Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi! I purchased a 6-week old corn snake last weekend (9/7) at the reptile show in NY. Since this is my first snake, I wanted to make sure the snake was fairly well established. The guy I purchased it from told me it had already eaten twice (frozen/thawed pinky). So, yesterday (9/14) -- giving the snake a week to get settled in, I decide to try and feed her. I offered a frozen/thawed pinky, I put her in a separate tank, and using forceps, I wiggled the pinky in front of her. She did not go after it. I left the pinky in the tank for a while, then removed it. Just an FYI, the temperature on the warm side of the tank is about 80 degrees (80.3)

1) How long can I leave an uneaten pinky in her tank?
2) Is trying again next Sunday a good time to try and feed her, or should I do it sooner?
3) Should I switch to live pinkies?

Thanks for you help,
Dave

i would think next sunday is fine. If it truly had a couple meals before you got it, one more week without won't do any damage. Maybe it was the tongs and wiggling that turned it off to the pink? I don't bother with making the mouse move or anything when I feed my babies, I just drop the mouse in and they usually go for it within 15-20 minutes. Some go right away, others wait till they think I'm gone I also feed my hatchlings in their regular cage. I have them on newspaper or paper towels so there's no worry about substrate ingestion, and when they're this small, they don't seem to care much for handling anyway, so I find it best to let them eat "at home"

But that's just me
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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents

Hey Dave,
Get a small deli dish or similar type container. Place the F/T pinkie and snake in the container and put them in a dark, warm spot (this could be in the tank itself) and leave them alone for a little while. This should work, especially if the snake has eaten before.
You can actually leave them like this overnight.
I would give the little guys a few days before trying again. Maybe any time after Wednesday.
good luck and if this doesn't work there are plenty of tricks to try.
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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)

My Anery is an insane eater. It hardly gives me a chance to put the mouse down.

My snow on the other hand...ate the first night I had her. Didn't regurgitate...
i've tried 2 times since to feed her, she doesn't take it.

I have to try other methods i suppose.