Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I purchased a baby albino cornsnake from a well-maintained petstore on Monday. He was hatched on Aug 6th, and the petstore owners said that out of the clutch, he was a very finicky, picky eater. He didn't eat half as much as the others, but still ate. Despite this, they said he was very active and healthy. He swam and climbed and was always moving.

Now that I have brought him home into his new 20 gallon aquarium, he hasn't eaten. I know that snakes need an adjusting period to become used to their new surroundings, so I'm trying not to worry. However, it has still been nearly 15 days since he has eaten his last mouse (at the petstore...he's only been at my house for 3 days).

He has curled up into his fake jungle plant and hasn't come out since yesterday afternoon. It is now 10:30 a.m. Snakes are most active at night, but he doesn't seem to have even moved out of position! I took him out and laid him by the water dish. He immediately started gulping down water. Does this mean perhaps he doesn't know where to find the water? Or is he not drinking?

Any tips?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

A 20 gallon is a bit big for a hatchling, but it should be OK. I would get another water bowl so you will have one at each end of the cage. As a personal rule, I never attempt to feed a new arrival for the first four days. If this corn is otherwise healthy, another few days won't hurt it at all. I had some hatchlings that got along just fine even though it took me over 8 weeks to get them to eat thier very first meal. This is 8 weeks of never having a meal in thier life. So your little guy should be OK unless it is just an unhealthy specimen. The best thing for you to do right now is to put in another water bowl, leave the hatchling alone for 4 days (no handling, no feeding) and then on the fourth day drop a f/t pink in his cage before bedtime and don't peek on him. A lot of the time a new owner can "worry" a corn to death.

n/p

Thanks for the reply! I'll try that.

Do agree 20 gal. is large for a baby.Make sure the waterbowl is in the corner of the cage it will be easier for the snake to find it due to the tendancy to search the corners for a way out.If it dosn't eat after a week or so try rolling the pinky in raw chicken skin.This has worked for me over everything else. Good luck!

You can also try braining the pinkie. (sticking a pin into the pinkies head to allow some blood/brain matter to come out). My Corn wouldnt eat until I offered him a brained one.