Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i just got a baby corn from a show and want to know all of the feeding tricks everyone uses. any help is great. its tank is set up perfectly all temps are right.
-----
Jeff Kearney
Orlando, FL

2.7.0 Bearded Dragons (Too many to name)
1.0.0 Mali Uromastyx (Rex)
2.2.0 Ball Python (Ali, Gator, Para, Medic)
1.1.1 Leopard Gecko (Peanut, Almond, Iggy)
1.1.0 Fat-Tailed Gecko (Freddy, Brownie)
0.0.1 Corn Snake (Not sure yet)
0.0.2 Blue Phase Dumpys Tree Frog (Sticky, Squishy)

Have you tried live?
Sometimes that works where f/t does not.

Unless you knew it was non feeder at time of purchase the best thing to do is contact the vendor.

If it came in a deli cup (most show bought animals do) - put it in the deli cup w/ the food overnight. Often in the morning, the snake will have a lump.

I got some problem feeding corns started last year that refused live pinks by using baby lizards, sceloporus to be exact.

One trick I've heard often works is to buy a green anole, break the tip of its tail off, rub the blood on the pink and put the tail in the pinks mouth.

But contact the vendor first - every clutch is different, and they may know tricks that work well with their specific gene pool.
-----
x.y L. getula californiae (Cal. King)
x.y L. getula nigrita (MBK)
x.y L. getula floridana (Brooksi)
x.y Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
0.1 Heterodon nasicus (W Hognose)
x.y.z Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata - (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

I had a hatchling that would not eat f/t or live pinks. I got an anole, froze it, then thawed it, skinned part of its tail and put the wet skin on the face of a f/t pink. Worked like a charm. Next meal was f/t w/o the skin and he has been chowing down ever since. The snake was a king, but should work w/ a problem corn too.

Worked for me!

Some things to consider:

1. Time To Adjust
A young, security-craving serpent may be reluctant to eat and need time.

2. Cage Size
Baby snakes fare best when kept in relatively small enclosures (e.g. a plastic shoebox).

3. Hide Box
A hide area is beneficial to a snake’s well-being.

4. Lighting
A baby corn snake is most likely to come out in the early evening or at night. For this reason, lighting its enclosure is not only unnecessary, but it may cause the animal stress.

5. Time of Feeding
Baby corns feed most readily in the evening.

6. Type of Food
Find out what the pet store or breeder was feeding the snake.

7. Handling and Other Disturbances
While few snakes are as tame as corns, their docile nature does not mean that they should be handled – at least not until they have adjusted to their new home.

8. Temperature
It is important to have a “hot spot” in the enclosure where the temperature reaches the mid-80’s.

9. Shed Cycle
Most snakes will not eat while going through a shed cycle. Sometimes it’s hard to tell when a snake is in a shed cycle – especially if it is at the beginning or end of the cycle.

10. Single Lifestyle
Corn snakes do best when housed separately.

Third Eye

*Moving a f/t pinkie around with feeding tongs to make it look like its alive.

*Braining

*shed skin from house geckos or anoles. or freeze one and rub it on a pinkie.

*wash a pinkie with ivory soap.