Yeah, I've managed to get George to eat! I was getting worried about him 'cos I went to our local snake shop and I saw a Corn of about the same age age he was so much bigger (girth-wise) and I realised just how skinny our poor George was. Thing that made me most worried is that we're not 100% that he's male and if he is actually a she then she needs feeding up big time.
I think the problem was the guy who had him before didn't know that much about keeping Corns. He rescued off a little girl who wasn't looking after him at all but kept a very similar set up.
I tried feeding him in his original set up but no luck.
First thing I did was sort out the temps in the viv. He had a heat lamp at one end making the temp at that end about 95 and then a heat mat at the other.
I've change the set up completely so I still have the heat lamp but with a dimming thermostat and a much bigger heat mat at the same end also connected to a thermostat so that only kicks in at night.
I've changed the substrate from some form of wood chip to Aspen (looks very nice) and given him a second hide so he has one at each end of the viv - although to be honest him prefers just to hide under the Aspen.
Then today I brained a mouse (not pleasent is it), played with it with some tongs in front of him and wham!! 3 seconds and he'd taken it. I am so relieved.
I really don't think the guy who had him before meant to mis-treat him - he was almost in tears when we took him but it just shows how important it is to read up on these things. Especially with a specialist pet like a snake.
So, the moral of the story to anyone new on the site and thinking of geting a snake - read, read, read. I wouldn't have known to do all the above if it wasn't for the information on this site and also Kathy's supberb book.
And to all the more experienced keepers who contribute to this site thank you so much for a fantastic resource - partcularly Rich for providing it in the first place. it is one of the best forums on any subject I've seen. no idiot postings, no show-offs.
You guys seriously care about your snakes and I can see how the addiction starts!!
Now if only I can convince my wife to let me have more. Thanks again guys and I only hope that I can start helping new-comers soon as well.
I think the problem was the guy who had him before didn't know that much about keeping Corns. He rescued off a little girl who wasn't looking after him at all but kept a very similar set up.
I tried feeding him in his original set up but no luck.
First thing I did was sort out the temps in the viv. He had a heat lamp at one end making the temp at that end about 95 and then a heat mat at the other.
I've change the set up completely so I still have the heat lamp but with a dimming thermostat and a much bigger heat mat at the same end also connected to a thermostat so that only kicks in at night.
I've changed the substrate from some form of wood chip to Aspen (looks very nice) and given him a second hide so he has one at each end of the viv - although to be honest him prefers just to hide under the Aspen.
Then today I brained a mouse (not pleasent is it), played with it with some tongs in front of him and wham!! 3 seconds and he'd taken it. I am so relieved.
I really don't think the guy who had him before meant to mis-treat him - he was almost in tears when we took him but it just shows how important it is to read up on these things. Especially with a specialist pet like a snake.
So, the moral of the story to anyone new on the site and thinking of geting a snake - read, read, read. I wouldn't have known to do all the above if it wasn't for the information on this site and also Kathy's supberb book.
And to all the more experienced keepers who contribute to this site thank you so much for a fantastic resource - partcularly Rich for providing it in the first place. it is one of the best forums on any subject I've seen. no idiot postings, no show-offs.
You guys seriously care about your snakes and I can see how the addiction starts!!
Now if only I can convince my wife to let me have more. Thanks again guys and I only hope that I can start helping new-comers soon as well.
