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baby isn't eating

izora Jun 13, 2007 01:20 AM

it's been ten days now, i've offered him two pinkies in that time and he's refused them both. The second one after trying to get him interested in it and failing, I went to move it and it kind of burst open in the container when I put it in there. I put him in his bowl to feed him again, with the bloody pinky and left him for a full hour, I came back to him just laying on one side of the bowl and the pink laying on the other side of te bowl. He's not been interested. I had thought perhaps the fact that he can see Frosty in his tank would have something to do with it, so I covered the side of Frostys tank so they can no longer view one another, yet he's still not eating. I haven't handled him in the ten days except to attempt to feed him. I've attempted only twice so far, but it seems like ten days is a long while for a nine inch corn ya know? Any other ideas? His temps are dead on, he's got two hides, one on each side, his tank is only a 5 gallon tank and the first three days he was in it, he cruised and climbed on it all, then he got comfortable and ate a meal, now it's been ten days since that meal and i'm growing concerned.

I haven't ever had to deal with a real problem feeding corn, all my other corns have always had great feeding responses, this is the first one to ever refuse a meal for me. I've had pythons refuse meals before and they eventually started eating, I dont think I have that much time for this little guy. He's had three meals since may 14th, what next?

Ya all are better at this than I am, help me pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeee

Izora

Replies (9)

duffy Jun 13, 2007 11:04 AM

If he's had 3 meals since May 14, and it has been 10 days since he's last eaten, I would not start to panic yet. I am assuming that he ate those 3 meals on his own, did not regurge, etc.

Are you SURE that you did not miss the signs of onset of shed?

Keep doing what you are doing. If he does not eat for you soon, then try some of the "tricks" often mentioned on these forums:
Decapitation (the pink, not the snake), tuna water, etc.

Like I said, if the snake has made it clear that he is capable and willing to eat on his own, and it has only been 10 days, don't worry yet. Duffy

izora Jun 13, 2007 11:54 PM

he's not regurged, but i always have to either put him in his bowl and cover it, or put it in his hide and turn the lights out for about ten minutes. Frosty on the other hand will actually catch the thawed mouse before it hits the bottom of the feeding enclosure. Then I have to make him wait in that enclosure for at least two hours before he can be placed back into his own enclosure. He gets antsy just before or after a feed. He's on a schedule and knows it extremely well, he knows on Fridays when I put him in that rubbermaid its feeding time. He instantly cruises the bottom of it for the mouse, then Ill open it back up and he's ready to catch like a dog and a frisbee.

BTW lol at the comment about decapitation, here I thought I had to decapitate Pepper to get him to eat lol close call!!!

Thanks --Izora, I'll letcha know when he eats.

duffy Jun 14, 2007 04:40 PM

It's amazing how different the feeding responses can be. I have some that never miss a meal, and some who frequently skip meals. What about the shed question? Any chance you missed the cloudy eyes, they have cleared up, and you will get a shed any day? That was my first guess. Duffy

izora Jun 15, 2007 12:08 AM

well I had thought he was looking pretty good until today my nephew was here while i was work and handled him again, I've been trying to leave him completely alone, so I'll attempt feeding again in the morning. His eyes are pretty clear and he's still really bright, he's not opaque like frosty gets when he's in shed, but well each snake is different and I do recall that my last amel didn't lose much of his color when he went into shed, so maybe in a couple days he'll surprise me, I'm going to attempt with the frozen in the morning again and hope for the best, if not, he'll get a live in a couple days or so. Thanks again, I'll keep ya posted. --Izora

izora Jun 15, 2007 12:34 PM

and what's funny about it, Tyler fed him yesterday when he got him out. He had also shed and the reason tyler got him out was becuase he noticed the shed in his enclosure. So now I'm not so worried lol. Yes I know i freaked out to early, but I have never had a corn refuse a meal before and I have cared for several in the past. They would even have a feeding response when they were in shed, guess with Pepper, I'm getting a new persona, thanks for listening to me! --Izora

phiber_optikx Jun 13, 2007 12:47 PM

Also, try live..... And feed him in his tank untill he starts eating regularly again.
-----
.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"

"Have you ever tried simply turning off the T.V., sitting down with your kids... and hitting them?"

izora Jun 13, 2007 11:55 PM

sooooo trying to avoid the live feeding. But if he doesn't eat this last frozen one I have, I'll buy him a live pink. thanks!

FunkyRes Jun 14, 2007 05:48 AM

Don't go live if he has taken f/t.
I've had baby kings refuse f/t after taking live just once.

Since he has eaten for you before, and somewhat recently, don't sweat it. It can easily go a month before you really need to start worrying.
-----
3.6 L. getula californiae - 16 eggs (Cal. King)
1.1 L. getula nigrita (MBK)
1.0 Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
3.3 Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata - 14 eggs (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

omni_ Jun 15, 2007 04:09 AM

A couple times having difficulty with feeding, I took a thawed pinky, rinsed it off in plain warm water and rubbed it on one of my anoles, thinking maybe the smell of our freezer turned them off. Maybe your snake is adjusting to a different feeding schedule? My younger corns don't all eat the same, 2 of them will only eat 9 or 10 days after being fed. I wouldn't worry until 14 days have passed.

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