Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently got a trouble feeder snow corn that has a few slight kinks in its back. It doesnt seem to have any troubles moving or anything, but is it still something I should be concerned about? Also, are the kinks genetic if i decide to breed him later on or are they the result of something in the enviroment when he was developing? Thank you for your help!
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0.1.0 Columbian boa-1.0.0 albino burmese python-1.0.0 pine/bull snake hybrid-0.1.0 ball python-3.0.0 cornsnake-0.0.1 cali kingsnake-0.0.1 rainwater albino leopard gecko-1.0.0 tokay gecko-1.0.0 bahama anole-0.0.1 red eared slider-

If you're keeping him as a pet, and solely as a pet, then you needn't worry about the kinks. You will likely have to forcefeed for a while, since kinklings that don't eat voluntarily won't start feeding on their own without multiple rounds of forcefeeding, regardless of what tricks you try. (A friend of mine keeps kinked snakes for reptile demonstrations, which is where the kinked-feeding info is coming from.) The kink itself is a set of fused spinal vertebrae.

If you're not intending for him to be a pet, just a breeder, you're better off freezing him or feeding him to a kingsnake. Do NOT use him as a breeder. Period. Breeding defective snakes is very poor practice.

-Kat
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"You keep WHAT in your freezer?"
"Mice. And rats. If that bothers you, I can call them 'cows' instead."

I really wasnt planning on breeding him, I was just curious as to whether it would affect him or any hatchlings, and even if i was keeping him just as a breeder unless his quality of life was low id still keep him and do all that I could to keep him alive, just because hes banged up a little doesnt mean hes worthless. Thank you for your help
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0.1.0 Columbian boa-1.0.0 albino burmese python-1.0.0 pine/bull snake hybrid-0.1.0 ball python-3.0.0 cornsnake-0.0.1 cali kingsnake-0.0.1 rainwater albino leopard gecko-1.0.0 tokay gecko-1.0.0 bahama anole-0.0.1 red eared slider-

I'm sure that once you get him feeding on his own, he'll be a great pet for you.

-Kat
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"You keep WHAT in your freezer?"
"Mice. And rats. If that bothers you, I can call them 'cows' instead."

The following bothered me a little, and I want to clarify something just a bit:

"...and even if i was keeping him just as a breeder unless his quality of life was low id still keep him and do all that I could to keep him alive, just because hes banged up a little doesnt mean hes worthless."

You're right, of course, when you say that the animal is not "worthless" just because he has the defect of kinks along his spine. However, as a breeding animal, he is worthless, if it is the goal to make certain that no possibly genetic defects be propagated in the greater corn snake gene pool.

With the priviledge of breeding animals also comes the responsibility that we do no harm to the species with which we are working. That entails (among other considerations) that no animals with genetic faults are used in breeding programs so that, as nearly as is possible, genetic deformities are isolated and not passed on to future geneerations of cornsnakes and their owners.

That is why Kat suggested that the animal be euthanized, if it is not just going to be a pet. It is not merely a question of what is best for a specific animal in some cases. Sometimes, the responsible breeder has to question what is best for the species as a whole and make the tough decisions.

I hope that this is taken in the spirit in which it was written. I mean no offence by it at all.
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Darin Chappell
Hillbilly Herps
PO Box 254
Rogersville, MO 65742

You phrased it better than I could have, Darin. Well said.

-Kat
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"You keep WHAT in your freezer?"
"Mice. And rats. If that bothers you, I can call them 'cows' instead."

I agree with what your saying, I ment that if i got him to breed him before I knew of the kinks that I'd keep him as a pet instead. I appreciate all your help. So far I've only gotten im to eat a few pinky legs (the pinkies that I had were too big) by putting them in his mouth and letting him swallow. I still had to massage them down though. Any idea on how long it may be untill he eats on his own?
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0.1.0 Columbian boa-1.0.0 albino burmese python-1.0.0 pine/bull snake hybrid-0.1.0 ball python-3.0.0 cornsnake-0.0.1 cali kingsnake-0.0.1 rainwater albino leopard gecko-1.0.0 tokay gecko-1.0.0 bahama anole-0.0.1 red eared slider-

Not a clue on how long till he's feeding. May I recommend mouse-tails rather than pinkylegs? They're far more nutritious and fairly easy to get down. (Insert the tail-base into his mouth first.)

-Kat
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"You keep WHAT in your freezer?"
"Mice. And rats. If that bothers you, I can call them 'cows' instead."