Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This will be my first year breeding cornsnakes. I am wondering if it will be possible to get the hatchlings to take thawed pinks from the beginning? I'm not really wanting to breed mice if I don't have to.

What are your experiences with this? I know it may be difficult, but do you think at least some of them will take thawed pinks?

Thanks!
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Amy Claiborne

Don't let them take your wasted time. J.T.

some take live some take thawed. Braining usually helps. but also there a some individuals in a clutch that are destined to die even after they have hatched. Not always the case but its something you should expect.

Ok, thanks. Don't know if I can stand losing any, but guess that's to be expected.
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Amy Claiborne

Don't let them take your wasted time. J.T.

I would suggest trying frozen thawed. I have probably a 90% or so success rate getting all my corn hatchlings to take thawed pinks immediately after their first shed. The remainder may need a few more days, require live pinks or maybe lizards, and some just dont feed at all EVER. Frozen pinks are much less effort than producing live, and are inexpensive if bought in bulk. You can always run to your local pet shop to get a few live pinks if need be, or maybe breed a pair or two of mice just in case.

Thanks, Kevin. I feel better hearing from you all that thawed will probably work. I've had excellent luck with my bull and pine babies with f/t. They never ate live. The little ball pythons have to have live the first few meals, but live mice are easy to get from the pet shop. It has been 4 years since I've had baby boas, and then I was raising my own rats so I had live pinks.
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Amy Claiborne

Don't let them take your wasted time. J.T.

I've produced a few hundred corns in my life and have never offered a live pink. Over 80% of mine take a FT pink the first time offered a week after their first shed, and 90-95% will start on FT within 2 weeks of shedding.

The other 5-10% usually take a brained or lizard scented FT pink. 4 weeks after their first shed any non-eaters will get assist fed, 2 weeks later they get offered. This is a last resort and if they don't eat then they are usually not going to make it.

Thanks, great info. I have had to feed a couple of babies brained pinks to get them started. I've had luck aggravating them with it 'til they struck enough times to get it in their mouths. Once it is in their mouth, they've eaten.

When you assist feed, do you force a pink down by hand, or do you use a pinky pump?
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Amy Claiborne

Don't let them take your wasted time. J.T.