Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, So I just bought a corn snake a couple days ago at my local pet store and they said that in all the 15+ years that they have been selling snakes this is the first time that they have had this certain color in. And I was wandering if anyone new the morph that I have. I know that sometimes different morphs have a little bit different needs and I want to make sure that I meet all the needs that my new snake requires. I've been reading a book called Corn Snakes The Comprehensive Owner's Guide by Kathy and Bill Love also I have been reading another book called Corn & Rat Snakes by Philip Purser. Ever since I started to think about purchasing a snake I have been reading and asking advise and learning everything I could. In the Kathy and Bill Love book it says some morphs grow bigger and some needs a little more humidity then others and so on. Also, I read that babies can eat every 3-6 days. My snake is about 16 inches give or take a inch or two and is it still considered a baby? How often should this length be fed? I dont want to underfed or overfed it and the petstore said that it ate a small furry 3 days ago on the day I purchased and so now we are on the 5th day and I will be feeding it in two days for sure but again I dont want it to be underfed if it should be eating more often.

Looks like a Carmel Corn to me.

Tim

>>Looks like a Carmel Corn to me.
>>
>>Tim

I'm with Tim, looks caramel to me as well.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes...No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
Draybars Snakes

There is no exact formula to use when feeding your snake. You should see a noticeable lump when he eats. Some people feed them every 5 days some every 7. Over seas they tend to think our snakes here in the US are overfed, but I like to see plump healthy snakes without getting them obese! While the snake is growing they will just add size, but once they are adult size, they can be over fed, and get fat deposits, especially if they aren't being bred. I think a fair statement would be to feed at least one, perhaps two rodents of proper size each week. I try to make a substantial bulge in the snake at each meal, but not stuff them.
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Disclaimer: I do keep several snakes in pairs, and some in groups. However I realize that things can go wrong, and I have to keep a close eye on those groups, to be sure they are not being adversely affected by these living conditions. Also if one happens to eat it's cagemate, it is 100% my fault, and I know the risks in advance!

What's wrong with using CAUTION?!?!?!
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
~ Jorge Sierra www.SierraSnakes.com

Yes, that is a nice caramel corn morph. As the other poster mentioned, it could use some more meat on it's bones, and while young and growing (which that one definitely is), I would feed it an appropriately sized rodent or two that makes a noticeable bulge in it's mid-section similar to what is in the photo there about every 4 to 5 days and it will do great. I can tell the store wasn't feeding it as much as it should have been, and that can be very typical of stores. At that size and age, they will use the calories for growing, then as it fully matures you can tweek the diet as needed for maintaining an optimal body weight.

As mentioned, a female prior to breeding would need to be fed well to ovulate and produce eggs. Males don't need the extra calories when breeding season comes, but when they come out of brumation they should be fed well because they have gone a long time without food and they often stop eating altogether when spring comes because they are only interested in searching for a mate.

Good luck with it, I like the caramel gene too!

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

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

So, I tried to fed my snake for a couple of days now and she wont eat I've tried putting it in the feeding box with just the food for a few hours with no luck and I tried leaving the food in her enclosure over night with again no luck then I tried to box thing and then I also tried to tease feed her and she didn't do that either. So do you have any tips?

Make sure the temps are correct, and that it isn't going into shed first off. If you just got her, you may need to give her time to settle into her new home also. Try feeding her at night. Leave her and the food(not live), in a container, or paper bag, in her enclosure. I would also ask the store a lot of questions, like has she ever fed for them, how long ago, and what exactly did she eat? Also how did they feed her?
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Disclaimer: I do keep several snakes in pairs, and some in groups. However I realize that things can go wrong, and I have to keep a close eye on those groups, to be sure they are not being adversely affected by these living conditions. Also if one happens to eat it's cagemate, it is 100% my fault, and I know the risks in advance!

What's wrong with using CAUTION?!?!?!
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
~ Jorge Sierra www.SierraSnakes.com

They said that she was an exremely good eater and they said she ate 3 days before I bought her and she ate a small fuzzy. I think if I remember right they said they fed them in seperate feeding containers but I will call and ask them more questions and details. Maybe she just needs to settle in more but she seems to love to just hangout with me while I watch tv.

It is also possible that it is close to a shed cycle. Some snakes don't like to eat then. Just another possibility.

--Dennis

In addition to what the other's have said here are a few quick ideas:

1) Do not disturb/handle the snake until it is on a regular feeding schedule (has eaten 5 or 6 times).

2) House baby snakes in small containers - like the size of a shoebox or smaller.

3) Do not subject snake to bright lights.

4) Make sure the snake has hide areas.

5) Feed the baby corn in the evening - do not watch it eat. Put the food into the cage and leave it alone until the following morning.

Third Eye Herp

In the one pic it seems to have a lump in the belly area. I hope that is indeed the remnants of a good meal and not an internal growth or obstruction of some sort. It does seem odd that the store said it ate three days prior to purchase, but the lump is still there and seems more recent....hmmmmm, now I am starting to think the store might have been pulling a fast one with that claim........I hope not for the snake's sake. Being as thin as it is already, it needs to get some nutrition going on pretty soon.

best of luck with getting it feeding. Another word of helpful advice would be to not make the meals very large right off the bat. Many times thinner snake's internal workings aren't as used to processing food as others are. You sure as heck cannot afford any regurgitation issues with it, that could be deadly. This is why the the temps and the entire setup have to be good enough to help this along as soon as possible.

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

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I talked to the pet store and they told me that since she is new that I shouldnt try to fed her for a week and they said when they fed her they put in a place that got her all nice and warm and then she would eat right away and when I did take that pic she had a nice few bowels on my friend not long after that and the lump is gone thats why I want her to fed. They told me that she ate a fuzzy but someone else told me that she looks dehydrated and I should hydrate her by filling a shoebox containier with 1/4 in or less of tepid water and let her sit in it for 5 min then do that every 3 days and start her off on a pinkie but I dont know if I should just give her one or offer her more then one since they said that she ate a fuzzy before. I just really want her to eat. Also, right now her hot side temp is at 85 and her humidity is at 50 should I increase any of these to help her out?

I talked to the pet store and they told me that since she is new that I shouldnt try to fed her for a week and they said when they fed her they put in a place that got her all nice and warm and then she would eat right away and when I did take that pic she had a nice few bowels on my friend not long after that and the lump is gone thats why I want her to fed. They told me that she ate a fuzzy but someone else told me that she looks dehydrated and I should hydrate her by filling a shoebox containier with 1/4 in or less of tepid water and let her sit in it for 5 min then do that every 3 days and start her off on a pinkie but I dont know if I should just give her one or offer her more then one since they said that she ate a fuzzy before. and when do you know when to upgrade? Is it when she eats and it doesn't make a noticable lump? I just really want her to eat. Also, right now her hot side temp is at 85 and her humidity is at 50 should I increase any of these to help her out?