Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I was wondering if someone could teach me their technique for switching from live to frozen for a baby cornsnake. He is about two months old and was eating a live pinkie every 5-7 days but then I switched to frozen about two weeks ago and he hasn't eaten either meal. I tried thawing the pinkie out in warm water but he doesn't relly seem interested. I would appreciated any help.

Thanks

One good trick is to thaw the pinky out with boiling hot chicken broth. Then place the baby corn snake and pinky in a small deli cup...and place in a dark area over night. This has worked about 90% of the time for me.
Another good trick is stick a needle in the head of the pinky an swirl around it’s brain matter (I know, gross.) You want to expose some of the brain fluid onto the head of the pinky.

Baby corns seem to like the smell of both chicken broth and pinky brains. But when switching to frozen always place the snake and pinky in a small container...so, small the snake can’t avoid the pinky...and then place this container in a dark and quiet area overnight.

Make sure the feeding containers/deli cups are very small with a few air holes in the lids. If you try and feed in large cups they will crawl away from and avoid the pinky.

Thanks for the advice I will try it right away. I really appreciate it.

I have always been fascinated with snakes that do not eat or do not eat live. So here are a few ideas I have tried or others.
Make sure the FT pinkie is warm but not so hot to cause harm.
Try to raise the temp on he snake slightly.
Paper bag instead of a deli cup, don't know why but it has worked.
Tease feed. I had some blood red crosses bred years ago and they would not eat. I tease fed them. I worked it to wiggling the pink. NOTE these and related tease/move assisted all depend on the temperament of the snake. I have a few 2011 hogs and they just seem to eat faster and don't miss feedings if I feed them by hand. I hold the FT pink in front of them while they are in their own tub. I don't know if it's the movement, my hand behind the pink (as the hogs clearly take interest in it) or the way I move it around. I have done this a number for baby hogs.
Keep 1 baby in it's own small shoe box on paper towels. With or without a hide. Then carefully drop in a pink. I had some yellow rat snakes that just did not like the move to a deli cup. And almost always ate in their own tub. I guess you could also try to place in a deli cup for a day or 2 and then feed. If you use a hide place the pink near the ONE opening.
You can also put in more than 1 pinkie. I often thaw my pinks and try to feed my troublesome hogs first. Place 2-4 pinks in their cage. Occasional seems to help.
This part relates to scenting.
Some people wash pinkies they will scent with ivory soap first. Scent is very important obviously. Something I have wanted to test is to scent FT pinks in a mouse cage, or old bedding. Maybe a little extra smell will help? can't hurt.
Last but not least is to have a few babies together. I have done this and I have seen this effect that feeding snakes seems to excite other snakes. I have not done this a lot to voice much of an opinion. But you do need a few feeding snakes and make sure they don't grab the same pinks or each other.

good luck
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Thanks for reading.
Tom

www.HerpZillA.com
HerpChat

Wondered whether the suggestions worked or not. I have had a measure of success scenting w/anoles for baby corns. They can get aggravating at times. I have tried the chicken broth a couple of times, but it didn't work for me.

Dennis

The secret of the chicken broth is that it has to be boiling hot..and "cook" the pinky. Pour the hot broth over the pinky and let it set for a minute or two. The pinky will turn whitish. Then before you give it to the hatchling you brain it. I had 4 hathlings this year that would ONLY take pinkies scented with chicken broth.
I also had one hatchling that would only take pinkies from Soft Fur Rats...it wouldn't take mouse pinkies at all (and still won't.) The important thing is to try every trick in the book until you find what works.
Jorge has a great tease feeding video on his site that has worked for me many times. Everyone that has non-feeders should check out that vid.

Yes the chicken broth idea did work. I was so relieved when he finally ate something. I really appreciate everyone's help!

Thanks

Pinkie chicken marinade. Crazy ain't it. My female baby hognose that has never eaten was striking at a rosie red flopping around. Then she just stopped and went into her mood like I just don;t care. I know rosie reds work on hogs. Why? I can not even begin to come up with any logic. But as it was just stated try everything and anything. For my hog I may try rosie red scenting live pinkies. I will wash the pinkies in ivory soap to get the mammal scent of them. My good friend John Hollister taught me that one.

Good luck to any and all feeding issues.
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Thanks for reading.
Tom

www.HerpZillA.com
HerpChat

Almost 20 years ago I was at my local herp club meeting and the Late Great Lloyd Lemke gave a little speech on feeding snakes. He presented a adult boa constrictor that would only eat fish..no joke. I would not have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

He really has such a wealth of snake experience. And he is a master of a story. lol I learn something form him almost weekly. He has a chat room he has had for many years on IRC you can get to it form his site herpo.com or

http://client01.chat.mibbit.com/?server=rizon.mibbit.org&channel=#Herpchat

Newer site that makes it so you don't have to be a geek to get in to chat. Not to many years ago there were crowds in there. But like so much its has changed. But stop in and anyone else reading please stop in.
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Thanks for reading.
Tom

www.HerpZillA.com
HerpChat