Problem Corn

SerpentLust · 07-26-03, 02:37 PM

This is a good and bad news day...

I brought home a new snake for the time being. The pet store I work at got in 6 baby corns last month and one of them refuses to eat. Today, after I told the other reptile worker that we HAVE to get this one eating, he simply stated that maybe we should just kill it and write it off. I was appalled but didn't show it. So I asked him if it's alright for employees to take the sick animals home and fix them up. He told me to go for it.

So, I now have this little cornsnake in my room and I have to get him eating. I can't believe the other guy wanted to just kill it after only trying live and dead pinkies! Now I would like as many suggestions as I can get for fixing this baby up.

And I did take some crappy pics with my crappy webcam. It's a really pretty baby corn, with a full body stripe. It's the most docile little baby I've ever seen. And definately worth saving.

Take a look:

Jenn

katev17 · 07-26-03, 02:44 PM

Congrats on the new (temp) addition, Jenn! Hopefully all goes well, I'm sure you'll take good care of it. Good luck,

Kate

07-26-03, 02:52 PM

Best method is assist feeding, which with baby corns may consist of literally pushing it down the animals throat. The only pet store snake I own needed assists for 8 feedings and usually most will start eating on thier own after 3-5 feedings. It takes patience and dexterity and can be a bit messy if you pop the pink. A blunt object can sometimes help push a little, I occassionally use one of my rubber coated probes. Gently stroking the throat will help move the piece past the spit-out point. A pinky pump is the next best alternative, a little spendy but gets the animal fed, I just think assist feeding teaches the animal how to eat sort of.

SerpentLust · 07-26-03, 03:06 PM

Yeah, I know animals are supposed to have that instinct that "this is food, I eat it"...but this snake doesn't even act like it knows what "food" is! lol And it's just too pretty to let the morons at work put it down because it's a fussy eater. It seems like such a waste. Assist feeding is actually what I was going to do in a couple of days, after I let the snake calm down from the car ride and let the little tyke get nice temperatures and explore his temporary house.

Jenn

lordkovacs · 07-28-03, 10:38 PM

have you tried making a cut in the pink's skull? it unleashes some powerful scent. ihad to do that to get my reverse okeetee going when he was a baby. or, if that doesn't work, try cutting hte head of the frozen thawed pink right off. this not only gives a strong scent, but makes the meal into smaller parts. worth a try maybe.

Tim_Cranwill · 07-28-03, 11:06 PM

Well, it's probably going to be a messy but rewarding chore. I commend you for even trying.

- The pinkie head works sometimes, try that for sure.

- Try assist feeding but it is pretty tricky and can be VERY frustrating if you've never done it. Your hands will get sweaty and slippery and the snake will squirm and wrap around your hands trying to get away. It's tougher than you might think. You may want to do that first just to get a meal in him though (depending on his current condition). I find using the snout of the pinkie to "pry" the snake's mouth open works better than using an object to open the mouth especially if you are doing it alone. It's hard to juggle 3 things at once.

- You should also try leaving the snake alone in a small container over night with either a live or dead pinkie as well. It probably won't work if the snake's not even interested in food at all but you never know.

- Scenting may work as well. I can't offer much advice on this subject because I've never done it but I'm sure there are a ton of tricks that go along with that as well.

Anyway, good luck. I'm sure you'll succeed and save the snake's life in the process... oh, and keep it!

You'll get attached.

marisa · 07-28-03, 11:17 PM

Everyone suggestions are great.

I would just add that you should try and not handle this snake at all. Not once until he is established eating. This alone can work a whole world of wonders.

And possibly cover up as much of his cage as you can with a towel or something.

Marisa

tai_pan1 · 07-29-03, 07:54 AM

Jenn,

I had a baby corn that just up and quit eating. She went over 3 months without eating and was looking terrible. I tried all of the suggestions that I got on this forum (braining, leave over night, don't handle, cage in darkness, f/t, live) nothing worked. I was so worried she was going to die that I finaly broke down and force fed her. It was very challenging to say the least. I used the nose of a pinky and worked it up and down on the snakes mouth while using some pressure. Finally, she opened her mouth and once I got the pink half way in, she did the rest. I nervously waited for days to see if she would regurge and thankfully, she did not. Since then, (that was in December) she eats regularly, but has a tendency to regurge. If she does, I find that I have to wait at least 2 weeks before feeding her again to ensure that she won't regurge again. She is a year old, around 16" long, and pencil thin, but she is alive and seems to be doing better all the time. I've resigned myself to the fact that she may always have problems and that I'll have to take extra special care of her. Good luck with your's, and let us know how she does.

Mike

tim88 · 07-31-03, 09:54 PM

If you are going to force feed your snake, I would recommend starting with a pinky head or a tail. I talked to the owner of SW Wisconsin Reptiles and he gave me the idea of force feeding tails. I tried this out on a couple of my picky hatchlings last year and it worked great! Now those same hatchlings are eating hoppers!
Good Luck!!

SerpentLust · 08-01-03, 06:43 AM

UPDATE - Well, I had to force feed, wouldn't take braining, cutting off the head, body parts, etc. I tried assist feeding, but no matter how much of the body was "assisted", the corn would find a way to reject it and regurge it. So I went to the last resort and force fed and it actually went quite well.

The pinky got down, and came out the other end two or so days later. So I'm feeding the snake again on Sunday. Hopefully she'll be fine

Jenn

ChunkyMunky · 08-01-03, 06:53 AM

That is GREAT news!!

Zoe · 08-01-03, 07:00 AM

Hey jenn,

Just to let you know, I had a reeaalllllyy picky feeder, one of my IJ babies. He didnt eat for weeks after he hatched, and anyway one time I tried scenting the pinky rat with a gerbil. Worked like a charm! Now he's a great little eater (when he's not trying to bite me, of course).

Just a thought!

Glad to hear force feeding went well... hopefully next time it'll be easier!

timmer · 08-01-03, 07:24 PM

congrats

BoidKeeper · 08-01-03, 08:32 PM

Quote:

I was appalled but didn't show it.

Why not? You should have nailed him! If that is their attitude they don't deserve to be in business. I say you tell them it died and keep it because they sure don't deserve it.
Have you tried leaving it over night in an opaque container with a fresh killed pinky? I had a buddy do that after 8 months of pumping and it worked. There is one in my first clutch this year that will only eat this way.
Good luck with him,
Trevor

Aradya · 08-03-03, 06:22 AM

When I brought Eden home, she wouldnt eat, even after 4 weeks of being force fed she wouldnt take a pinkie on her own, so my friend who is a breeder suggested a baby hamster, and volia she ate the whole thing by herself. I wish you lots of luck and keep us informed.