Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have had my corn for a couple of months. She is quite active and very docile. I never had a problem feeding her until this past sunday. The thing is that I bought another corn about 2 weeks ago. I ended up puting my first corn in a bigger tank since she is getting bigger but now she won't eat. I tried Sunday and nothing, I even had my husband crack the fuzzy head and nothing. We tried a new on last night and nothing. Any ideas on what I should do? I don't think she is sick. She poops great, drinks her water, and is active. Could she just be not hungry? It has been 9 days now since she has eaten.
Sorry so long, but I so appreciate any response or ideas.
Thank You

Like most snakes, corn snakes crave security. It is quite likely that your snake is not eating because it feels insecure, due to the fact that its new cage is too large.

Tim

Third Eye

>>I have had my corn for a couple of months. She is quite active and very docile. I never had a problem feeding her until this past sunday. The thing is that I bought another corn about 2 weeks ago. I ended up puting my first corn in a bigger tank since she is getting bigger but now she won't eat. I tried Sunday and nothing, I even had my husband crack the fuzzy head and nothing. We tried a new on last night and nothing. Any ideas on what I should do? I don't think she is sick. She poops great, drinks her water, and is active. Could she just be not hungry? It has been 9 days now since she has eaten.
>>Sorry so long, but I so appreciate any response or ideas.
>>Thank You

I would be sure that the new enclosure has several good hides and correct temps. Then I would leave her alone for a couple of weeks to settle in. Don't fuss with her or offer food. Then offer her what she took prior to the cage change.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

Is your corn closer to a window? Perhaps more clearly able to see the passing of the sunlight throughout the day?

Both temperature variations due to a window being too close, and the increased exposure to the natural photoperiod can often cause a corn to start trying to brumate, even though the vivarium temps have not been dropped at all. In preparation for that self-imposed brumation, the corn will stop eating, so as to clear the gut before the shut down takes place.

Something to consider, anyway...
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Darin Chappell
Hillbilly Herps
PO Box 254
Rogersville, MO 65742

Security really doesn't have much to do with cage size. As long as you have enough hides and not a lot of open expanses, the enclosure should be fine. Let your snake have some time to settle in.

I disagree. I've moved snakes into cages that were too big, and they stopped eating. As stated on the New England Herpetological Society webpage: "Cage size should be proportional to the size of the animal; at least three-fourths the length of the snake, but not so large that the snake is lost in it."

Tim

Third Eye

I've my little kingsnake (4.5ft) in a 3'x4' cage with plenty of hide spots and she eats quite well. Then again, she's a king and is avid about her mice... And fingers... And anything else that might be construed as food...
For the original question, temps same as the smaller cages and plenty of hidespots are essential.
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0.1 chickens (Condor)
0.2 dog mutts (half ownership, only mine when they misbehave, Lucy & Amy)
0.1 Halflinger horse (Crissy)
0.1 Normal phase California Kingsnake (Sophia)
1.1 parents
Still searching for 1.0 WC human