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I feel kinda bad at this point, I post every little question, but at the same time it IS for the welfare of my snakes, and I am pretty new at this...

Today was feeding day in our house. Both snakies took their food eagerly. They are both around a foot long now and very very skinny. I fed each one of them one defrosted newborn pinkie mouse. I checked for any strange odours from the mouse after it was defrosted, but it smelled fine, and the snakes really seemed to enjoy it. The only question I have is I'm looking at both my snakes who are now safely back in their tank, and they're both very bulgy with food. Everyone's keeping quiet in the house and they're both just curled up in the corners relaxing. The only thing is I think this is one of the biggest meals they've ever had. Should I watch out for anything in particular? I'm going away on a daytrip tomorrow. The only food related problem I've extensively read about is regurgitation. When is that no longer a risk? They seem to be doing fine right now, but since it was their first feed I don't know if I should stick around or if it would be okay to leave them.

Everyone's been very helpful, both me and Matt really appreciate all the advice. It's hard being a new snake owner when all you've ever owned before was dogs.

-Emily

The most important thing for good digestion is good temps. That is a good basking spot and cooler areas for thermoregulation.

If these are your first snakes it may be hard to believe the meals that they could put away. But the bigger the meal the more important good temps are to help digest it fully and not let it rot in their little bellies.

We have had our snakes for about two weeks now. Even tough we have had corns before I still find myself constatnly worring about them. So I know how you feel.

Go ahead with your trip. Snakes know what they are doing when it comes to digesting their food. I have never had a corn snake regurgeatate on me. Just make sure they have a nice warm and cool spot in their house. I usuly wait 48 hours, or when the bludge is gone before picking them up agian. I am not positive sence I have never had a regurdation but I thnik that is when the risk of that is gone too

You will love having baby corns. It's so much fun watching them grow.

Jennifer

Speaking of eating here is Frank enjoying his dinner...

The regurgitating problem will never end. You can do your best but as far as I am concerned there is always a chance. I found this in one of my old Burmese Pythons. The worry greatly decreases when the conditions for the snakes are optimal. I had the problem when I first got prince. Back then I had no light and no heating in his cage at all. I could not understand it but while we keep the house between 70-80F the snake room would always get freezing at night. I took off the cover to the heater vent one day and found the shroud was pushed through the Flore and no heat but just cold air came in. I have since fixed that and now the room stays nice and toasty and at the same time I still don’t provide lights but each cage has a reptile heat pad under it, Since I warmed them up I have not had a problem with regurging, Even though some of the meals have been considerably large they still passed them with no problems.
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