Choking Fear

spiderandy12 · 02-19-11, 10:38 PM

I am worried about feeding my corn snake. I bought some bigger mice than before because I was worried about her not getting enough and I was wondering :

Will she know if the mouse is to big to eat or will she try anyways?
Can she choke?
If she does is there a Hiemlich manuever for snakes?

So many worrisome questions I know sorry, but I would appreciate some help if possible.
Thanks.

Sapphyr · 02-19-11, 11:03 PM

1.) She'll probably still try. It's just a feeding response, just as if you put your hand near a hungry snake, especially with said food item, and they could latch onto you instead, thinking you're food, and actually thinking they're going to eat you despite how impossible this would be considering the immense size comparison, at least with corn to human.

2.) Not sure... Sure it's possible, though, or some other form of condition. May regurgitate. Once again, not 100% sure on that.

3.) No clue.

marvelfreak · 02-19-11, 11:09 PM

I have never heard of a snake chocking on food. If it to big they'll spit it out or won't even try eating it. If it to big and they do manage to get it down they'll throw it up.

totheend · 02-19-11, 11:23 PM

Yeah she will likely try to eat it even if it is too big.

She won't choke. If she can get it down, she will, if she can't she won't

I tried to feed a pregnant mouse to a corn once.....she tried every which way but couldn't get it down...so she left it after a while.

No Heimlich maneuver as it is not needed

Freebody · 02-20-11, 02:12 AM

good question, i have a jag male i just switched to jumbo rats and for the past 1.5 months every feeding he wont eat, so today i went and gave him some juvi rats which are way smaller, i tried the jumbo 2 times today and he would not eat it, tossed the juvi and bam he grabed it the second he could. hes got a small head as im sure the previous owner power fed him to make him larger faster to try and breed him, well thats my 2 cent, i have no idea why, he was cralling on it and didnt seem afraid of it at all, just would not even look at it like food. looks like i will have to get him the smaller food he was eating before and keep having to feed him 2 of them instead of the 1 jumbo

infernalis · 02-20-11, 02:46 AM

I could not even begin to count how many meals I have fed snakes, and not once have I ever seen one choke on it's food.

Lankyrob · 02-20-11, 07:14 AM

When they feed they throw a "snorkel" out so that they can still breath whilst the prey is blocking their throat, have never heard of a snake choking and they can eat way bigger than most of us think!

mld · 02-20-11, 07:43 AM

As long as the intended feeder is no larger than 1.5 - 2 times the diameter of the largest part of your snake, they have to noticeable lump after eating.