Help ASAP

Lubeybooby · 01-11-13, 10:50 PM

Alright guys so heres the deal. I got my snake last month he is a lavender hatchling. I let him settle in for about a week and then gave him his first meal. when i woke up the next morning i saw that he regurgitated his pinky. I then waited almost a week and then fed him another pinky. Once again i woke up and noticed he puked again. I went out and Bought the book Corn snakes in captivity it said to wait 7 to 10 days and then offer a smaller meal. I waited 8 days and decapitated a pinky and fed him just the head...... 24 hours later there is a pinky head in the cage. I continued to read that if a hatchling regurgitates 3 times it is more than likely to die

Please help me out guys i dont know what to do! i have been busting my *** for this little guy im burnt out and cant think of anything. He is in a 10 gal with 2 hides a hot spot of 88 and a cool side of 75 on aspen chips. I got him from a well known breeder i wouldnt think that he would have any kind of disease. Please help me out.

**lady_bug87** · 01-12-13, 04:38 AM

So since no one replied I figured I would bump the thread and maybe try yo help you out.

I do not keep any corns in my collection

However from the quick Google search I did I found that your hot end is a bit *too* warm. The highest temperature I had seen posted for a corn hot side is 85 degrees.

If this is the case the reason for the regurge could be the animal is having a hard time thermoregulating.

Based on that, I would look more into husbandry and then adjust the conditions, wait a week and then offer another pinky head

RobsCornField · 01-12-13, 05:20 AM

First, reduce your temps on the warm side a few degrees, especially if you notice your baby hanging out on the cool side a lot. What are you using to measure the temperature, and what are you using to heat the enclosure? If you're using a heat lamp with one of the thermometers that sticks on the glass, the temperature in the enclosure is likely MUCH higher than what it's actually reading.

Second, order THIS. It's a product called NutriBac, and is sold by Kathy Love, author of this book. Ask her if she could do express emergency shipping to you. What NutriBac does is aid your animal with digestion. When it regurgitated, it also emptied it's stomach of all of the enzymes and bacteria that help it properly break down food. NutriBac has saved the life of more than one of my animals.

Gungirl · 01-12-13, 05:33 AM

I would just shut the heat off.. I don't offer my corn heat and I never will.

RobsCornField · 01-12-13, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gungirl

I would just shut the heat off.. I don't offer my corn heat and I never will.

Personally, I would only recommend doing this if the ambient room temperature is above 75*F. If you keep a corn in a room that stays 50-60*F with no additional heat, it will likely die.

Gungirl · 01-12-13, 05:47 AM

My house is normally 65.. I have had few ( 20-25 ish) hatch-lings given to me so that I can get them feeding. I keep them in tubs in my bedroom the same as I keep my other corn. They have all eaten and thrived just fine with no additional heat.

RobsCornField · 01-12-13, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gungirl

My house is normally 65.. I have had few ( 20-25 ish) hatch-lings given to me so that I can get them feeding. I keep them in tubs in my bedroom the same as I keep my other corn. They have all eaten and thrived just fine with no additional heat.

How often do you feed them? Lower temperatures can cause a decreased metabolism. Personally, I feed my hatchlings every 5 days until they're a year old when they go to 7 days. Adults are every 10-14 days. I'm not being rude, I'm just curious. The only time my snake room goes below 74* is for brumation.

Gungirl · 01-12-13, 05:56 AM

I almost feed the same schedule as you with no issues. I feed every 5 days for the first 6 months then I feed every 7 days until a year, After a year I feed every 14 days.

I don't take you as being rude..lol I know not many people feel comfortable doing what I do but I have a few friends that breed for a small hobby and they also offer no heat. All the snakes I see that they breed/hatch do very well. The only time they offer heat is when they breed.. they always offer the female a hot spot of 75-80

Kettennatter · 01-12-13, 06:42 AM

I second Gungirl on this one. I have minimal heat (lowest wattage UTH I could find) for my corns in a house around 65-67, which will nudge the warm side to about 72. In general, they are likely to do fine even without it, but with a slightly lower metabolism. If in doubt, especially as a new owner, I would remove the heat source. Especially if the OP has a cool side of 75, assuming it is somewhat close to ambient temperature, then I would definitely disconnect the heat source.

Aleks · 01-12-13, 09:40 AM

was your pray a little to big? this can make them spit it out...

wait a week.. (never double feed after this happen u can make it happen again wait...)

re feed them a smaller mouse... just to see if he can keep it in!

once u have feed them dont play in there cage till u need to clean it out....

try this and let us know

Lubeybooby · 01-12-13, 10:45 AM

Thank you for all of the advice i will see if this helps. I ordered that Nutri-bac stuff. I was not using heat before and he was still regurgitating. My room is in the basement and only stays around 70 if even. I have been using a Thermometer that sticks to the side AND checking the hot spot daily with a Inferred Thermometer. He hardly ever leaves the hot side. Its crazy i have other snakes i just cant seem to get it right with this little guy.

poison123 · 01-12-13, 11:44 AM

I don't think the hot spot is the problem definitely if its only 88F which is NOT at all high imo. As long as theres a place to cool off then the snake is able to thermoregulate. Are there enough hides? Are you walking past the cage while hes eating? Hows his normal behavior? Is he skittish?

Lubeybooby · 01-12-13, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poison123

I don't think the hot spot is the problem definitely if its only 88F which is NOT at all high imo. As long as theres a place to cool off then the snake is able to thermoregulate. Are there enough hides? Are you walking past the cage while hes eating? Hows his normal behavior? Is he skittish?

He has 3 hides and im not walking past him. His normal behavior is pretty good he hides most of the day and yes he is skittish but i think thats just because he is new and a hatchling. Im still not handling him.

Lankyrob · 01-12-13, 02:45 PM

Personally i would contact hte breeder and ask about the clutchmates to your guy, see if there arre any other issues going on. Your setup sounds fine to me.

Couple of years ago the reptile shop i use had a clutch of bp's that would not eat at all, they all survived by being assist fed but none of them ate on their own. I had one of the clutch and after months of it not eating one of the staff took the snake amd i received another hatchling from a different clutch that hasnt missed a meal.

Hope it all works out for you

Lubeybooby · 01-12-13, 02:56 PM

Thanks Rob i will do that right away!