the cage is.
^ true ^
*UPDATE* I just fed her 2 pinkies and there still is no noticable buldge.
So a fuzzie next friday?
presspirate
02-25-11, 12:46 PM
Sounds about right.
id say she is ready for a fuzzy and as long as she gets it down you have nuthin to worry about it might look like she is struggling but she prob isnt and you shouldnt worry. good luck!!
Lankyrob
03-09-11, 03:56 AM
Cool, did it leave a nice lump?
NennaMeerkat
03-09-11, 04:04 AM
I got into this thread late but I will say that I love your little corn! See if you can get a pic of her/him right after it has eaten I would like to see this bulge as it will help my own little runt of a hognose baby.
ya we videotaped last weeks feeding, and she had a nice buldge! i will take pics tomorrow when we feed her :)
dshin963
03-10-11, 05:17 PM
I am uploading it right now to youtube... stupid 8.1 megapixel phone... the 11 min file is 497 MB... wth...
dshin963
03-10-11, 07:15 PM
YouTube - Cornsnake eating fuzzy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN47agk9tQE)
lol dont mind the commentary :P
NennaMeerkat
03-10-11, 09:16 PM
Good god almighty! I don't think I could feed my lil' hoggie something that big. Think I will stick to large pinkies for now. Though it is amazing that your corn snake could eat it.
TeaNinja
03-10-11, 10:14 PM
jeeze dshin, that mouse looks HUGE lol.
blindfireak40
03-11-11, 12:49 AM
how big is your corn, Dshin?
Lankyrob
03-11-11, 03:57 AM
that looks like a good size prey item, about the sixe i feed to my lil guys.
Just a little bit of advice if you are willing - if you hold the head of the mouse against a hot surface and then get some feeding tongs. If you hold the mouse across its pelvis so that the tongs are holding its back legs you can dangle the mouse in front of the snake with the hot head facing the snake.
What you are more likely to get then is a definitive strike against the head of the mouse and the snake should find it easier to get the right positioning - i may even roll the mouse up and constrict it - also making it easier to swallow. As soon as the snake has a good hold you cna let go and he will do the rest.
One of my corns will roll around his viv for about twenty seconds in a "death roll" before eating his already dead mouse where the other one is more like yours and is quite gentle - he is the one i try to encourage more to have a decent strike response.
dshin963
03-11-11, 08:33 AM
jeeze dshin, that mouse looks HUGE lol.
how big is your corn, Dshin?
That is my roommate Emilie's Cornsnake
blindfireak40
03-11-11, 12:11 PM
ohhh okay totally didn't make the connection that you guys were rooming hahahaha. In that case, Emilie, how big is she??
ummm.....14 inches I think....Dan do u remember? ...
CanadianEryx
03-11-11, 03:21 PM
Your corn eats much like my sand boa, but do take Rob's advice. Since I've been using the tongs, my girl has been striking harder and quicker--getting the head into it's mouth with one shot. She also does constrict the prey a lot better and seems to have an easier time of it. Good luck!
dshin963
03-12-11, 01:16 AM
Id say more than 14 inches... maybe 15-16 shes pretty long...
personally, i dont see the point of warming the head or any other part of the food, the snake cannot 'see' it like a python can. tongs are a good idea anyway, you can present the food in a more natural way, and if they miss, they are not attached to your finger!
Lankyrob
03-18-11, 04:52 AM
They may not have heat pits like pythons but the feeding response is much stronger on a hotter prey item than a cooler one and they do focus in on the hot head if it is heated more than the body in my experience.
they do focus in on the hot head if it is heated more than the body in my experience.
really ??? hmmm cool!
So i took her out to feed her today and I noticed her scales were dull and her eyes had darkened! My first shed! wish me luck!
infernalis
03-18-11, 08:17 PM
good luck!
going to save the shed?
we have a shed thread you can post pics of the shed and/or the shedding process.
TeaNinja
03-18-11, 08:32 PM
i still have the huge 6'4" shed my guy left a few weeks ago ^^
Lankyrob
03-19-11, 06:16 AM
Has he got a humid hide? if not now would be a good time to add one. Good luck with the shed.
dshin963
03-19-11, 07:41 AM
yeea she has one :) i gave her some sphagnum moss a little while ago to make one :)
Lankyrob
03-19-11, 09:24 AM
Dont forget pics if you catch it in the act! I managed to see my first shed "live" the other night but didnt get the camera in time.
absolutly I will post some :)
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