2 of my corn snakes hatchlings won't eat?

Question

we have 4 corn snake hatchlings, 2 of them are taking pinkies okay, but the other 2 wont take to eating them. We have tried quite a few times over the last couple of weeks since they shed and they wont eat the pinkies, any way i can get them to eat the pinkies?

any advise apreciated

Answer 1

i have the same problem, out of 6 only 2 will eat properly, try cutting the pinkies head off and offer just that, or maybe you could slice the head of the pinkie open to release the smells, also you could try getting a frozen lae mous n cutting the legs off with a bit of mouse attached too, this is a lot thinner than a pinkie and so might tempt them to eat, also try putting the food you are about to give them in a tub of wax worms so that it really smells before you feed them

Answer 2

try braining the pinkies we had to do this for one of our corn snakes she wasn't interested in the pinkie at all, we did it once a wriggled it about a bit made a squeaky noise and now she is fine, are they defrosted pinkies you are feeding maybe they aren't at the right temp for her

Answer 3

Check your temps. and humidity. Are you housing them together? If so that's probably the reason they aren't eating. It causes them alot of stress. Also how big is the enclousure? They could be stressed out from too big of a cage. Make sure you have tight hides as well.

Answer 4

i no it sounds cruel back i've had the same problem before and i've false fed them

Answer 5

Is the heat ok in there tank?

Answer 6

most likely they are getting used to whats going on

Answer 7

Not all hatchlings will take to eating a whole pinkie to start with.In fact your best off starting hatchlings off on half pinkies,ie when frozen(because its less messy),chop the heads off and then try feeding the bodies.If this doesn't work then you might have to get a pinkie pump (a big syringe)which liquidises the pinkies and then you can feed them from the end of that.Also try turning up the heat a couple of degrees as this can often kick start a feeding response in hatchlings.I wouldn't even bother with the vets as there will be nothing they can do.If all else fails then you could get in touch with an experienced reptile keeper who can show you how to force feed a hatchling but this is very stressful to the snake so dont try it by yourself as it could make the situation worse.Past experience has shown that once it takes one pinkie it usually starts to feed ok

Answer 8

First of all make sure all there husbandry needs are being met. don't think they are, be sure they are.after your sure there set up perfectly try a live pinkie, leave it over night by where ever the snake is hiding. if that doesn't work wait a week then  try a fresh killed pinkie. if that doesn't work wait a week  then try a brained(yes brained , split its head down the middle with  a razor blade. its easier then you think.) pinkie (this normally does the trick). if that doesn't work try a frozen thawed anole( one of a few natural prey items to corn snake hatchling's we can actually get our hands on.) if that doesn't work a brained anole(little more difficult). if they do start eating when given an anole just let then get a few anole feedings in them and then start scenting the pinkies  with an anole( you can just keep an anole frozen in a bag in the freezer and just thaw and rub all over a pinkie to transfer the scent. best part is the anole is reusable a few times.)know that an otherwise healthy corn snake hatchling can go 6-8 weeks with out eating after hatching and then turn around and eat like a pig. but some times a hatchling (in my collection about 1 out of 50 hatchlings a year) just fails to thrive. even when all there litter mates are eating like pigs and growing like weeds they just refuse to eat. i truly think sometimes these animals were not meant to survive( food for something else if in the wild?) for what ever reason.. i hope yours do fine.

p.s. force feeding is never an option! if your  corn snake is in such a state that it needs force feeding to survive. the force feeding is just prolonging the inevitable. a corn snake that is being kept properly will eat. if you cant get it to eat with out force feeding its  either not being kept properly , your not presenting it a food item that's acceptable or its meant to die and nothing you do will change it. it REALLY IS that simple.

Answer 9

awww congrats on the babies, i have a corn snake and she is so beautiful.  i don't want her to have babies though she is only a baby herslef, shes about 9 weeks.  about a foot and 3 inches.  she has been eating really well since iv'e had her.  corn snakes are usually good eaters, have they ate before, since they have hatched?  if it has been more than about 3-4 weeks without them eating bring them to the vet.  they could be sick.  good luck!  hope they are ok