Snakes

[i-m-snek]

I finally finally got the 'full tongue' picture of Little Dante that I have always wanted! My life is complete <3




In other news, I shall be getting a ball python for Christmas from my hubby

[Resin]

Cuuuuute! Little Dante is freaking adorable. ~(:

[i-m-snek]

Cuuuuute! Little Dante is freaking adorable. ~(:

Thanks! She's my only snake atm, and is my little pride and joy <3

[Check the PO Box]

Guys, I need help. Quick.
So heres the skinny:

I got my Corn Snake, Checkers, on the 12th of this month. He's just about a foot long, maybe a bit less. I brought him home, held him for about 30 minutes without a problem, put him in his cage, after getting the cage established (We have a water dish, Tall plant, Hiding-Rock, and a dried Vine that stretches across, he's in a 25-30 Gallon tank.) and switched his Day Light off and his Night Light on (As it was about 10pm). After that, we waited until 16th to try and feed him. Like we were recommended, we got the feeding tongs, held the little dead Pinkie With them (After thawing to room temperature, and then warming it in warm water. The pinkie was in a plastic bag when we warmed it.). He wouldn't eat it, we tried moving it around, near the snake, and bumping it around the edges of a box that he was in when feeding (As suggested by the people we got the snake from). He wouldn't eat it, and showed no interest at all. We had left him in the box for about 30 minutes prior to trying to feed him, to allow him to get used to it.

This is him


A few days later, we tried again with a fresh mouse, doing the same as before. Still showed no interest.

A few more days later, Still no interest, another fresh mouse wasted.

A week later, still no interest. By now we had went to the Pet-co (were I got him) and they said that he may not be used to his habitat yet, and is under stress. So try not holding him for another week, then try.

It's been another week, we tried feeding him last night. A fresh mouse, bought the day before. Still no Interest. Now, my mom's friend, Valery, used to run a snake rescue, and took in snakes that had been injured, or abandoned by there owners and re-homed them. She had said to take the mouse and bump it against Checkers nose, instigating him to strike at it so he knows it's food. I thought that sounded stupid and would cause the snake to be more aggressive when I went to hold him. Either way, I did it against what I thought since she had been running that Snake Rescue for around 10 years, maybe longer. (She isn't running it now though). He didn't eat it, and just got super agitated and stressed, he started breathing really hard and randomly hitting the walls, as I thought, it freaked him out and scared him. I stopped, and went to put him back in his cage and he tried to strike at me. Again, just like I thought it would make him more aggressive, but he just went through a lot so I figured he would be like that at first anyway. I managed to get him out and put him back in his cage when he immediately slithered into his plant and continued to breath hard for about 3 hours. Maybe longer as I had to turn on his night light and go to bed.

It's midnight here, and I just went to go and hold him, but as I went to open the cage, he jumped off his dried vine thing, into the wall, and slithered into the wall, and reared up into an 'S' shape, flicking his tounge at me and opening his mouth. It really scared me and I'm super worried about him, I really need you guys' help, I don't want him to be like this forever or die from starvation. I asked my mom if she would let me take him to the vet, and she said "There is no need, Valery is better." Which I know is a lie. I can't afford to pay to bring him myself, but she payed $150 to get Barley (My bearded Dragon) helped when his tail was rotting (it's fine now, he's just missing a fourth of it) but my Snake hasn't eaten in 3 weeks, and is now being agressive and she acts like Valery can just magically fix him, or there is nothing wrong.


I really need help, I don't want him to die ;n;

[i-m-snek]

Titania, sorry to tell you, but your snake was probably unhealthy when you got him. Petco is not a very reputable place to buy snakes, and it sounds like he has neurological problems. He may have been inbred and have something wrong with him.

But if that is not the problem, then putting him in the feeding tank is probably stressing out if you have only had him for a couple weeks. I recommend warming the mouse, and putting it in his hide, or somewhere where he is often, and then leave him alone for a few hours. Make sure the mouse is dry though so no subtrate sticks to it. He should eat it, that is how I got my snake to feed when I first got her. Any time you handle him from here on out though, be sure to be very gentle with him. Let him do the moving, let him thread your fingers and just be slow and gentle. He will eventually get used to your smell as getting out and exercising and exploring. Try not to hold him to where he can't move, like if you are taking him out of the cage, try to get him onto your palm as fast as you can so he doesn't feel restricted.

Good luck and I wish you the best!

[Grimace]

^this.

Also heres a few other breeder tips.
Stick him with the dead mouse in a small deli cup or something and leave them in a warm dark place for an hour or two.
Or try braining the mouse.
Or just try live. Just stick like a live fuzzy in with him and leave em alone for a while.

[Check the PO Box]

Titania, sorry to tell you, but your snake was probably unhealthy when you got him. Petco is not a very reputable place to buy snakes, and it sounds like he has neurological problems. He may have been inbred and have something wrong with him.

But if that is not the problem, then putting him in the feeding tank is probably stressing out if you have only had him for a couple weeks. I recommend warming the mouse, and putting it in his hide, or somewhere where he is often, and then leave him alone for a few hours. Make sure the mouse is dry though so no substrate sticks to it. He should eat it, that is how I got my snake to feed when I first got her. Any time you handle him from here on out though, be sure to be very gentle with him. Let him do the moving, let him thread your fingers and just be slow and gentle. He will eventually get used to your smell as getting out and exercising and exploring. Try not to hold him to where he can't move, like if you are taking him out of the cage, try to get him onto your palm as fast as you can so he doesn't feel restricted.

Good luck and I wish you the best!

