Another eating thread

[Schriztopher]

So, I have done a bunch of searching on this and see all kinds of different answers. I waited the 7 days to try and feed Arya last night during the evening. I haven't handled at all, and don't plan on it until she eats a few times.

I thawed out the pinkie ahead of time and put it in hot water right before. Then I brained it, set it on a chunk of newspaper next to one of the hides and left it in there for a couple hours stress free and she didn't take it.

How long should I wait to try and feed again? I've seen 5 days, I've seen try each day. Also, if I don't brain the pinkie can I put it back in the freezer if she doesn't eat?

I'm not worried because she's still active and everything, just not sure which way to go about this. She seems a little shy still, meaning if during the evening she's out roaming the tank and someone walks by she'll freeze in place or sometimes go hide. And a few minutes later pop right back out to explore some more.

[EL Ziggy]

Hey Schritz- Was this your first feeding attempt? Your snake may still be settling in. What are your temps/humidity like? Is your heat source controlled by a thermostat? If your temps/humidity are good I would try feeding every 7 days until the snake starts to eat. You can try dangling the prey from tongs to imitate a live feeder. My kings wont eat if I just leave the prey in their tanks so I have to do the 'zombie dance' to entice them. If she still refuses you can try scenting the pinky or perhaps even offering a live feeder to get her started (as a last resort). I've heard of others re-freezing refused food items but I've always discarded mine or fed them to one of my other snakes. Best wishes and keep us posted.

[Schriztopher]

Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

Hey Schritz- Was this your first feeding attempt? Your snake may still be settling in. What are your temps/humidity like? Is your heat source controlled by a thermostat? If your temps/humidity are good I would try feeding every 7 days until the snake starts to eat. You can try dangling the prey from tongs to imitate a live feeder. My kings wont eat if I just leave the prey in their tanks so I have to do the 'zombie dance' to entice them. If she still refuses you can try scenting the pinky or perhaps even offering a live feeder to get her started (as a last resort). I've heard of others re-freezing refused food items but I've always discarded mine or fed them to one of my other snakes. Best wishes and keep us posted.

Yes, this was the first attempt. The temperatures and humidity in the cage are spot on. I am running a heat panel with thermostat and husbandry is all correct, I made sure of this before getting her. After the couple hours of the pinkie sitting in there I did try using tongs to entice her and it just scared her so I stopped and discarded it. I'll give it another shot maybe Sunday and go from there. Thanks, Zig.

[sharthun]

What kind of snake is Arya? Just be patient they will eat eventually! They all seem to have different feeding responses. All four of mine, I can just put the prey in the enclosure and they hunt it down and consume. Keep us posted.

[Schriztopher]

Originally Posted by sharthun

What kind of snake is Arya?

Corn

I'm a patient guy so it shouldn't be a problem. If she doesnt hunt it down in the enclosure this next time Monday or Tuesday I'll wait another week and try it in the deli dish she showed up in.

[sharthun]

Originally Posted by Schriztopher

Corn

I'm a patient guy so it shouldn't be a problem. If she doesnt hunt it down in the enclosure this next time Monday or Tuesday I'll wait another week and try it in the deli dish she showed up in.

Cool. post pics of her and her enclosure if you get a chance.

[Schriztopher]

Originally Posted by sharthun

Cool. post pics of her and her enclosure if you get a chance.

Here's a few. Haven't taken any recently, been leaving her alone so she can get comfortable.

Sorry they're sideways LOL they weren't like that when I uploaded them.

[EL Ziggy]

Enclosure looks nice SChritz. You could try covering 3 sides of the tank to give her a little more privacy. Hopefully she'll eat for you soon.

[Schriztopher]

Thanks, there's only glass in front, rest is oak. I may throw a towel over the glass though to help lower distractions for the first few feeds.

[sharthun]

I can't tell from the pics but small shallow dark hides will also make your snake more secure. They need something that they can curl up in and touch the sides with there bodies. Anything will work. Small dark plastic bowls, small boxes work great while they are small and are disposable.

[LiL Zap]

So far it seems like you're doing everything right. Just avoid handling her to keep things stress free for her and eventually she'll come around and eat. Once you jump start a corn snake's appetite, they eat like a monster lol.

[Schriztopher]

Yeah, sorry the pictures were rough. I do have a hide on each side and she loves both of them during the day when she's not burrowing or hiding behind the log. I'll just continue to leave her alone and try every 7 days. Thanks guys.

Here's a better pic - you can actually sort of see her in the hide on the left.

[sharthun]

Originally Posted by Schriztopher

Yeah, sorry the pictures were rough. I do have a hide on each side and she loves both of them during the day when she's not burrowing or hiding behind the log. I'll just continue to leave her alone and try every 7 days. Thanks guys.

Here's a better pic - you can actually sort of see her in the hide on the left.

Looks good!

[pdomensis]

Nice looking enclosure. I love the Forsythia, one of my favorites.

[Schriztopher]

Threw another pinky in there last night and left it with a blanker over the cage

and its gone this morning