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Feeding stubborn corns

Posted By:

aaron

So I'm the proud new caretaker of 40 cornsnakes. All babies.

About 30 of them have eaten, I've got 25% non feeders. No access to live pinks at the moment, I've got some chick down, don't know if that works with them.

Any help in a crash course on feeding baby corns is appreciated. I find it amusing how good I am at getting stubborn baby chondros to eat, yet these corns are COMPLETELY different in technique. They don't seem to like the agitation like chondros. They just start flailing. Jerks.


Points:	150
Topics:	Feeding , Neonate Rearing
Tags:	Cornsnake, Elaphe, Feeding, Guttata, Neonates
Species:	Other Colubrids > Other Colubrids > Elaphe guttata guttata
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Accepted Answer

10/17/2009 3:47:31 PM

FyreFocks

Wait a week after your most recent failed attempt and then try putting them inside a deli cup with a live pinky. Put the deli cup inside someplace super dark, but warm, and leave them in there through the entire night. This works 97.89374% of the time for me. If this doesnt work the first time, try again in a week. After that, id suggest braining, though ive never had to do this myself.

Member Comment

10/17/2009 3:47:52 PM

FyreFocks

Oh yeah, you can always call me.

Member Comment

10/17/2009 3:57:18 PM

titus

If it's a first meal I'd always try live, but since thats not an option and even if it was some just try to run anyway. Time is the biggest thing really give them time between attempts. Keep non feeding snakes in smaller boxes that allow you to feed them in and open it only to place food in or add water. try not to bother the snake at all. this should get them feeding in a week or three.

Member Comment

10/17/2009 5:26:22 PM

Herp_junky

You can try scenting with lizards,washing with unscented soap,and braining. Although I also have had the best luck putting them overnight in a brown paper bag or deli cup.

Assisted Answer

10/17/2009 5:58:03 PM

aSnakeLovinBabe

Keep them in small containers, by themselves, with a tiny, secure hide with one opening and easy to access water bowl. Leave them be for a few days. Then, take a f/t pinky, take your thumb and forefinger, and gently squeeze the top/back of the pinky's skull and sort of push forward, thus forcing brain fluid out the nostrils. This takes practice to do so that the fluid actually comes out the nose and you don't just smash the pinky's head in. Very carefully open up the box the snake is in, place the pinky into the hide just inside the entryway, lay it sideways so that the snake HAS to run into the pinky before it exits the hide. Do not even offer it to the snake, just lay it there and close it back up. Check back in a few hours or the next day. Often, it will be gone. This is the exact method I get to get non feeders feeding without ever using live prey.

Assisted Answer

10/18/2009 11:28:30 AM

shellboa

I am an "assist" feeder, put it in their mouth and see if they will do the rest. I've started dozens of refusers this way. But braining is effective (i'm just to squeamish)

Assisted Answer

10/19/2009 12:16:49 AM

amarilrose

Personally, I've NEVER brained prey for my snakes... and I've been doing this for a while.

The best method we always used to use for our colubrids (when I was growing up & we bred Everglades Ratsnakes, or just purchased very tiny hatchlings) was exactly what Shannon (aSnakeLovinBabe) explained, minus the braining. They like still, private darkness. The rest is patience... and that part sucks. :)

DEFINITELY different mentality than your angry yellow or red worms! I seriously thought you were kidding the first time I read your description of what you do to get chondros feeding... then I got my ATB's, which have a similar mentality... but again, they're NOTHING like colubrids!

Assisted Answer

10/21/2009 7:50:15 PM

Acheron_08

i did the chicken broth thing with the pair of babies i just got recently and that worked:) well it worked with the one:) the other one i gave it a pink head it took it with no problem so next time i have going to try the chicken broth thing with that baby:)

good luck with the baby corns:)

Member Comment

10/22/2009 12:10:50 AM

Matthias

My problem feeders have always eaten after raising their heat a little. Making sure they are 80 degrees for 5 days or so, and they should eat right away.

Member Comment

10/29/2009 3:34:39 PM

FyreFocks

How are you doing with the stubborn corns?

Member Comment

1/17/2011 3:47:55 PM

abi21491

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