Corn Never Strikes or Constricts

[Spork]

My butter corn is a late '07 and I haven't been worrying about his lack of aggression towards prey items. Now, I have had him for about 3 months and he still does not strike at any of his food. He has constricted once, but that was because I rattled the fuzzy. Now he NEVER takes a strike or even tries to coil around despite the moving fuzzy. I was wondering if this is normal.

 

[wmdude102086]

My snake dosent strike with f/t mice. I guess its just a waste of energy.

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

It's normal. I'd say ~80% of mine don't constrict/strike either. They're all just lazy like that.

 

[LBoz]

Mine doesn't either. He just moseys on over to it, gives it a sniff and in it goes.

 

[bitsy]

Most of mine don't. I'd say not striking and not constricting are normal for the Corns I've owned. The strikers/constrictors are the exceptions.

They're cold-blooded animals and as such, energy is their most precious resource. I just guess they're not inclined to waste it on something that's already dead and ready to be swallowed.

 

[Spork]

Ok thanks! I was only concerned because my Amel corn ALWAYS strikes and contricts. And so do most of the snakes on youtube =P

 

[bitsy]

And so do most of the snakes on youtube =P

Let's face it, the non-strikers aren't going to make it onto YouTube.

"Hey - look at my snake eat something in a really boring way!"

Not exactly a crowd-puller....

 

[Nanci]

Most of mine just mosey over and start swallowing, but not Janine. The second she sees the (FT) mouse, she strikes violently and then throws so many loops around it so fast it's like she's calf roping! It's great to see her in action.

 

[TWGarland]

Mines abit of a Pyscho too! Constricts like a maniac everytime. He usually leaps off the floor as i'm lowering it into his feeding container too! He's never missed a meal in his life.

 

[holly tayls]

Have 2 both females both '06 and both from same breeder
1 is a maniac strikes and coils like her life depended on it. Sometimes strikes soo hard with tail rattle and all that she misses... The other girl does not strike or coil she just comes up to it and gently takes it out of the tongs and swollows it...

 

[Roy Munson]

I've been trying to get most of my snakes to strike feed, but I'm having mixed success. Many will have nothing to do with it. And then there are a few who were doing it for a few feedings, but they caught on, and now they'll gently grab the "dancing" prey item and leisurely drag it away...

 

[Spork]

Do you think it is possible to get that kind of feeding response out of a lazy snake?

 

[alan]

I guess some snakes do only what's necessary. I used to feed my snake live. She was a real good killer, kind of violent, often striking from about 8" away. Since I have stopped feeding live she is just fine with moseying up to the mouse and eating. She doesn't even put a loop around it.
What would happen if I gave her a live mouse? Probably never know that, but I'll post if it happens.

 

[bitsy]

Do you think it is possible to get that kind of feeding response out of a lazy snake?

Only by teasing it into a stressed state and forcing it to strike out of fear.

I wouldn't bother - we spend half our time worrying about why the little beggars decide not to eat. If you start to associate food with stress then you could trigger an eating problem where none exists.

In this case, the strike feeding would be more for your benefit than the snake's. Just be happy it's going down the hatch without you having to tear your hair out!

And remember - it's not laziness. The snake is just being economic with limited physical resources, which is perfectly sensible for a cold-blooded animal.

 

[Spork]

Well, he has given me some feeding problems. Which is why I stopped shaking his food. Nothing that he couldn't get past. I guess you're right.

 

[buddithegreat1]

My new adult female corn (Polenta) strikes immediately at f/t, wolfs it down, and wants more. How many mice can she eat at a feeding? I gave her two today and she wanted more. They are 1 1/2x her width, the appropriate size, and she is not overweight. Much different than Cornelius was. Cornelius, prior to when he stopped eating, would not strike, just slowly come over and check it out, then leave, then come back and SLOWLY eat. He would not eat from the tonges, only on the bottom of the feeding cage.

Also the new snake is a different color than anything I've seen on this site. The closest I have seen in photos is a wild corn in Kentucky. She is three shades of browns/red-brown (sort of copperhead colored), has some golds on her side, and black checkerbords on her belly. I think she may have been wild caught.

 

[bitsy]

How many mice can she eat at a feeding? I gave her two today and she wanted more. They are 1 1/2x her width, the appropriate size, and she is not overweight.

She'll eat as many as you give her, and if necessary, will regurge and come back for more. In the wild, Corns are opportunistic feeders and in captivity are very capable of eating more than is good for them if offered.

Appearing to "want" more is just an extension of her natural hunting behaviour. One food item at a time, at the size you describe, is quite enough for her. Any more than that and you risk her becoming overweight (it's not like they burn off excess calories in captivity), which can cause health problems and shorten her life span, just as it would for an obese human.

Also the new snake is a different color than anything I've seen on this site. The closest I have seen in photos is a wild corn in Kentucky. She is three shades of browns/red-brown (sort of copperhead colored), has some golds on her side, and black checkerbords on her belly. I think she may have been wild caught.

If you start a new thread in the morph section and post a pic, maybe someone could help with ID. We always love pics!