A Corn Snake Nose Rubbing and having hard time to adjust and feed

OnyxWerewolf · Sep 29, 2006

Hi I recently got a corn snake and this is my first time taking care of a corn snake but not my first to take care of a snake. I've already read a book on corns but it doesn't seem to help me much so I'll pretty much need advice. I'll just list info about my corn and get right onto the problem.

+Female, 4 Month old corn
+Previously lived in a small 8 inch cube tank in Petco with 5 other young corns; had very few hiding spots [only a plastic plant to hide in]
+My tank is twice as big with many hiding spots [log, cardboard box] and tree branches
+[What I have heard] She has not eaten since 9/18/06 [Monday] and I've tried to feed her with prekilled pinkies [food maybe a factor but its not the problem]

PROBLEM
+She goes around the edge of the tank nose rubbing the sides all day ever since she came home
+She's uninterested in food no matter how appealing
+SHE IS NOT SHEDDING [ALOT of people said that to me but the way she is nose rubbing is like as if she is trying to escape or find a way out; her eyes aren't even milky or pale]

Please help me X_O...I've tried nearly everything except food but I want to stop her from nose rubbing...

Lennycorn · Sep 29, 2006

Sounds like the snake is just exploring and trying to find an escape route.

Also,did you let the snake settle in a bit (no handling) before trying to feed.
Describe you feeding procedures. Have to feed in a small vented container. Leaving the snake in a dim room. It also might be going to shed and don't like to eat during the shed cycle. :shrugs:

OnyxWerewolf · Sep 29, 2006

That's true, I should just let it settle a bit but how long should I let it settle before it goes deathly hungry? Actually, how long can a 4 month old hatchling fo without food because I tend to worry and become impatient.

I've tried the isolation feeding but I only left her in there for 2 hours [but this is without heating so I'm not sure if heat could effect]. I've heard people leaving the corn overnight. Is that alright to do? I guess I'm just really really new to all this.

MikeSaw23 · Sep 29, 2006

Check her for mites!
Mites can make you snake act like that!

Lennycorn · Sep 29, 2006

OnyxWerewolf said:
That's true, I should just let it settle a bit but how long should I let it settle before it goes deathly hungry? Actually, how long can a 4 month old hatchling fo without food because I tend to worry and become impatient.

I've tried the isolation feeding but I only left her in there for 2 hours [but this is without heating so I'm not sure if heat could effect]. I've heard people leaving the corn overnight. Is that alright to do? I guess I'm just really really new to all this.

Well, I would think it would be easier to feed if it was "deathly hungry". You wouldn't have a problems. But you stated ...without heating? Do you mean that you didn't warm up the frozen/thaw pinky before feeding. They can go a few weeks without food but if it young it could be scary problem to me.
You could also try slicing the (frozen) back of a pinky before thawing to help sent it. Are you feeding in a small container to make the snake concentrate on the meal instead of....escaping. For now I would leave it alone for a few days giving it only fresh water than try again.

Lennycorn · Sep 29, 2006

OnyxWerewolf · Sep 29, 2006

Lennycorn said:
Oh yeah, here are a few links you might like to read up on.

Good Luck :cheers:

Announcements
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/announcement.php?f=53
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21877
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3292

Search
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38853
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39306

Husbandry and such
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28341
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28342
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17224
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/sh...?p=133428#post6
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28343
http://www.herpvetconnection.com/
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/sh...ight=jello+butt
http://www.vmsherp.com/LCBreedingCorns.htm

Free Herp Software
http://www.serpwidgets.com/Apps/apps.html
http://www.proherp.com/
http://www.cornsnakes.nl/
http://home.comcast.net/~spencer62/cornprog.html

Setup
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/t.../bltanksize.htm
http://www.mgreptiles.com/VIROSAN.html
http://www.anapsid.org/blacklight.html
http://arbreptiles.com/cages/flexwire.shtml
http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/tips.shtml
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19168

