Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I need some advice, I have this hatchling corn snake that won't eat. I have tried live pinks, f/t brained pinks,live bled pinks, tease feeding... ect.. I have tried just about everything but assist feeding and I am not sure how to do that. He is so thin, he's just a normal corn and was given to me by a breeder who told me he was a non-feeder but I don't want to give up on him. Anyone have any ideas, or advice on how to assist feed?

Have you tried not handling him for four days and then leaving a f/t pink in its cage just before bedtime? I had a few hatchlings that refused ALL the usual tricks, even fresh anole. After two months of trying to feed the hatchlings, I ended up with some extra room in my rack. I separated them all into thier own bins, gave them a few days to settle in and threw in a pink right before I went to bed. The ALL ate a plain ol' f/t pink. Sometimes just the act of putting them in a feeding container, or even just taking them out of thier hide to "show" them the food item in thier cage will stress them into not eating. So try the "no handling for four days and drop the pink in and disappear" trick with no peeking. It is best to do it right before bedtime so they don't feel anyone walking around. Worked for me! Good Luck!

I tried just while ago taking a f/t brained pink and rubbing some of the brain fluid on his nose (ewwww yuck!) He stopped moving and flicked his tounge in and out and looked *very* interested, but then ignored the pink. I put him back in his rubbermaid with the pink and I am going to wait and see. If that doesn't work I'll wait the 4 days drop in a pink and do the "no peek" thing. This little guy is just not aggressive at all, he has never tried to strike. Could that be the problem, could a snake possibly be too laid back to be a good feeder?

I wouldn't say too laid back, it sounds like he is very shy and a good canidate for this particular trick. Sometimes the more shy ones need to feel very isolated and safe before they will consider eating. I hope he eats for you!

i don't particularly like corns becasue they dirty a lot and are small however i know a breeder who has 2 hatchling that won't eat. i have some past experince with wild snakes that were very difficult to feed ( now releasd them because i felt they should be free).

anyways i like a challenge and i might get them free. what is the likely hood that they will never eat and would they remain problem feeders throughtout or will become normal later on?

they are about 1.5 months old now and obviously very small. thanks

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tricia