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Feeding problems - mites/shedding??

Popeye

Popeye

New member
hello everyone,

This is my first post and I am a new cornsnake owner. I purchased a cornsnake about three weeks ago now from a local reptile zoo, and when I purchased it it had mites. they had been treating the problem for about 10 days and I have also been spraying it, they are almost all gone from what i can see.

I was told to wait two weeks before trying to feed the snake, and now on my third week, I have tried twice, and have not been successful. The snake is not interested at all in eating...should I worry?

I have also noticed that one day his colors were very opaque, (pale) and his eyes were blueish in colour....first i thought he was dying now I realize he may be shedding soon. What should I do? Continue trying to feed? what about shedding? How long can they go without food?

Again any help is greatly appreciated, as this is all new to me. Oh my snake is about 4 to 5 feet long.

Cheers and thank you.
 
I'd wait until he sheds before trying to feed him.

How are you treating the mites, and how do you have his enclosure set up? If you're treating mites, he needs to be on white paper towels so you can make sure there aren't mites hiding anywhere.
 
Up until yesterday I had him on newspapers inside his terratium. Now he is on tropical soil. I have not seen a mite on him recently....so I was told that since he is about to shed that it was best to keep him on soil, as this way the ground is more moist than newspaper. Also, I am sparying him everyday with a concentrated solution which was given to me by the zoo. I also spary the enclosure with this solution to keep up the humidity.

Thanks for your help.
 
Shortly after posting my last message, I went to see my pet snake and he had completely shedded his skin...wow it took like less than 5 minutes! It was amazing! Now having said this is he ready to eat?? Please help...Thank you
 
Help

Well my snake shed yesterday, and seemed very lively and very colourful all day today. i just tried to feed him and again nothing. I even tried a different coloured mouse, from white to black. My snake had a crap yesterday morning, yellowish with some black stuff, he has not eaten in over three weeks, thought maybe new environment, shedding, had mites and now what?? can anyone please tell me what to do....is this normal? Should he not be eating by now? Evceryone tells me your corn should have eaten by now?? He looks healthy but no apetite...what should I do???
 
By the way the temp in the cage is between 75 and 85 at any given time...does this make a difference and whjat temp should I keep him at???
 
I would try feeding at night in a small container that is ventilated and secure. Warm the pinkie in very hot water and slit it a few times. Then leave the snake and pinkie in the container covered for at least an hour no peeking. Snakes can go months with no food so don't try more than every 5 days or you'll just stress him which will make him not eat.

Check your temps as well and ditch the soil and spraying you'll cause scale rot just get some aspen:)
 
Ok thanks. Right now I have the snake in the terratium (Cage) I have left the mouse on top of his hide rock. The temp is 78 and the snake is wandering about. How long should I leave the mouse inside? I have also covered the cage with a blanket and I have a red heating light on. If it dont work, I will get ride of the soil by the weeknd, and go with aspen.Thanks.
 
Your trying too hard;) Put him in the container, in a dark room, with a warm pink and leave him alone. Don't peek and relax. If he doesn't eat try again in 5 days.

How do you heat the cage and how do you check your temps? Temps are a huge reason a snake won't eat. Aspen btw is what corns need- soil is too wet, they inhale it, ingest it, and it isn't safe!!
 
First, your temps should read about 80 - 85F on the warm side...do you use an UTH? If so, how are you controlling the temps? Do you have a thermostat or reostat? Soil is not recommended as a substrate...Aspen, newspaper or paper towel have been used very successfully.

Once you have your heat figured out, you may want to try feeding him in a seperate container or if you prefer in his viv, you can place the f/t pinkie on some paper towel or a paper plate so your snake doesn't ingest any substrate (thereby causing a blockage)

IF you use a seperate container you can put him inside it, add the warmed up pinkie ( I use a small container, fill with very hot tap water and let it dethaw, then run hot water over it again to make sure its nice and hot) then put the lid on (with airholes) and put the whole thing back in his viv overnight. Do not bother him during this time and hopefully he will eat for you.

Most important is the heat being regulated, then the food.
 
good to know thank you. I heat the cage with a 150Watt buld which gives UV, and at night with a red 100 watt bulb. Temp ranges from 74 to 85
 
Corns prefer belly heat...it helps with their digestion. I would recommend you purchase an under tank heater (UTH), a thermostat or reostat to control the temp as the UTH can get too hot very quickly and needs to be regulated. Once you get that in place I would recommend getting rid of the lamps as they will no longer be needed..also, lamps tend to really suck the moisture out of the viv.
 
Thanks for all your help...I see how how badly i was misled when setting up...I will start the new viv this weekend and hope for the best. Aspen, UTH, etc...but might wait another week before aspen and use paper towels to make sure mites are gone...a few more sparys of Nix should do it...Again you have all been a great help thanksyou.
 
I don't think it has been said/asked so far, if it has I missed it.......

How are you checking the temps in the cage?

I know you say "the temp in the cage is between 75 and 85 at any given time" but is that on the warm side? cool side? Are you using digital thermometers?

If not you need to start, they are way more accurate and you should be monitoring both the "warm" and "cool" sides of the tank to ensure everything is good for your snake.
 
Thanks Porro,

I am monitoring the temp by using a digital thermometer, the btype which has a long cable with a probe on the end.

I only have the one. When it is placed in the warm side the temp ranges from 84 to 90. On the cool side the temp is about 74.

Last night we tried to feed it in a seperate container for about an hour and nothing. i then put the snake back in his viv and left the mouse in a tupperware container in the warm area. Left it overnight and this morning it was still there...no feed , he has now been about 4 weeks without eating. he is drinking fine, and is very active, but no feeding....hmmmmm. I also believe the mites are gone. Guess I should waite another week to attempt feeding again....? Thank for all your help
 
I heat the cage with a 150Watt buld which gives UV, and at night with a red 100 watt bulb
Click to expand...
As it hasn't been mentioned yet, I just wanted to reassure you that Corns don't need UV. If you choose to switch to a UTH + thermostat, he won't miss the lights at all.
 
Thanks bitsy, I was told that last night on the chat...I will be changing the system soon, maybe on the wekeend, as for now he will have to have some light rays, I am new at this and just spent a wack on getting set up, unfortunately I was misled...thanks again.
 
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