Hi,
I'm new to keeping corn snakes / reptiles in general but I have wanted to my entire life. I'm in my 2nd year of university (science last year business this year) and I got my first corn for my birthday (oct. 25th but i got him a few days before). He died last night, here's the story as I emailed a corn snake breeder the day before he died.
Hi,
I stubbled on your website and I hope you can help me.
I'm usually really good with animals and research anything before I get it. I have experience with horses and have owned a bird, cats and hampsters. I currently have a dog and 2 ferrets. I have always wanted a corn snake so finally I was able to get one.
I recently got a young corn snake from a pet store on Sunday the 22nd of October.
His home is a 10 gal plastic reptile home with heat light above, temp 86-80 depending on his location in the tank, I have a 20gal at home (currently renting cause I'm at university) which I'll be able to switch him to later.
The pet store told us the last time they ate the Saturday right before (21st). They had several snakes in the same area and container, all hatchlings. Mine was pretty slender around all parts and since I had read on various sources that the lump after feeding tends to stay for a day or so I didn't believe that this particular snake had already eaten the previous day. The next day (23rd) I thawed out what they told me was a pinkie mouse and fed it, I set it on top of his rock (hollow rock thing for hiding in) and showed it to him and he immediately went for it and ate it.
One week later I tried his 2nd feeding and again, he took it no problem. But being curious and stupid I think I ruined it. Maybe the mouse was to big (kinda look big to me to be pinkie mice, I recently saw brand new live pinkie rats and they looked that size to me) but I think I touched him too soon. I handled him briefly the day after his 2nd feeding and he regurgitated it soon after.
He hasn't eaten since and that was about 2.5 weeks ago. I have tried 3 times to feed him since, the first time I tried I tried the day after he regurgitated (didn't know better and had paniced I guess) then a week after. Tonight I was looking for info to see if maybe the feedings are too big cause he is pretty small and I'm curious if they're actually rat pinkies and I'll try calling the store and asking tomorrow. I found your website and it mentions just try feeding the head because it's much smaller after a regurgitation so I thawed out another tried it, he showed no interest so I removed it's head with surgical scissors (from dissection kit I have that are clean) and he showed no interest in the head either. I disposed of the body and the head is in his home now where I'll leave it til morning.
I'm out of ideas, I'm not used to animals that dont eat constantly so I don't know how to handle this. I dont have any reason to suspect he has an infection of any sort he seems happy and active otherwise. He still poos normal, hides, comes out of hiding, drinks, clean looking, alert eyes, flicking tongue, I looked for mites and found nothing. I don't believe he's near a shedding time cause his color isn't fading and his eyes havent changed.
Sorry for the long email, help is appreciated.
¸.·¤ Angela ¤·.¸
I wish I would have found this site before it got so bad. I was reading threads in the health/feeding section before joining and I already know so many things I would have done differently. I feel like crap. I love the little guy. But I am planning to try again, more prepared this time but now I have this site to help hopefully.
I'm new to keeping corn snakes / reptiles in general but I have wanted to my entire life. I'm in my 2nd year of university (science last year business this year) and I got my first corn for my birthday (oct. 25th but i got him a few days before). He died last night, here's the story as I emailed a corn snake breeder the day before he died.
Hi,
I stubbled on your website and I hope you can help me.
I'm usually really good with animals and research anything before I get it. I have experience with horses and have owned a bird, cats and hampsters. I currently have a dog and 2 ferrets. I have always wanted a corn snake so finally I was able to get one.
I recently got a young corn snake from a pet store on Sunday the 22nd of October.
His home is a 10 gal plastic reptile home with heat light above, temp 86-80 depending on his location in the tank, I have a 20gal at home (currently renting cause I'm at university) which I'll be able to switch him to later.
The pet store told us the last time they ate the Saturday right before (21st). They had several snakes in the same area and container, all hatchlings. Mine was pretty slender around all parts and since I had read on various sources that the lump after feeding tends to stay for a day or so I didn't believe that this particular snake had already eaten the previous day. The next day (23rd) I thawed out what they told me was a pinkie mouse and fed it, I set it on top of his rock (hollow rock thing for hiding in) and showed it to him and he immediately went for it and ate it.
One week later I tried his 2nd feeding and again, he took it no problem. But being curious and stupid I think I ruined it. Maybe the mouse was to big (kinda look big to me to be pinkie mice, I recently saw brand new live pinkie rats and they looked that size to me) but I think I touched him too soon. I handled him briefly the day after his 2nd feeding and he regurgitated it soon after.
He hasn't eaten since and that was about 2.5 weeks ago. I have tried 3 times to feed him since, the first time I tried I tried the day after he regurgitated (didn't know better and had paniced I guess) then a week after. Tonight I was looking for info to see if maybe the feedings are too big cause he is pretty small and I'm curious if they're actually rat pinkies and I'll try calling the store and asking tomorrow. I found your website and it mentions just try feeding the head because it's much smaller after a regurgitation so I thawed out another tried it, he showed no interest so I removed it's head with surgical scissors (from dissection kit I have that are clean) and he showed no interest in the head either. I disposed of the body and the head is in his home now where I'll leave it til morning.
I'm out of ideas, I'm not used to animals that dont eat constantly so I don't know how to handle this. I dont have any reason to suspect he has an infection of any sort he seems happy and active otherwise. He still poos normal, hides, comes out of hiding, drinks, clean looking, alert eyes, flicking tongue, I looked for mites and found nothing. I don't believe he's near a shedding time cause his color isn't fading and his eyes havent changed.
Sorry for the long email, help is appreciated.
¸.·¤ Angela ¤·.¸
I wish I would have found this site before it got so bad. I was reading threads in the health/feeding section before joining and I already know so many things I would have done differently. I feel like crap. I love the little guy. But I am planning to try again, more prepared this time but now I have this site to help hopefully.
