Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently found a charcoal corn in the break room of my office building. He's about 10 inches long, so I'm guessing that he's a few months old? Anyway, I was going to buy a charcoal corn at the reptile show in Raleigh next month, so I kept the little guy.

I have the vivarium set up with all of the recommended stuff, and Hercules has settled in nicely. He is active and alert in his new home, and he is very calm when handled. The problem, however, is that he won’t eat. I’ve offered him live and thawed pinkies a few times, and although he strikes at the pinkie and gets the body in his mouth up to the front shoulders, he spits the pinkie out. I have also tried leaving a live pinky with him in his feeding containing for a day, but he won’t touch it.

I’m guessing that he ate just before I caught him, because he’s grown an inch since then. Still though, should I worry that he isn’t eating? It’s been almost three weeks since he was caught.

Michael

PS. I know that environmental factors, stress, etc can cause a snake to not eat, so I should say that I still don't handle him very often, and I have followed recommendations to the tee about temperature, humidity, lighting, etc.

After reading some information about this subject, I figured out a few mistakes that I have been making. Specifically, I've been handling the pinkies, rather than using tweezers, and I've tried too many times to get him to eat.

Notwithstanding these answers that I found, I'd still appreciate some feedback.

...Nothing new or earth-shattering...But it has worked for me.
Cut the head off a pinky and put the head and decapitated body in a deli cup or other container. Use your tweezers to squeeze the head just enough so that some of the brain goo leaks out the back. Put the snake in with head and body and leave them to a few moments of peace and quiet (yes, you can watch if you want!).
I have had problem eaters that just could not resist this, and very few so far that could. Good luck. Duffy