If you are researching corn snake care and have
questions about feeding your snake, feel free to print out this list of feeding
tips. These tips come from my many years of keeping and feeding snakes,
including corns.
Feed baby corn snakes about every 5 - 7 days.
Feed juvenile to adult corn snakes about once ever 10 - 14 days. Overfeeding
your snake will make it fat and unhealthy, just as it does in humans.
Offer rodents (rats or mice) that are about
the size of the snake's midsection, or slightly larger. Feeding your corn
snake rodents that are too small will leave it hungry. Feeding it rodents that
are too large could lead to regurgitation.
Avoid feeding your corn snake wild-caught
rodents, as these can transmit parasites to the snake. The best option is to
offer frozen / thawed rodents, as the freezing process kills any potential
parasites the rodents might be harbouring. You can order frozen rodents from
the Internet, just as easily as you'd order steaks!
Leave your snake alone for at least 48 hours
after feeding it. Handling a snake too soon after a meal may cause
regurgitation.
Be sure your corn snake has proper cage
temperatures to help it digest its meal (and for general health reasons).
Stress and improper cage temperatures are two of the most common reasons that
corn snakes refuse to eat in captivity. A snake with a proper environment is
more likely to eat on a regular basis.
It is not necessary to supplement snake meals
with vitamin powders or similar products. Snakes get all the vitamins and
minerals they need from their meals, without the need to add anything. Most of
these "snake supplement" products are nothing more than a money-making scheme.
If your corn snake refuses a meal, leave it
alone for a week and then offer another meal. Make sure the snake is not
shedding because this is a common reason for corns to refuse meals. Also, make
sure the snake's environment is set up properly (check cage temperatures, and
make sure the snake has places to hide inside the cage).
Generally speaking, corn snakes have a
reputation for eating consistently. I've never had any feeding problems with a
healthy corn snake (unless it was in shed). If your snake refuses meals
consistently, and you've checked everything listed above, it's probably time
to call a vet for help.
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I hope you've
enjoyed this guide to the corn snake feeding process. If you found this article
helpful, you'll love the book below:
About the Author:
Brandon Cornett
is the author of the "Ultimate Guide to Corn Snake Care," which offers over 100
pages of helpful advice on
corn snake care and keeping. Learn more or download your e-book by visiting
http://www.reptileknowledge.com/cornsnakes
