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Method to this madness?

lilmike227

lilmike227

New member
Hi guys me again im sorry if I sound redundant, but as some of you know my corn snake wont eat when I am in the room. Today when I walked in on him he spit it out. I know most people said he prob will grow out of it someday. My question is is there any type of practice I should try doing to get him used to me being there? You guys helped out alot about handling him slowly to get im used to me..he handles fine now. But I was just curious if there was some method I could use to get him to eat while im in the room or if I should just play the waiting game. Thanks
 
This is not uncommon. When I have a baby that is a defensive feeder (signs are striking at the lid of the deli cup, excessive tail-rattling, spitting out the pink or complete refusal to feed) I wean him into normal feeding by the following steps:

1. Feed in a quiet room. Cover the deli cup up completely.

2. Set the deli cup where the snake will not see you if you walk by. Cover it less and less each time, until the snake is completely weaned off having a covered deli cup.

3. Gradually move the snake back to your desired feeding area.

I have three adults that are always covered to feed. I don't really care. Two of them are snakes that like rat-brain-scented mice, so they are choosy anyway.
 
Ok thanks.. i think i might be using a feeding tub that is too big... Its the same size i use to breed my superworms in ( holds hundreds of them) the snake could probably live in it..do you think I should cut down the size of the feeding tub?
 
How big is the snake? The snake should be confined enough to not be able to get more than a few inches away from the prey.
 
I would cut down on the size of the container. That would be fine if he wasn't a shy eater, but a confined space will make him feel more secure while eating and less stressed by your presence.
 
Ok so I thought I would update this thread instead of starting a new one. I tried feeding him in a deli cup and he would not take it. So I coverd it up with a shirt 30 min later still wouldnt eat it so I put him in his larger feeding bin and he took in about half the time after I left the room :/
 
If the larger container is working stick with it Mike. Every snake is different. Mine run the spectrum from not caring who's around to preferring you left the room. I had a corn on my rack that I had to cover the front of her tub: it had to be completely dark for her to eat.

Remember, it doesn't matter how they like to eat, just that they like to eat :)
 
Yes thanks I completely understand where all of you guys are coming from. What really confuses me is the first two times I feed my corn snake it went into beast mode and took them down without any hesitation, now he wont eat unless im gone. My theory was that one his third feeding my bro and sis wanted to watch so I brought him upstairs and they both hovered over him and scared him. Ever since he wouldnt eat in front of me. Do you think that has anything to do with it?
 
Their behaviours do change as they grow. Think of it as progressing from being a baby, then toddler, then child, then teenager - you have a lot of phases to go before he settles into his "adult" routine.
 
I have some that feed no matter what even one that will eat sitting in my hand. Some want darkness some want large or small tubs as stated they can all be different the frustrating part if figuring out what exactly they like. I do believe they can be molded to do what we want them to do but that requires patience. Had one I got from a guy he was 1.5 years old always fed in his home Viv. I stick to the never feed there state of mind. Needless to say after 2 weeks refusing to eat he finally yielded to my way this went on for 4 feedings now he takes a feeding in a 5 gal tank but he wants it in the corner only. He will slither rite over it unless it's exactly in a corner
 
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