My corn snake didn't eat her food

Iseitaku · 07-16-18, 08:24 PM

I have two corn snakes Red and Ruby. Out of the two of them Ruby is the more "vicious" one when it comes to her food and she always strikes and strangles her food (dead hopper mice). Yet today I just was feeding them and Red ate but Ruby wouldn't touch her food.

I attempted VERY carefully to check inside her mouth for mouth rot but I couldn't get her to open her mouth.

Currently I held off her feeding today and will try again Thursday on their next feed day but i'm worried and id rather avoid an unnecessary vet appointment if it was just stress.

**EL Ziggy** · 07-17-18, 11:35 AM

Welcome to the forum. A few questions for you. What are your temps like? Hold old and how large is your snake and how often are you feeding her? Lots of snakes will take unexplained food breaks from time to time. I've had snakes go months without food and without issues. As long as your temps are on point and the animal isn't losing much weight there's not much need to worry, especially only after one missed feeding.

Iseitaku · 07-17-18, 04:37 PM

Temp is at 75, humidity is usually around 50 (at times it goes above 50 but that's due to my bedroom being in the basement. I run a dehumidifier all the time unless their in shed and never have to mist their tank.). They are both 5 years old and dwarfed because they were only fed once a week by the previous owner. I feed them twice a week and have had them for about half a year now almost.

**Andy_G** · 07-18-18, 07:32 AM

One missed feeding is FAR from vet worthy, or even worrisome for that matter.

Ziggy has given some good advice.

Is there any reason you choose to feed hoppers twice a week instead of adult mice once a week? It's hard for me to imagine that even a dwarfed corn snake couldn't take an adult mouse.

**EL Ziggy** · 07-18-18, 07:59 AM

A cool side temp of 75 is fine but you should also provide a hot spot of 84-88. Once a week is a good feeding schedule for corns. I feed my adult colubrids every 7-10 days. I'm not sure how large the snakes are but it sounds like the prey size may be too small. At that age they should be eating jumbo mice or small rats. Can you post a picture of your critters and setup?

Iseitaku · 07-18-18, 09:33 AM

Not from my phone but when I get home I can. They are being fed hoppers because they are dwarfed in size. The mice I feed them is slightly bigger than their biggest part of their body. It does have a temperature gradiant set up with a cold side and hot side

**Andy_G** · 07-18-18, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL Ziggy

A cool side temp of 75 is fine but you should also provide a hot spot of 84-88. Once a week is a good feeding schedule for corns. I feed my adult colubrids every 7-10 days. I'm not sure how large the snakes are but it sounds like the prey size may be too small. At that age they should be eating jumbo mice or small rats. Can you post a picture of your critters and setup?

100%.

Iseitaku · 07-18-18, 05:22 PM

Forum wont let me upload a picture so in the meantime to gauge how thick the thickest part of their body is its just over the thickness of an average grown man's thumb. In the meantime I will work on resizing an image of them and their enclosure. They are dwarfed for their size and age.

**Andy_G** · 07-19-18, 07:10 AM

That sounds plenty large enough for an adult mouse, but it is of course hard to know without seeing pics or knowing their weights. Do you happen to have a weight on them?

Iseitaku · 07-19-18, 11:32 AM

Here you go. Managed to resize it.

Iseitaku · 07-19-18, 07:06 PM

So I just tried feeding her again but this time but still nothing. I'm getting worried its mouth rot but the thing is today I also had guys use pme to break up the concrete in the driveway and spread gravel also so it's possible she is nervous from the shaking however if that were the case red her brother wouldn't be eating either.

I am actually getting concerned now because this is not like her.

Iseitaku · 07-19-18, 07:12 PM

That's the size of her food compared to her

**Andy_G** · 07-20-18, 07:09 AM

Still no reason to be concerned. Sometimes snakes don't want to eat. Food size looks to be about right, actually. I'm wondering why you are thinking mouth rot could be the cause? No disrespect intended by the following questions, but how long have you been keeping snakes, and how long have you been keeping these corns in particular? Just so we have an idea of your experience level so that we can make appropriate suggestions.

bigsnakegirl785 · 07-20-18, 11:30 AM

If they're cohoused, it could definitely be stress. It seems like they're different sexes, too, so she may be gravid, which might not be in her best interest considering she sounds like a rescue.

Most of the corn owners I see recommend mice every 14 days for adults, I hardly ever see owners feeding their corns rats as adults. I very, very much doubt they're undersized just because they were fed weekly. They may have also been getting too-small prey items, or not eating as often as their previous owner claims...they could also be younger than the owner said/thinks. They may also have or had parasites, or just have genetics that keep them small.

Iseitaku · 07-20-18, 01:31 PM

I should point out they weren't a rescue. He simply needed to find a new loving home because he was going to start working out of town. Also they have been with eachother for 6 years now and never had eggs (1 year with me). The only reason I saw it as no problem for the to be cohoused was because they have been for 5 years never separated and we're hatchlings together and I was informed incest was not a think snakes do. So if Ruby is gravid with eggs what do I do? I'm certainly going to get a second tank and separate the two.