Reptile & Amphibian Forums

His enclosure is 80 degrees and he is under his bedding and hasn't come out since I put the pinkie in there. I also tried holding him and the pinkie, but he just crawled onto my hand holding the pinkie and went right past it.

So...should I really attempt to decapitate the pinkie and try it that way? Or is his behavior of staying under the bedding indicative of something else?

Thanks again for your help and advice!
-----
~redmom~
My Email
Herps:
1.0 Normal corn snake "Ed"

Others:
1.0 Blue Betta fish "'Beta' test"
0.1 White/Lemon/beige splotched and spotted hound mix "Angel"

Human pets:
2.0 Children "Matthew" 7 yrs, "Duncan" > 1 yr
1.0 Hubby "Roger"

"Life will find a way." Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) Jurrasic Park

Have you tried putting him and the pinkie in a seperate, small container, like a deli cup? In a seperate feeding container he'll be in close proximity to the pinkie and nothing else. Leave him in there and alone for a half hour. This works very well for my snakes, my corn hatchlings will not take a pinkie from my hand.
-----
-audri
Webpage/Pics

Oh Im sorry to hear that, I hope he starts eating soon. How long have you had him now? Ive heard various things about feeding some say to gently bump the pink on the snakes body just an inch past its head and some say no dont do that. I do it once with mine, thats all it takes and she grabs it right away. I dont really know much of anything but keep us posted and Ill cross my fingers for you and Ed.

What you do is to put the pinky and snake into a small brown paper bag, such as a lunch sack, fold down the top while making sure not to catch any part of the snake in the rolling, tape it closed to secure it, then put the whole bag into the snake's tank. Then leave him alone overnight. In the morning, check the bag. Hopefully the pinky will be gone.

What other tricks have you tried so far? Have you gone with the anole scent yet? If not, try the bag trick. If so, and it hasn't worked, try the bag trick.

Hope it works for you.
-----
sue

Thanks everyone. Pinatamonkey, I always use the deli container he came in. I did try his enclosure once, just to see if that was it. Also, my brother, who has had numerous snakes, recommended that I do it at night (which I did the first time, when he ate w/no problems). If I still can't get him to eat tonight, then I will try the decapitating and/or anole scenting (options I'm still squimish about but I will do anything for my little Ed!).

I am a bit afraid that there will be a set back, my seven year old was playing too close to the enclosure and knocked it over. I don't know if Ed will be okay enough to feel comfortable eating but that was earlier in the day, so maybe he'll be okay tonight. I dunno. I will also try the paper bag.

Thanks for all of the help! I will keep y'all posted!
-----
~redmom~
My Email
Herps:
1.0 Normal corn snake "Ed"

Others:
1.0 Blue Betta fish "'Beta' test"
0.1 White/Lemon/beige splotched and spotted hound mix "Angel"

Human pets:
2.0 Children "Matthew" 7 yrs, "Duncan" > 1 yr
1.0 Hubby "Roger"

"Life will find a way." Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) Jurrasic Park

FYI, it's easier if you provide some sort of info if it's something you've discussed previously (not picking, but it'll make it easier to give useful answers)

So...If it's only been just over a week since he ate last, I wouldn't worry about beheading and anole scenting just yet. It could be he is starting to go into a shed cycle and it just hasn't shown yet (I've had it happen a lot when the snake refuses to eat, and a day or two later you see it getting cloudy) A hatchling can go 2 weeks -easy- without eating, so you don't have to get worried just yet. Also, I'd leave lizard-related methods alone for a while, since the snake has been eating unscented pinkies.

How long have you left him alone when you're feeding him? I have a couple hatchlings that don't like to eat until I've been out of the room for a while.

Braining (poking a hole in the pinkie head and letting some brain guts come out) is less messy than total beheading, try it, too.
-----
-audri
Webpage/Pics

Uh! "Braining". Okay. (sighs deeply)

I leave him alone to eat, I don't stare at him or anything. I figure, I don't like for people to watch me eat, why would he be different (although my dog prefers the company...lol). I have been watching for the eyes to cloud over, hoping that's it. I know he hasn't shed since I got him and I can't remember if the breeder said he had or not.

Below is a pic that I have posted before but gives you a good idea of his size and how well he does look. This picture was taken about two and half days after he ate the first time.

Anyhow, thanks again!

-----
~redmom~
My Email
Herps:
1.0 Normal corn snake "Ed"

Others:
1.0 Blue Betta fish "'Beta' test"
0.1 White/Lemon/beige splotched and spotted hound mix "Angel"

Human pets:
2.0 Children "Matthew" 7 yrs, "Duncan" > 1 yr
1.0 Hubby "Roger"

"Life will find a way." Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) Jurrasic Park

put the pink and Ed in. Close the lid, put the cup in the cage and leave them alone all night. In the AM the pink should be gone.
If you want to try a head, do it when it is frozen, it is alot less messy. You can also "brain" the pink, so a little more smells get "in the air". From what I understand, pinks don't have a very strong scent to them, and this might help him become interested.
I had a couple that weren't eating and the deli cup thing worked great. I had to try it twice, and now they eat like champs. I don't even have to leave them overnight, just a couple minutes.
Good Luck, I will keep my fingers crossed for you and your little guy.
-----
SpardaWolf
Corn Snake Addict
"Always Learning"

Thanks again! I really appreciate all the help and advice! He is currently in the cup w/another pinkie...hopefully that'll do it, or he's shedding.

I will let y'all now how it goes!
-----
~redmom~
My Email
Herps:
1.0 Normal corn snake "Ed"

Others:
1.0 Blue Betta fish "'Beta' test"
0.1 White/Lemon/beige splotched and spotted hound mix "Angel"

Human pets:
2.0 Children "Matthew" 7 yrs, "Duncan" > 1 yr
1.0 Hubby "Roger"

"Life will find a way." Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) Jurrasic Park

A snake can stress out if you are constantly trying to feed him. I wouldn't try more than two times a week at the most, and might not even do that often. Also, you may want to eliminate any holding or otherwise interacting with him until he has a better eating pattern. Just my opinion.
-----
sue

Well, he never ate last night. I will give him a few more days, no handling, and watch him. The moment he starts to act like he is hunting, I'll plop another pinkie in there! Perhaps even go ahead and "brain" it....

Thanks again!
-----
~redmom~
My Email
Herps:
1.0 Normal corn snake "Ed"

Others:
1.0 Blue Betta fish "'Beta' test"
0.1 White/Lemon/beige splotched and spotted hound mix "Angel"

Human pets:
2.0 Children "Matthew" 7 yrs, "Duncan" > 1 yr
1.0 Hubby "Roger"

"Life will find a way." Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) Jurrasic Park