My Corn Snake hatchling has eaten three days in a row. Am I overfeeding him or is there a problem?

Question

I've had my corn snake hatchling for roughly a month now, but I'm still unsure of how often he likes to feed.

For the first week I had him, he was shedding, so didn't eat at all. The next two weeks he ate a pinkie about every three or four days. But, this week, he has been eating like crazy! He ate three days in a row, which is really unlike him.

Is there a problem or are pinkies too small for him now, (he's about 17-18 inches)?

Answer 1

diameter is more important than length. corns can eat something of equal diameter or up to 1 1/2 times their girth. if your corn's eating daily, it's because you're feeding him daily. once every 5-7 days is fine.

Answer 2

He's not a hatchling.  Judge food size by the 2 1/2 rule.  They can eat anything 2 1/2 times the size of their head.  Some snakes will eat when fed even though they are not in need, and yes you are overfeeding right now.  Move him up to fuzzies at least, and feed 2 at a time.  He should go 10-12 days without eating.  You don't want to powerfeed him.  It's really unhealthy and cuts years off their life.  When he reaches the point of eating small rats, he will probably go about 2x's a month.  It's much better for snakes to not get fat.  They don't get as much exercise in captivity as they do in the wild, and many go months at a time without eating in the wild.  Good luck.

Answer 3

yea, pinkies are probably too small and i wouldn't call a 18 inch corn snake a hatchling. 8 to 10 inches is a hatchling. at that size it's definitely ready for a fuzzy, possibly even a hopper. Snakes many time will take food readily no matter what but you want to limit their intake. Still, it may be hungry b/c of the small size of the food.

Answer 4

My corn snake is 33 inches now.  He is eating fuzzies.  He started fuzzzies at about 20 inches.  So your corn snake could definitely be ready to eat fuzzies.  The pinkies you are feeding him are way to small for him if he consumes 3 in a row.  So you definitely want to start feeding fuzzies to him.  This time of the year like summer spring and fall he should eat once a week.  During the winter though it should be more like once every two weeks.  Since it is naturally colder out their metabolisms are slower making it so they don't digest as quick.  I hope this helps and have fun with your corn snake.