My cornsnake won't eat

Question

I put a pinkie in his tank last Thursday but it was still there on Friday morning. I tried feeding him again last night and the pinkie was still there this morning. I don't think he's shedding (his eyes look normal) and when I picked him up the other day he seemed fine. He hasn't been as active the last few nights as usual but he is still moving around. Has anyone else had a problem like this?

Answer 1

Its maybe that he is coming up to shedding or is it possible you missed his eyes clouding over.Alot of snakes will actually refuse to feed and become lethargic for 7-10 days before you see visible evidence that the shedding process has started (ie eyes clouding over).Dont worry about the feeding yet.the time your talking about is not a concern.If the temps are ok then just give it another 7 days and you will probabily see your snake either shed or start eating again.

Answer 2

are you over feeding

Answer 3

Do not panic.

Some times they go on a temporary diet way before any signs of shedding are obvious.

Another possibility is that he is a non-feeder (if he is young), or that he requires larger/smaller size pray (the WARMED up mice pups shouldn't be much bigger than the diameter of his head).

Most commonly a snake will stop feeding, because it cannot digest food at a fast enough rate, due to low temperature of its surroundings (below 25'C).

Other times the snake changes its dietry habbits as it matures and begins to eat larger mice, but less often, around once in 10 days.

There is also a slight possibility of food poisoning, if you are very concerned about his lack of movement, take him to a vet imidiatly, or back to the petshop where he was purchaised and ask for extra advice.

Answer 4

When I  got my corn snake hatchling it did this. Then I put him in a brown bag with a pinky and he ate it then the next time it did not.It also may be that you are watching him eat.Just place a pinky in the tank where he usually is like on top of his hide

Answer 5

first of all do not feed yuor snake inside their tank.

take them out and feed them in a box. this is because they will learn to associate your hand being in the tank, with food. that way they might strike for you when you have not got food and are just getting them out for a play.

back to yur question as yur snake ate before now or this the first time youve tried?

make sure hes warm enough before hand and after you have placed him in a box cover the top so its dark and leave him there with his pinkie.

if he still wont eat try not to  handle him and try again 2days later.

failing this, (my friend did this), put him in a small plasctic container inside his tank with the pinkie, that way he will feel secure inhis tank but wont associate it with food. make sure its on the warm side also.

i have 2 snakes and the box method has always worked perfectly.

ignore the other guy do not try live food, they could do more damage to your snake than the snake to the mouse, especially as they get older and plus it is cruel i belive.

godd luck and i hope this helps.

Answer 6

I had a corn snake years ago, and he won't eat anything unless it was alive, he enjoyed the kill!

Answer 7

Number 1, never feed any snake in the cage it resides in.

Number 2. Try putting the snake and pinkie in a paper bag or box, like others suggested. Some snakes are "shy" eaters. I constructed a "feed" box for my corn snake, and he takes everything I feed him.