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Help, corn snake who won't eat!?
It's been over 2 weeks since he has eaten (he is 1 1/2 years old). I've tried to feed him four times, three times with his usual size mice (hoppers, the third smallest size) and recently with a fuzzy (second smallest size). I recently changed his tank but I went to feed him and he was fine, but the second time I went to feed him he wasn't eating it. I even tried leaving the mouse for him in his tank (which I know shouldn't be done) because I thought his feeding tank was too small.
I also tried turning off the light while he was eating. He has never refused mice before and now he won't even look at them. When he touches them he recoils back.
I want to visit the veterinarian but it's too expensive for me and my mother refuses to pay the examination fee and possible medication fees. He hasn't defecated in a while, most likely due to the fact that he hasn't eaten anything! He seems to be quite active and favouring the warmer side of his tank, when before he used to stay in his hiding spot on the cool side. He has drank water, but I've only seen him do it once.
Whenever I put him into the feeding tank he always appears as though he is trying to escape.
I'm out of ideas on what to do next, could you please help me?
2 Answers
- 8 years ago
He may not feel secure enough to be comfortable eating in the new cage. Try adding an extra hiding place or two, and give him lots of time. I would continue offering him the mice in the cage - if he is not feeling secure enough to feed out of the cage, then leaving him in the cage should help him feel better.
Stick to the normal sized prey items, as it's likely due more to something in his cage making him uncomfortable than the size of the food you're offering him. In addition, limit how often you offer him food to no more than once a week, or as often as you'd normally feed him. If you try to offer him food too much, that can increase stress and cause him to take even longer to begin feeding again.
Lastly, 2 or 3 weeks is not that long of a time for a cornsnake to not eat. They can easily go a month or two without eating, especially if you are offering food regularly, so I'd just doublecheck that your cage is warm enough (just in case), add a couple extra hides, and give it time. :)
-Jen
Source(s): Store Manager at http://www.lllreptile.com/ Editor in Chief at http://www.thereptiletimes.com/ - 8 years ago
If your feeding him live mice, thats the problem. But if youre feeding him pre killed, and you've had him that long and this just started, it could be because he is going into shed or it could be more serious. Take him to the vet if he doesnt start shedding.