Miscellaneous
http://www.alysion.org/euthanasia/
http://www.moreptiles.com/cornsnake-lifecycle.htm

Cohabitation
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17308
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31192

On-line frozen mice suppliershttp://www.themousefactory.com/http://cajunmice.com/
http://www.rodentpro.com/index.asp
http://www.bigcheezerodents.com
http://peticebox.com/
http://www.exotic-pets.co.uk/frozen-mice.html for the UK
__________________

Oh, what I meant about "heating" is that when she's in the enclosed container, there's no heating or lamp because I don't think it's healthy or a good idea to be heated behind plastic. I'm not talking about the pinkie being heated haha. But thank you ^^. :wavey:

antsterr · Sep 29, 2006

Usually a baby corn will spend a significant amount of it's time exploring. They can't see the glass and usually will rub their head along any clear surface looking for an opening until they get used to that enclosure. It's not because it's trying to shed.
It can be a sign that it's hungry, but at 4 months old it's unlikely that it would be a problem feeder unless the temperature is not good in the cage.
I'd try feeding it live. Live mice are way more attractive to baby corns because of movement, heat and smell. live mice really aren't any danger at all until they grow teeth, so live pinkies and fuzzies are okay to lock up with your snake overnight.
Also feeding in the evening is the best time as that is when they are naturally more active.

antsterr · Sep 29, 2006

OnyxWerewolf said:
That's true, I should just let it settle a bit but how long should I let it settle before it goes deathly hungry? Actually, how long can a 4 month old hatchling fo without food because I tend to worry and become impatient.

I wouldn't start to worry too much until either the snake looks like it's getting skinny, or it's been over a month. People report hatchlings living for up to 3 months with out eating.

rushrulz · Sep 29, 2006

Heh, Severus spends his waking hours trying to figure out the concept of glass--he can see distant places, but he can't reach them. I think to a snake, glass is very much like an invisible force field.

BeckyG · Sep 30, 2006

Don't worry about the nose rubbing. She is just looking for a way to escape. As long as she is in smooth glass, she won't hurt herself doing this.

As for the shedding issue, how long have you had the snake? Little ones tend to shed once a month, but if it is not currently eating, it may go longer. Plus the stress of moving may put it off of its shed cycle.

Another thing to try to get it to feed is to switch to a newspaper or paper towel substrate and feed the snake in its viv until you get it eating consistently. Some snakes are more sensitive to handling or moving them, and moving it to a feeding container is enough to put it off its feed. Right at dusk, place the thawed pinky or fuzzy right outside whatever hide she is in. If she is already out and about, place the mouse near the tank wall where she can find it while she is cruising.

Once it is eating well, introduce it to the feeding container and begin feeding her there.

OnyxWerewolf · Oct 3, 2006

rushrulz said:
Heh, Severus spends his waking hours trying to figure out the concept of glass--he can see distant places, but he can't reach them. I think to a snake, glass is very much like an invisible force field.

Actually, after noticing all responses and Rose's behavior...especially the difficulty of understanding glass, is Rose's dilemma.

The other day when I tried to feed her, I left her on the counter next to her tank and starts poking at the tank even though she is outside of it. I guess she really really really doesn't understand the concept of glass LOL :rofl:.

And the feeding problem is kind of solved. I went to Petco the other day and they told me that they probably have given me the wrong info about when they fed the corns and that they probably fed the corns right before I got her[Well not LITERALLY right after but I guess you guys get what I mean because she didn't regurgitate anything]. They also said that they can go without food for a while. Actually some people have said that here as well.

A Corn Snake Nose Rubbing and having hard time to adjust and feed

OnyxWerewolf

New member

Lennycorn

Just see the truth

OnyxWerewolf

New member

MikeSaw23

Never Enough!

Lennycorn

Just see the truth

Lennycorn

Just see the truth

OnyxWerewolf

New member

antsterr

Always mostly awesome

antsterr

Always mostly awesome

rushrulz

New member

BeckyG

Making it up as I go

OnyxWerewolf

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