Feed baby twice a week?

MrPower · 04-03-12, 10:51 PM

hello everyone,
I have a young ghost corn.
He is about 2 months old and is in the cycle of eating a pinky every friday.
I would like to have a nice big adult snake, so im wondering do anyone else feed thier young corn snake twice a week. Like one on friday then another on tuesday and so on.
He used to be in his warm hide for 4 days or so after a meal before comming out and using the bathroom then becoming active again. now its just a day or two after. so im thinking he should be good to eat every 4 days.
What do you all think?

Gungirl · 04-04-12, 05:33 AM

No.. Feed him every 7 days and depending on his weight up the food size a little. It is always better to offer a slightly larger food item once a week rather than offer several food Items a week.

KORBIN5895 · 04-04-12, 06:15 AM

You could feed every five days.

I agree with Kat though I prefer weekly feedings and my year old bci is eating 180+ gram rats. Most people here feed a rat pup or weaner at this age.

Lankyrob · 04-04-12, 12:10 PM

Overfeeding/powerfeeding will not only give you a larger snake but it will die young. Much better to feed weekly with an appropriate sized food item and let the snake grow as big as it is going to get

KORBIN5895 · 04-04-12, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

You could feed every five days.

I agree with Kat though I prefer bi-weekly feedings and my year old bci is eating 180+ gram rats. Most people here feed a rat pup or weaner at this age.

Please note the typo.

MrPower · 04-04-12, 03:05 PM

ok thanks all

a153fish · 04-04-12, 04:16 PM

I don't see a big problem with feeding more. You could feed every 5 days, or just up the size as already mentioned. Feed him 2 or 3 pinks maybe, depending on the size of the snake. In my experience growing babies, can eat quite a bit, and they just add to growth. once they begin reaching maturity then the food should be regulated more. The only warning I have is many Corn snake babies take a while to build up their system to handle larger food items. Some are like garbage disposals, and some will regurge a larger meal. If you should experience a regurge, it's important not to feed him again for at least 10 days, to give him time to replenish his stomach acids, and all the good stuff that they need for digestion. It varies from one snake to another, and you have to listen to what your snake says, by his actions. If he eats and still looks like he's searching for more, than you probably need to up his intake. Again be very aware of any regurges, as that could start him on a downward spiral. Gradually increase size or quantity.

shaunyboy · 04-05-12, 08:18 AM

from what i've read,corn snakes get fat very quickly if over fed,it tends to nmanifest itself as a big fat deposit/lump near the rear of the snake

i would feed every 7 days

cheers shaun

SimplySerepents · 04-05-12, 07:54 PM

I feed babies every 5 days and adults every seven. You should preferably feed one prey item rather than several small items because it has a better fat to protein ratio.

Feeding your snake more will not make him bigger!!
That makes no sense.... If you feed a kid too much, do they become taller adults? No, they get fat. Same with corn snakes.

Big corns come from parents who were big.
Small ones come from small parents.
I can tell what lines my adult corns are from by their body shapes- it is pretty distinctive. For example, a Love-Line Okeetee has a thin and long body shape as compared to the beefier Abbots Okeetee.

Feeding your snake too often will lead to unsightly fat deposits and health problems. Plus your snake may regurge if you are really overfeeding it. At two months, regurge can easily lead to more severe health problems or feeding problems.

KORBIN5895 · 04-05-12, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

You could feed every five days.

I agree with Kat though I prefer weekly feedings and my year old bci is eating 180+ gram rats. Most people here feed a rat pup or weaner at this age.

This should also read 85-100 grams not 185+.

a153fish · 04-06-12, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimplySerepents

I feed babies every 5 days and adults every seven. You should preferably feed one prey item rather than several small items because it has a better fat to protein ratio.

Feeding your snake more will not make him bigger!!
That makes no sense.... If you feed a kid too much, do they become taller adults? No, they get fat. Same with corn snakes.

Big corns come from parents who were big.
Small ones come from small parents.
I can tell what lines my adult corns are from by their body shapes- it is pretty distinctive. For example, a Love-Line Okeetee has a thin and long body shape as compared to the beefier Abbots Okeetee.

Feeding your snake too often will lead to unsightly fat deposits and health problems. Plus your snake may regurge if you are really overfeeding it. At two months, regurge can easily lead to more severe health problems or feeding problems.

I can understand the concern, and aphrehention about over feeding. I share the same concerns. However I have found that in the first 2 years of life, baby snakes are designed to take full advantage of food when ever they can get it. I have never seen an obese sub adult, nor one with fat deposits. It's always adult snakes that continue to be fed heavily past their second and third years. Many Breeders are racing against the clock to produce certain morphs before anyone else does. So they push their snakes really hard to obtain breeding size as quickly as possible. Usually in their second year. I am not saying everyone should apply this tactic, I'm just stating that it is done very frequently, and those same breeders have some of the best, and healthiest stock I've ever seen. The main thing is having the experience to know when enough is enough. Many beginners do not know, and thus they have fat snakes. They also are not breeding their snakes usually, so all the food goes toward storage, and not egg production, which takes a lot out of the females. Males in turn will eat less, many times refusing food during breeding season, so it balances out. The problem I have is, I see way too many novice keepers under feeding rather than over feeding. Many people think a snake can live on one pinky a week. That is a misconception. They can survive on one pinky a week, but they will not progress much if food intake is not increased as the snake is able to take more. One pinky a week is great for a fresh hatchling that is just under 3 or 4 months old. Soon after that fuzzies should be offered, and then hoppers and so on. The key is getting a good feel for your snakes needs. Watch them, and see if the meal leaves a substantial lump, or is it barely noticable? Are they still searching around as if they are looking for more? Are they showing signs of being fat? Can you see folds of skin when they bend? It's hard to give a regimen that fits all, cause as you said not all Corns are built the same. Another improtant factor is having the right temps so the snake can digest it's meals efficiently. Too cool, and the snake will surely regurge a larger meal. Too hot is not good either. But again, I have to say that I see way more skinny underfed snakes, than obese ones.

P.S. the fat to protein ratio doesn't change by feeding more. The fat, and the protien both go up proportionately, so the ratio is the same.