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I recently received my first cornsnake from Don of South Mountain, an amel bloodred, and I can already tell, she is going to be beautiful! I'd say she is just about reaching twelve inches. I just have a couple of questions that have sprung up in my mind since she's been with me for the past few days.

1) She seems very skittish, understandably too, not only because she is still young, but because she had a big journey from Texas to California. I've given her time to get adjusted and settle down, but the very sight of me makes her shoot off into the substrate. When my giant hand swoops in, of course, she gets freaked, but eventually when I can get her out and give her a few minutes, she settles down a little bit. My question, are there extreme varying degrees of a cornsnake's skittishness? I'm trying to do about 10-15 minutes a day of some light handling. Anyone have any suggestions?

2) I tried to feed her a thawed pinkie for the first time today and leave her alone. I put her in one of those critter keepers with the pinkie and let them be. From a distance, I saw her sizing it up and latching onto it with her teeth, and then she sort-of lifted it up and I guess tried to eat it. But, when I came back about 10 minutes later, the pinkie was still there. Is it normal for them to try and let go? Also, I tried grabbing a pair of tongs and dangling it close to her, and she did lunge at it, but, I am not sure why, my hand jerked back, dropping the pinkie, and thus, forcing her to let go of it. After this, she didn't want anything to do with the pinkie or me, so, I figured I would try tomorrow.

That's pretty much it. She spends most of her time hiding away in her little coconut shell and surfing the bottom of the substrate. I am going to try and get some pictures posted of her when I get a chance. Thanks for any and all help!

Here's my advice:

1) Don't handle the snake (except for maintenance purposes) until it is on a regular feeding scedule. A regular feeding schedule means it has eaten 10-12 times on a consistant basis.

2) Feed the snake in the evening and do not attempt to watch it. As evidenced by its skittishness, the snake is scared. When feeding, a snake is especially vulnerable and it will not eat if it is feeling insecure.

3) Feed the snake in a deli cup or other small container. Put the snake in the container with the food item and leave it in there overnight, undisturbed.

4) You did not mention what size enclosure you are keeping the snake in, but baby snakes do best in relatively small enclores. I know a number of people who've set up baby snakes in 10 gallon tanks and the snakes refused to eat. When moved to something smaller, like a Kritter Cage, the snakes began eating.

Tim

Third Eye

I agree with the above - absolutely no handling until eating properly.

Smaller feeding conainers are often best...i use the deli cup they were delivered in. I place this in the tank on the warm side, cover the tank up and leave it for a few hours, or even over night.

Don produces great snakes and they are renound for being great eaters! i wouldnt worry too much.
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1.1 Bearded Dragons
2.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Uromastyx (Mali)
1.1 Corn snakes
0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake
1.0 Rosy Boa
1.1 Green Anoles
1.1 House Geckos
0.0.2 Flying Geckos
0.0.1 Red Eye Tree Frog

Thanks both of you for the great advice! She is being housed in a 20 gallon tank, but the Kritter Cage she is being fed in is probably about 13x7x5inches. I will refrain from holding her unless I am moving her to her feeding area. I am going to try again tonight and then move the Kritter Cage to a dark place. What got me worried was that she latched on and was attempting to try and eat the pinkie, but for some reason just stopped. Well, tonight is attempt 2, so hopefully she fills her tummy up tonight.

Thanks again for the help. She's my first snake that I'm keeping, I have a Bearded Dragon, Tarantula, Red-Eared Slider, and I'm trying to get enough experience with snakes to work up to something larger like a Rainbow Boa.

Scratch that, I am actually going to try and feed her in the deli cup she was shipped to me in and leave her in the tank in the dark. That does seem like the best way. She's just a tad shy, but she is a beauty.

Personally I don't think it is good to move them into a feeding container. It basically means moving from a nice secure and familiar environment into a strange environment out in the open.

For baby corns I used 5"x5" sandwich sized ziplock containers (or equivalent) I use a bottle cap for a water dish and a folded piece of paper towel set loosely in. Drill a few holes in the sides and feed and keep the hatchlings in there till they are well established. I then move them into a container about twice as big. (about 12" long and 6" wide and 4-5" high) I use a small ceramic water dish for water. Again paper towel for substrate. Never had any troubles feeding in these small sizes. Once the corn is about 18" long I will move into a sweater box size container or something like a 30-35 gal long tank.
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PHLdyPayne

Well, so far I have tried the deli cup, and she didn't eat the pinkie, but I have a feeling I just didn't give it enough time. I put her in the deli cup and then put her over on the warm side of the tank at around 7pm, but before I went to sleep at around 12am, I removed her from the deli cup and let her go about in her tank.

I was worried about leaving her overnight on the warm side of the tank with the pinkie. Would this harm her in someway; being on the warm side with no means of escape? If not, I am going to try this method again and see how it works. I just got spooked reading about how important it is for them to have a gradient.

Anyways, thanks to everyone thus far for the help. I am 100% sure she is a great feeder, coming from a great breeder, but she is just terribly spooked. She still bolts in any direction even when I just barely set foot into the same room she is in. So, if all else fails, I will permanently move her to a smaller enclosure (still in a 20 gallon) for the time being. She has lots of places to hide, and uses them quite often. She sleeps in all day and parties all night. The only thing that still confuses me is why, after her first feeding attempt in a Kritter Cage, did she latch onto a pinkie and move it around only to let it go. Could there be some external factors making its way into the feeding process?

I would definately try a smaller tank - a 20gallon is huge for a baby corn, a 10gallon or even a 5gallon would be more secure. I would try the new tank, leave her for a few days to relax and then offer food again.

If you are using a substrate such as paper towels that has no impaction risk you can try feeding in the tank.

I wouldnt worry too much though, every snake moves at its own pace - Dons snakes are great, reliable feeders, im sure she will eat!
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1.1 Bearded Dragons
2.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Uromastyx (Mali)
1.1 Corn snakes
0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake
1.0 Rosy Boa
1.1 Green Anoles
1.1 House Geckos
0.0.2 Flying Geckos
0.0.1 Red Eye Tree Frog

If you haven't had the snake very long, you should give it some time to get adjusted to its new surroundings. After its calmed down some, feeding shouldn't be a problem. Also, don't attempt to feed it every night if it refuses a meal. Wait a few nights between atempts. This will help relieve the stress factor that this snake is experiencing.