Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So, here's my story.

I've had my corn, Pumpkin, for a year. She is currently around 2 1/2 years (I don't know her hatch date, just that I bought her as a "yearling" and weighed 301 grams as of May 31st. I've had her probed, and know that she is a she.

She's a healthy snake...allthough maybe a touch too plump (I've never overfed her, but she does have a case of "Tiny-Ass-Head-Syndrome). She's been a PIG ever since I brought her home, usually tagging the F/T mouse before I can even set it down. And NOTHING phases her while she's eating.

Her last shed for me was on May 31st. She also ate an small adult mouse that day with gusto. She's always an active snake. She'll hide out for a couple days after she eats, and then from day three on is exploring throughout the night. Nothing has changed in that aspect...if anything, lately, she's been a touch MORE active.

I tried feeding her again on June 9th...and for the first time ever, she refused her meal. She was really hyper, and wanted nothing to do with the mouse. Just wanted to get away and explore.

Since then, she's been SUPER active. I tried feeing her again tonight..and again...she refused. I ended up giving the mouse to my Ball Python, who was all to happy to eat it.

Yes, My CORNSNAKE wouldn't eat, so I gave the food to my BALL PYTHON...I do see the irony in that.

A few people suggested to me last week that since she is just at breeding size, that perhaps she was ovulating...or that occasionally when a snake wants to breed, they won't eat (allthough I was under the impression that was more with males). As of right now, her belly is flat and I don't THINK she is ovulating. Who knows. I do have my yearling Leucistic Texas Ratsnake, who is male, in the same room (on the opposite side though). So you think his hormones are distracting her and getting her riled up?

I know three weeks isn't a HUGE amount of time..especially with a healthy bodied snake like Pumpkin...but figured I'd throw this out there and see what kind of feedback I get. Do you think this has something to do with a desire to mate? Should I relocate my male leucy to anouther part of the house (he is eating just fine...of course, he's too young to be chasing the ladies just yet)? Should I try breeding her (not to the leucy..heheh...a friend of mine is a corn breeder and is willing to loan out a lovely hypo male)? I was planning on trying to breed her NEXT year, so she could get more weight on her. I know 300 grams is the minimum breeding weight, but being the paranoid girl I am, I always rather play things safe, you know? That's why I wanted to wait.

Or, am I just stressing over nothing? Should I stop my worrying, leave her be, and assume she'll eat when she's ready?

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- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"

I still think the same thing I did last time. About a month ago or so when you asked I said it was a ovulating female. Now I think she is a female that may lay eggs or may keep her swollen look until you breed her next year. It is a 50/50 shot. I think she is full of ovum. She may shell them and in which case she will have to lay them or become egg bound. I would support her in what she is trying to do, and that is reproduce.

Later Jason

You think so? I have provided her with a lay box in her tank...just incase it is ovulation and she actually does need to lay eggs instead of reasorbing them. People keep telling me I should really wait anouther year so she can get more weight on her before breeding her...I don't want to rush her and harm her in the process. But, likewise...I suppose if she's so eager, maybe that's her way of saying she's ready. Hmmm...
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- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"

The people who tell you to wait a year have only been breeding for a year or two. The guys who have been doing it for 15 years are the guys breeding yearlings without problems. I am in between myself. At this point I don't think I would ever breed a yearling but who knows what will happen down the road. I will say that if the snake is ovulating then it can produce eggs without a problem as long as you support it with he right temps and space.

I know from reading your post that you are a bit of a nut with the caging so you should be fine on the space end. It would be the temps that would need to be right and the right kind of heat.

Later Jason

Hahahahahaha. Yeah, I like to spoil my snakes. Yes, I know their little snake brains probably can't tell the difference, nor care either way...but I like seeing them be able to explore (and Pumpkin's been doing a whole lotta that lately!).

As for temps, her warm side is a fairly consistant 86/87ish...the cool side does tend to vary with the seasons. In the winter our house gets pretty cold...so it might range from 67-75...where as in the summer it's more like 75-80...so, maybe there was an unintentional semi-brumentation there? Does it even work like that? I have alot more reading to do. I was going to buy a second under tank heater over the winter to keep the cool side at 75...but the general opinion seemed to be that as long as she had the consistant warm side, she would be fine.

Do you see and obvious issues here that need correcting, or am I on the right track.

And I would never consider any of this if she were a yearling. That just sounds to risky. She's at least 2...probably closer to 2 1/2 and then some.
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- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"

To be honest, she's a big lass already so I don't think she needs to put on any more weight. However, if you think she's overweight for her length (difficult for an outsider to tell when she's so obviously swollen with eggs/egg follicles) I think you're better off trying to get more muscle mass on her in the coming months before breeding her next year.

Weight as muscle is good, but weight as flab is a bad thing as it puts strain on internal organs and might make egglaying more difficult for her (imagine a fat lady giving birth when compared to an althletic lady giving birth).

Ease back on the feeding (one large mouse every 10-14 days) and see if you can persuade her to get more exercise with climbing equipment around her viv. Sorry - I didn't see your previous post, so you may already have that taken care of!

I've allready decided to bump her feedings from every 7 to every 10 days. But as for excercise....she really does get plenty of that. Her tank is FULL of climbing branches and vines....all of which she utilizes on a nightly basis. And, on top of that, I handle her at least 4 times a week...which also excercises her. I want to see her with anouther year on her, some more length and more wieght before breeding her...but not in a powerfeeding, fatty sense. I want a strong, healthy snake.
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- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"

you have her weight and her age, but not her length. If she is over three feet, I would go for it, especially since you are unsure about her exact age. Just my opinion, though.
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phflame
kingsnake.com host

Oops...sorry.

She is 36.5 inches long....so basically exactly 3 ft. She seems to be right on the border as far as breeding length and weight goes. I dunno. She's been SO active...and even started displaying some of that twitching/hopping motion they do when they're looking for love. Heh. I love her to death and don't want to risk egg binding or anything, but likewise...feel bad for her and want to "quench her thirst" if it's safe.
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- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"