Adult corn snake won't eat...appears interested then backs away.?

Question

My corn snake has been consistently eating a thawed frozen rat, weekly for a few years. Today, he voraciously attacked the dangling rat and then when I checked back, it wasn't eaten. I reheated it, and he gave it a sniff test and then backed away. I warmed up a new rat, and he did the sniff and rejection again. Any thoughts as to why he's obviously hungry but won't eat? My only idea is that the rats smell bad (like urine) and that is disturbing him. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Answer 1

To jplease : Why shouldnt you heat a frozen rodent to thaw it.. this is what 90% of people do that feed frozen and it works fine. In warm water, not boiling obviously or you'd cook it.

As other has said if its a strange smell that you don't normally notice - i'd be throwing those one out, especially since even the snake is rejecting them. They could have been half defrosted then refrozen at one point in the store, and going rotton.

Frozen rats should smell like rats - its not an unpleasant smell so if it does have a bad odor of any sorts I wouldnt feed it.

Answer 2

try live food it may be said but should help. When my snake wasn't eating i had to poke a hole in the dead mouses head, gross i know but could help theres some kind of juice in the head that lets off a big scent. Make sure all lighting is right. Just try 2 leave him alone for a few days so he has no stress.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD luck!!!!!!

snakes make great pets!!!!! email me if any of my ideas help or if he starts to eat!

Answer 3

sometimes simply snakes don't liek to be watched while they eat i know a boa at this pet store that i have to feed and everytime we have to cover it with cardboard or paper bags so it can eat without stress of being watched

if that's not it something medically could be wrong and should be checked by an exotic vet

Answer 4

keep heating teh rats to feed your snake.  sometimes snakes go on " hunger strikes".  it's normal the snake is an adult so  dont worry about it for a while.  i've had a kingsnake go on a hunger strike for about 3 months one ball python go on a hunger strike for 6 months another ball go on strike for almost a year a blood went on strike for about 6 months...snakes just do that.  if everything else seems fine with your snake...it doesnt lose any muscle mass and it still acts pretty much the same i really wouldnt worry too much.  just try to feed it once a week.  if your cornsnake doesnt eat within 4 or 5 months you might think about taking it to a vet.

good luck!

Answer 5

Something about the rats are bothering him.  Could they have been spoiled in the freezer?  They really shouldn't smell bad.  Maybe ask at the forum:

http://cornsnakes.com/forums/

Answer 6

you shouldn't be heating a frozen rat to feed your snake....

just let it de-freeze by it self

mine snakes did the same thing some time back, and i was forced to feed  them live prey.....now they it

it sucks because their more expensive and i need to go to the pet store weekly...