please help - not eating

[jay76]

Hi everyone! My corn was eating well, with no hesitation or anything, until recently. I fed him on the 18th of December, but since then he won't touch his pinkie. I thought he might have been going into a shed, so I didn't push it, but I had him out for a routine play session/inspection this morning and I noticed his skin has started to sag. It doesn't seem to be a shed thing, since it's definitely a skin fold (still has his ghost colouration). He's still just a lil' nipper, I got him at the St Jacobs show from the Gillards. I've tried 4 mice, and even brained this last one. Any ideas? I really don't want to lose him, it was rough enough losing my lacerta last week.

Thanks,

Jay

[Izzie]

that is so sad,maybe someone knows what to do.....

[Pixie]

I had a very similar problem with one of my young corns last year. She was only a couple of months old and all of a sudden stopped eating. I didn't panic at first but after a couple of weeks she was looking thin and had started getting folds in her skin.

I was given a trick by the reptile store I go to. Put the snake in a small container (deli cup) in a completely dark area for 24 hours. After the 24 hours are up, throw in a pinky and put back in the dark as discreetely as possible. Check in a couple of hours.

This worked great for me and my finicky corn and helped me get her back on a regular feeding schedule. I had tried virtually every other trick in the book: braining, teasing, scenting... and nothing else worked.

Do you feed your corn live pinks? If you don't I would suggest you try and see if you get better results. It worked for me.

Also, don't try feeding attempts too often when they fail. Give at least 4 days between tries.

Have you seen your corn drinking water? Skin folds are usually an indicator of dehydration. Maybe a little bath would help too.

Good luck and keep us posted :)

[jay76]

Thanks for the idea, Pixie. I'll put him in the dark when I get home tonight :). About bathing - what's a good temp to use?

[reverendsterlin]

also remember that during cool weather cornsnakes brumate, often late born corns will pass the entire winter before taking their first meal. without obvious signs of a problem don't worry if it doesn't eat. For bath temps I make sure the water is only about skin temperature (72 F), if it is warm to you it will be hot to your animal.

[tai_pan1]

I am having a similar problem, except mine started in very early November. I tried all the tricks and nothing worked. In mid december, I finally got her to take a pink and she has again refused to eat since then. She remains somewhat active and searches her cage but still won't eat. If I try to feed her and she doesn't take it, she doesn't come back out for several days. I'll try again in a week or so. If it doesn't work, I'll try Pixies idea.

Good luck and let me know if you try something different that works.

Mike

[jay76]

Well, he finally ate! Woooohoo! I'm not 100% sure that he finally got hungry enough to eat on his own, but when I started bumping the middle of his body with a pinkie and he bit at it. In fact, he even made a kind of attempt at constriction, which he's never done before. I'm just happy that he's finally got a meal into him! Maybe it would work for yours too Mike?

[Izzie]

WHOOHOO! Yay! Glad it worked out :)

[MidnightIris]

Congrats! Doesn't that feel great?

[BeHeMoTh]

did you get him at the st . jacobs show in april???


that's where i got my bp which sadly passed away nov. 9th

[BeHeMoTh]

oh and congrats

[jay76]

Yep, got him at the St Jacobs show. Sorry to hear about your bp :(

[Kyle Walkinshaw]

glad he ate for you Jay! :)