Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently picked up a corn from someone who said they were unable to care for it anymore. Its 5ft long and seems to have "ridges" on it back. Sometimes they show up on the sides and its spine seems "indented", I'm not really sure how to explain it. Are the "ridges" just fat rolls?

Here are some pictures, they're not the greatest, I can take more if need be.

I'm not 100% sure what your refering to, since the snake is white it may not show up very well. I do see it looks well fed so you may be seeing some excess fat. Snakes can eat quite a bit as they are growing and turn it into growth, However once a snake reaches their optimum length the food becomes stored as fat and feeding should be reduced somewhat. Especially if the snake is not being bred.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

The person I got it from said that the snake is at least 9 years old, so I don't think its growing anymore. I geuss its just fat then.
If thats the case, how do I safely put it on a diet? Or should I just not feed it for some length of time?

Well, just like humans it's harder to get the weight off, than put it on. I suggest a moderate diet to continue a healthy intake without adding to the situation. Try to find out how much the former owner was feeding it and reduce that. It's hard to give you a formula for feeding but one full grown mouse a week should be good for maintaining a healthy schedule, skipping whenever it is in shed of course.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

It's a combination of fat and muscle. The "ridges" on the side especially are muscle. All of my adult snakes have those, even my long skinny bloodred.

>>It's a combination of fat and muscle. The "ridges" on the side especially are muscle. All of my adult snakes have those, even my long skinny bloodred.

Yeah there is some good muscle there too, lol. It's hard to see what he's refering to in those pics. To me the animal doesn't look obeese, but I figured he's seeing something maybe I' am missing? I think the ridges are more noticable in unicolor animals. The more classic animals pattern break up the look a bit. Now if you see rolls kinda like wrinkles when the snake bends from side to side then that is definately fat.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

The snake looks well cared for and solid. He looks just like my snow which is also 5ft and 1000 grams. One adult mouse per week should keep this guy looking healthy.

Physically from the picture, there doesn't look like there is anything wrong with that animal.. Lean and trim.. OA once a week feeding may be to much, on my adults with 90% of them looking like this, I go 14 or 15 day feeding regime.. It works very fine by me, regardless of what other opinions may be..