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I'm sorry if this is a stupid question but I've encountered something with my corn that I have never encountered before. My female corn hasn't eaten for about a month (and trust me in the 2 years I've had her this is the first time she has missed meals). So I went to the reptile store I get my rats from and asked if they had any ideas as to why she hasn't been eating. They suggested she may be constipated and sure enough she hasn't had a bm since I cleaned her tank last. My stupid question is, is there a laxative or anything I can give my baby girl to help her out? Any advice would be great.

Thanks,
Acacia

Sometimes just soaking in warm water works great-by warm I mean 80 to 90*F Please don't cook your animal...

Yes, and keep the water depth much less than the snake body height. A depth of 1/2 inch for example for an adult corn is plenty. Could even go with less than that. Depth just needs to cover the vent completely. Very good for snakes. Watch how nice the skin feels after about 5 minutes of that. The snake may sh@t like a buffalo afterwards too.

I agree too that it may likely be a male, but the soak is still good to do once in awhile just to hydrate in general, especially if kept in screen top cages.

Its also matting season. I have couple males not eating right now. Some females won't eat at this time of year either.

Another thing mine do is after I handle them they tend to "go". Exercise an gentle massage may help. Just my 2 cents.

Forget about the ridiculous "constipation" thing the store employee told you about. I am betting your female is a male, and it is only interested in searching out a female. This is VERY typical this time of year for males to totally refuse meals for weeks on end until the breding season subsides.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

"some are just born to troll and roll"

Put on your best clothes and invite someone over to see them. That's when mine use to evacuate on me lol.

I agree with all the posts. A soak can't really hurt if not to long. Exercise or more movement helps. And it is that season and it may be a male, or even a female just more interested in breeding.

I'm surprised there is not more of this issue with the sedentary nature of captive snakes.

Good luck
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Thanks for reading.
Tom

www.HerpZillA.com
HerpChat

Thanks for all your advice. I handle her pretty frequently but a little more couldn't hurt and I will definitely tried soaking her. I don't know why that didn't occur to me sooner considering that helps my tortoise. Just fyi, she has been vet probed to be a female.

Thanks again,
Acacia

male might be intrested in breeding...and if female...might lay eggs for you....you'll see...she'll stop eating and blow up on the underside while the top of her gets real thin and boney....
YES they lay eggs without a male...it's sad when trying to get females up to huge sizes and they just lay eggs and stop growing for you...

good luck....check temps....

...
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........JY

My "little" girl was constipated. She had a bm last week and is eating a 1st as I type this. Such a relief! I hate when my snakes don't eat.

~ Acacia

*rat