I don't think it's normal. But some corns are pickier than others. Blood reds are reputedly pickier than most. I've also heard speculation that toomuch heat or too much humidity in the incubator can affect eating habits.
To contrast I have one large clutch (33 eggs, 31 of which hatched). We didn't even try feeding them until they shed (5 or so days). Basically we put each one in a cottage cheese container (with holes poked for air, and a damp piece of paper toweling) and put in a F/T mouse. After some time (maybe 30 min.), I took out non-eaters, held them and teased them with the mouse (held with chop sticks, to keep my smell off) until they struck. Then I froze and hoped. With luck they swallowed the mouse. Even if they hadn't eaten, putting them back with the now tasted mouse seemed to help. Of the 31 snakes, 2 required overnight stays with mice, and one (there is always at least one) required forcefeeding (first time just a head, second time a whole mouse, but last night he ate by himself, no problem). So now (and we're at the 3 mice stage) we have 31 snakes that will eat on their own w/i 30 minutes of being put into a feeding container.
Are you feeding in the early evening? (Time of day does seem to matter).
Corinne
dragonfly@w-link.net
