iHerp Answers: Undersized Cornsnake

iHerp Answers!

Problem?

Search Create an Account, It's Free!

Home > iHerp Answers > Undersized Cornsnake

Undersized Cornsnake

Posted By:

Blunty

In Relation To:

Arthas [001]

I have had my corn for around 2 and a half years his length is fine around 3 and a half feet but his head size and body mass are really small for his age, he has one small fluff once a week wich is about the maximum his head can manage wich is not right as he should be on large fluffs or even adult mice by now. he seems perfectly healthy no unusual behavior his sheds are always perfect and never has any problems feeding.

i was thinking of starting to give him 3 or 4 pinkies during the week then his fuzzy on his regular day i was jut wondering if this would be a good idea to bring his weight and head size up and how i should go about it?

thanks in advance.


Points:	100
Topics:	General Health , Feeding
Tags:	Age, Elaphe, Feeding, Growth, Guttata, Size
Species:	Other Colubrids > Other Colubrids > Elaphe guttata guttata
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Accepted Answer

1/3/2010 10:29:09 AM

FyreFocks

You shouldnt judge food size by head size. Instead you should judge food size by mid section size. The prey item should be 1.5 times the size of the snakes belly so that it leaves a lump. Pinkies arent going to help you at all.

How much does the snake weigh?

Member Comment

1/3/2010 12:46:41 PM

Michael Roth

2.5 year old corn will happily take adults as long as it is about the size of your thumb, but yes weights and or pics with size reference would be helpful :>

Member Comment

1/3/2010 1:07:38 PM

Sonja K. Reptiles

You said you've had the corn for 2 1/2 years, but the date of birth you have listed as 4/08 - making it a year and a half....

Assisted Answer

1/3/2010 1:25:11 PM

Floof

Oh, yeah.. Putting it bluntly, you're definitely starving your corn. I don't know where in the world people get the idea that snakes can't eat prey larger than their head, or why they spread that "advice" (I'm guessing you're a victim of the latter?)... But it's wrong. Like Nate said, feed prey that's about 1-1.5x the snake's width at the WIDEST point on its body. You may want to start smaller and work the snake up to proper-sized rodents, since it's used to the extremely low intake of fuzzies and pinkies. As has been said before, a weight (preferably in grams) will help us determine exactly what your snake is ready to eat.

Member Comment

1/3/2010 2:53:40 PM

shellboa

I would slowly start increasing the size of feeder and feed about every 4-5 days. Corns metabolize faster than the bigger boids and their larger cousins like rats n bulls so they can usually eat more frequent meals without becoming obese. If you increase the size and frequency you should notice weight gain fairly soon and if you don't you might consider a fecal for parasites.

Member Comment

1/3/2010 10:46:08 PM

Saffleur

Starving their corn? Not likely. Malnourished over time perhaps IF they were to go the pinky route. Sustenance is sustenance. Doesn't matter the size of the prey Floof, food is energy.

OP, the snakes head should not be your indicator. It's belly should The widest part of it's body. Go ahead and bump up to a hopper/large fluff whatever you call it. Feed that for a few weeks then jump up to a larger size. That snake should be fine for all intents and purposes to eat adult mice.

Member Comment

1/4/2010 5:36:05 PM

dalvers63

You can also go by weight - you want to be feeding prey that is 10-15% of their body weight.

Member Comment

1/5/2010 9:58:43 PM

racer

my milk snakes are 8 months old and my corns are 6 months old and i feed them 2 times a week. they will bulk up fast as long as the prey size is a little biger than there mid section.

Member Comment

1/6/2010 2:40:10 AM

treetrunkchris

idk who told you to only feed about the size of the head, but your 3ft corn can eat an adult mouse just fine. better yet, give it a rat hopper, there about the same size of an adult mouse, just has more meat on them. havent you seen an egg eater? snakes can stretch out there jaws alot bigger than most people think, so feeding your corn a rat hopper or adult mouse will be just fine. even if your corn has a little lump in its belly, the lump will be gone in like 2 days.

Assisted Answer

2/7/2010 8:47:40 PM

kykatie

I recently got a new motley cornsnake. I had the exact same problem, same age, same length, and he also had a very small body mass for his age, like yours. The woman who I got him from was feeding him a pinkie once a week! I was horrified. She was willing to hand him over to me, she simply didn't know anything about snakes whatsoever. I started feeding him 2 small mice ( the next size up from fuzzies) once a week and he definitely shot up!!!! Now I feed him 1 adult mouse once a week. PLEASE TRY THIS METHOD!!! GOOD LUCK... (-;

You are not logged in. If you would like to participate (it's free!), you must log in, or Become a Member!