Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here's the story. For those of you that didn't read my previous post, I was debating between taking and either finding a new home, or keeping an adult corn snake that was being severely neglected.

Here's what I was told.

a) He eats live mice
b) He's 3 years old
c) He's only 20 inches or so
d) He's very tame - we think

Here's what he/she actually is.

a) A common corn snake adult

b) About 38-42 inches - a little on the thin side (he only got fed sporadically-poor thing)

c) Incredibly Tame - despite the fact he's probably very hungry (he ate "a week or two ago" he let me pick him up and comfortably wrapped around my arm.

d) He was fed frozen/thawed until his owner didn't think that was exciting enough - then he was fed live after that.

e) He was living in backyard mulch in a poorly heated 20Gallon Long. I put him in a nice 30G long with a real water dish (he was thirsty) and newspaper bedding (doesn't look good, but it's safe and easy to clean). A heat lamp as well - of course!

f) Despite the above, he seems very healthy. No breathing problems and not mites that I can see, etc. He's also very alert and already exploring his new surroundings.

Here are my question(s).

When should I try to feed him?

If he's eaten frozen before will it be easier to switch him back?

Should I just put the mouse in there or wiggle it - or what?

Until he fattens up should I feed more frequently or just start feeding regularly (weekly) one mouse (I have small-medium frozen mice right now, but can get bigger)?

I am hoping he eats frozen in which case we (my Fiancé and I) will most likely keep him. If not, I will try to find a good home. I don't mean to sound cruel, but I have a hard time with live. It doesn't seem good for either animal and I can't stomach it.

Thank you all in advance and I will post pictures soon.

David

You made the right choice, he sounds like he will be alot better off now. I would wait a few days to let him settle in, and then try to feed him. I do not think you will have a hard time getting him to eat F/t. Congrats, I think you will be happy with your decision.
-----
Arlon Delorge
Classic Constrictors

I'm in kinda the same boat. They told me it was 10-12 years old, eating once every 10 to 14 days (1 mouse - couldn't describe the size) and lives with a heat rock, hide tree looking thing and a water bowl in a 20 gallon tank. I'm going to a reptile show in the Chicago area on the 17th of this month to look for a better living situation. I'd like to build a cage, but don't really have the know how, but may attempt it anyways.

I'll be eager to read some of the other replies.

Good luck with your corn.

you dont have an under tank heater? I would purchase one of those and only use the light for change of day schedule purposes. I only burn my light so that he can have so many hours of daylight and so many hours of nighttime. I keep his hot side at 78-80 and his cool side at 70 and he's happy and very healthy. Good luck with ya newbie.

I forgot to mention it. I do have an undertank heater.

i got my snake under the same condition.

he is approx 3 years old and his previous owner fed him regularly for a good period of time then sometimes would go for a month or two without feeding! im sure this is no good even though i know snakes can go for a good while without eating but it is NOT good. anyway, he is nearly 40 inches long but not very thick. snakes get long before they fatten up so im not too concerned but i know some corn owners who have 3 year old snakes who are at least twice this guys size. the guy had finance issues, so he says, and that was his excuse for not feeding regular.

i have him in a regular 30 gallon now and am feeding him one f/t "adult mouse" every week (the brand is called "Gourmet Rodent" if any of you know it so you can know/assume the size). i am not sure if this is a good schedule but he had no trouble eating it and did not regurgitate. his "poop" is normal. i've had him for a month now and he has eaten every week without hesitation... though sometimes i have to bump him on the head with it!

im going to assume MY corn will start to fatten up fairly soon? and my guess is he is undersized for 3 years? but dont they live for a lonnnng time? it feels good knowing i helped a mistreated snake, rather than just taking on a new born from a breeder! i think your new buddy will do just fine now. let him settle in for a few days then attempt to feed the f/t. goodluck!

Nice Corn,........He's got a long healthy life ahead!,..there is a documented record of a cornsnake living in captivity for twenty-one years.......................................Doug
-----
Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!

sweet! thanks doug!

now i've got two and i think ill stop there... i hope. besides i don't think i can afford it otherwise. i'm not even supposed to have reptiles in these apartments according to the lease! hopefully they won't escape and eat small children! LOL!

Since you aren't allowed to have them were you live, I speak from experience!LOL, keep them as secret as possible from people.... It's much easier to KEEP the knowledge from them, than it is to "erase" the knowledge once they know!!LOL...see what I mean!!LOL... It's impossible to predict how one day, the landlord finds out for whatever reason,....I've seen this very problem play-out many times before......good luck,.........Doug
-----
Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!

Please do you and the snake a favor, and get a magnifying glass to check for mites!, sometimes they are hard to see, unless it's REALLY BAD, and/or you know what to look for. Look in the gap around the eye(ocular scale), and also under the chin in between the large scales, these are favorite hiding places for mites!, especially since you mentioned it was kept outside in mulch(also favorite hiding place for mites) mites themselves look like grains of "pepper" and attach between the scales, their poop looks like a very small white dot............As for feeding, I'm sure it will take F/T readily. I let a mouse totally thaw at room temp for couple hrs. there's several ways to warm them up to "natural" mouse temp. either plastic bag with warm water(not hot) as this can compromise integrity of the skin(usually belly ripping open)letting intestinal matter go everywhere!. Or, get a shrowded lamp with a 40-60 watt or so bulb, clamp it to something upside-down with piece of screen layed across.Flip every 10 min. like hamburgers on a grill until slightly warm to the touch!!! works great. Also, most snakes like to see the prey move!!, even just a little!!, they are naturally attracted to prey movement. I always just lower the prey by the tail to the face of the snake, but I don't recommend this technique to you, as all it takes is a slight error on your part, and the snake grabs your hand instead. I recommend you get a set of long tongs or similar tool, and lower it to the snake, holding the prey by the "butt", so it won't swing like a pendulum and get missed!!. most of the time it won't even take a wiggle, but it could. After seeing how the snake reacts,especially after several times, you can begin to see a feeding pattern, and will be more comfortable as time goes by. I would also as others mentioned, give him a couple days to adjust, then feed him. He is fairly large(except for being on thin side) so to begin with I wouldn't give him large meals, his system is NOT!! used to being stuffed, remember, he has been neglected all his life! he could easily regurgitate......After several meals of the smaller prey and all's well, I would start feeding him a large mouse, or two small/med once a week, and he will do fine!... this along with others advice should arm you with all the basics to start with. also, the snake would no doubt do well with a hide box, and kept ideally at about 79 - 84 degrees. take care,.... hope this helps,.................Doug
-----
Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!