Snake Feeding Problems! How to get my snake to feed?

[Grond]

Originally Posted by Umopapisdn

Im a fairly new member, literally just joined up a few seconds ago.

Yesterday, i rescued two corn snakes from an owner that was very poorly treating them. When i picked them up there was rotting mice in the corner where they had just been flung into their viv, and poo just everywhere.

So i took them home, and settled them in nicely, and they seem to be acting fine, but when i tried feeding them, they wouldnt take. Their fully grown, and should be taking large mice, but even when fully defrosted in hot water and then dried, and dangled infront of them, they refuse to take it and jerk away, almost like their scared.

Im not sure whether they arent eating because they are in a new environment and havent settled in, or assosiate the smell of mice now with how they have been treated, but neither of them want to eat. I tried again this morning and still nothing.

Has anyone got any logical suggestions?

Personally, I think you've tried too soon without giving them chance to settle in!

I'd leave them alone for at least a week apart from a couple of water changes, and then try feeding them again with a smaller than usual food item.

Good luck!

[Umopapisdn]

Originally Posted by Grond

Personally, I think you've tried too soon without giving them chance to settle in!

I'd leave them alone for at least a week apart from a couple of water changes, and then try feeding them again with a smaller than usual food item.

Good luck!

See, I would have said that too, except the fact that when I got the baby corn that i have aswell, he fed the day I got him, within half an hour of setting him up.

Also though, the female i have has a swollen and raw back end, between the anus and the tail from being mistreated, Im thinking not being cleaned properly in that area.

But the person before me said she's had it from at least since they've had them, which is afew years so I wouldn't imagine it would be a problem with her eating, otherwise she wouldn't be with us...

I may well try the seperating technique aswell as I have a divider and see if they take, but I'm still going to leave it a week before I attempt feeding them again.

Any replies would again be gratefully appreciated...

[Grond]

Originally Posted by Umopapisdn

See, I would have said that too, except the fact that when I got the baby corn that i have aswell, he fed the day I got him, within half an hour of setting him up.

Also though, the female i have has a swollen and raw back end, between the anus and the tail from being mistreated, Im thinking not being cleaned properly in that area.

But the person before me said she's had it from at least since they've had them, which is afew years so I wouldn't imagine it would be a problem with her eating, otherwise she wouldn't be with us...

I may well try the seperating technique aswell as I have a divider and see if they take, but I'm still going to leave it a week before I attempt feeding them again.

Any replies would again be gratefully appreciated...

Some snakes, and particularly corns, will feed straight off. Some won't. Royals are particularly fussy!

Personally, I'd leave them as not feeding them for a week or two won't cause any harm, but may do some good.

[Umopapisdn]

Originally Posted by radicaldave

If you have not tried already i guess you could try braining the mice corns are quite hot for the smell of mouse brains.

Perhaps they are not used to strike feeding maybe.. if you have them seperated of course leave them a mouse each for an hour or so during active time (early evening - dusk) and see if they take it?

Yea, I think when sunday comes around again and I try feeding, I'll try around about seven o'clock, and if they dont take, I'll put in the divider, leave the mice and they can eat if they want too, but should I just leave the one in there for each of them, and if they take try giving them another? Because I dont know how much they usually have to eat, but if they look like their hunting I'm assuming they'll take again wouldnt they?

But I would imagine braining them would be a fairly messy process wouldnt it? Whats the best technique without getting mouse brains everywhere?

I do also apologize for pestering you nice people, I'm just worried about them because they've been so badly treated and I want them to have a good rest of their lives...

[Umopapisdn]

Originally Posted by Umopapisdn

Yea, I think when sunday comes around again and I try feeding, I'll try around about seven o'clock, and if they dont take, I'll put in the divider, leave the mice and they can eat if they want too, but should I just leave the one in there for each of them, and if they take try giving them another? Because I dont know how much they usually have to eat, but if they look like their hunting I'm assuming they'll take again wouldnt they?

But I would imagine braining them would be a fairly messy process wouldnt it? Whats the best technique without getting mouse brains everywhere?

I do also apologize for pestering you nice people, I'm just worried about them because they've been so badly treated and I want them to have a good rest of their lives...

For the people that gave me the advise I would like to thank you.

But I just though I'd inform everyone that the female sadly passed away at some point today whilst I was at college.

The male seems to be acting fine, but remember that lump mentioned on her back end? Apparently thats what killed her, she had eaten something that got stuck in her system, and slowly killed her over the years.

It's a shame because she was absolutely gorgeous, but I only had her two days, so i wasnt too upset.

I'll post some pictures i took a few seconds ago of her later, and see if any of you can spot what the guys at my reptile shop didnt...

[chrisovklee]

i had a royal till about 10 minutes ago ! it was a baby and it was not eating , my mate who i bought it of cum round because he didnt look right and he said it was starving so he force fed it . and made it poo. is it ok to do this , i have just been told he shudnt of force fed it ? what s gone wrong ?? i put in a pinkie yesterday and left it in over nyt and it didnt eat it so i took it out and when i come home from work , he was strugglng to hold him self up. av i done something wrong ? please some one help me i am going to his tommorow to speak i need some facts , cheers , i am so gutted its dead

[got the bug]

I got 3 rough scaled boas all 09, none have fed since i have owned them 05/01/2010 and 1 shed last week. Now i have tried drying them out, scenting their food with chick, all snakes i like to feed away from their own habitat so as to stop any viv aggressiveness so go into cricket tubs atm. Ive tried to feed them in their rub but all seems to fail, on occasion they will strike but never on target and it only seems to be like a warning strike not to feed.
Ive read these snakes bury leaving their heads exposed and strike at the nearest target so ive tried moving the pinkies slowly over their heads but only get warning strikes still. Im going to try fish this week and if that fails i dunno what to do, the largest one is only 28cm so too small to attempt force feeding in my opinion.

Any ideas would be gratefully received, i dont wana loose these little gems