Okay, The mouse is never wet, and I don't make him move anywhere, just when I pick him up.

When I got him his eyes were bright, and his colors too, doesn't that mean he is healthy? He was the most active snake in there tanks.
(Also, I don't know what petco you live by/been too, but I've always gotten my pets from there, and they've always lived many many years and have been healthy o.o)


Yeah, we stick the mouse in a plastic bag, then stick the bag in warm water. So he isn't wet.


And thank you, I just got my mom to agree to split the vet price with me encase he still won't eat in a few days.

^this.

Also heres a few other breeder tips.
Stick him with the dead mouse in a small deli cup or something and leave them in a warm dark place for an hour or two.
Or try braining the mouse.
Or just try live. Just stick like a live fuzzy in with him and leave em alone for a while.

Okay, I'll try live if all else fails, and whats braining the mouse?

[Grimace]

Titania, sorry to tell you, but your snake was probably unhealthy when you got him. Petco is not a very reputable place to buy snakes, and it sounds like he has neurological problems. He may have been inbred and have something wrong with him.

But if that is not the problem, then putting him in the feeding tank is probably stressing out if you have only had him for a couple weeks. I recommend warming the mouse, and putting it in his hide, or somewhere where he is often, and then leave him alone for a few hours. Make sure the mouse is dry though so no substrate sticks to it. He should eat it, that is how I got my snake to feed when I first got her. Any time you handle him from here on out though, be sure to be very gentle with him. Let him do the moving, let him thread your fingers and just be slow and gentle. He will eventually get used to your smell as getting out and exercising and exploring. Try not to hold him to where he can't move, like if you are taking him out of the cage, try to get him onto your palm as fast as you can so he doesn't feel restricted.

Good luck and I wish you the best!

Okay, The mouse is never wet, and I don't make him move anywhere, just when I pick him up.

When I got him his eyes were bright, and his colors too, doesn't that mean he is healthy? He was the most active snake in there tanks.
(Also, I don't know what petco you live by/been too, but I've always gotten my pets from there, and they've always lived many many years and have been healthy o.o)


Yeah, we stick the mouse in a plastic bag, then stick the bag in warm water. So he isn't wet.


And thank you, I just got my mom to agree to split the vet price with me encase he still won't eat in a few days.

^this.

Also heres a few other breeder tips.
Stick him with the dead mouse in a small deli cup or something and leave them in a warm dark place for an hour or two.
Or try braining the mouse.
Or just try live. Just stick like a live fuzzy in with him and leave em alone for a while.

Okay, I'll try live if all else fails, and whats braining the mouse?

Its an old trick breeders use to get feeding. You basically just get a dead mouse, warm it up, and poke a hole in it so a little of the brain is wiped on the face. i don't think anyones entirely sure WHY it works, but its surprisingly reliable

[Check the PO Box]

Titania, sorry to tell you, but your snake was probably unhealthy when you got him. Petco is not a very reputable place to buy snakes, and it sounds like he has neurological problems. He may have been inbred and have something wrong with him.

But if that is not the problem, then putting him in the feeding tank is probably stressing out if you have only had him for a couple weeks. I recommend warming the mouse, and putting it in his hide, or somewhere where he is often, and then leave him alone for a few hours. Make sure the mouse is dry though so no substrate sticks to it. He should eat it, that is how I got my snake to feed when I first got her. Any time you handle him from here on out though, be sure to be very gentle with him. Let him do the moving, let him thread your fingers and just be slow and gentle. He will eventually get used to your smell as getting out and exercising and exploring. Try not to hold him to where he can't move, like if you are taking him out of the cage, try to get him onto your palm as fast as you can so he doesn't feel restricted.

Good luck and I wish you the best!

Okay, The mouse is never wet, and I don't make him move anywhere, just when I pick him up.

When I got him his eyes were bright, and his colors too, doesn't that mean he is healthy? He was the most active snake in there tanks.
(Also, I don't know what petco you live by/been too, but I've always gotten my pets from there, and they've always lived many many years and have been healthy o.o)


Yeah, we stick the mouse in a plastic bag, then stick the bag in warm water. So he isn't wet.


And thank you, I just got my mom to agree to split the vet price with me encase he still won't eat in a few days.

^this.

Also heres a few other breeder tips.
Stick him with the dead mouse in a small deli cup or something and leave them in a warm dark place for an hour or two.
Or try braining the mouse.
Or just try live. Just stick like a live fuzzy in with him and leave em alone for a while.

Okay, I'll try live if all else fails, and whats braining the mouse?

Its an old trick breeders use to get feeding. You basically just get a dead mouse, warm it up, and poke a hole in it so a little of the brain is wiped on the face. i don't think anyones entirely sure WHY it works, but its surprisingly reliable

Okay, sounds easy enough. I'll try it c:

[Raichern]

Hi! I'm sorry you're having problems with your snake, there can be so many reasons for why they won't eat :l But I'd like to add in how you can notice if the snake is healthy or not:
The snake seems to be strong in their body when you hold them, if you'd hold them in the tip if their tail and the rest of the body hangs down, it shouldn't feel like a piece of rope, it should more likely be moving around.
Playing with their tongue
Not breathing with their mouth open or having any kind of sludge (not sure about the English name) around mouth or nose, this is caused by too cold temperature in the tank.
If he sheds in one piece it proves that the humid level is fine and he's most likely healthy.
No small dots around his eyes (parasites)
Snakes can get pneumonia and mouth rot (?)(caused by too low temp.) but it might be too late before you notice it, so it's always good to check your snake daily, you don't have to handle it, just see it in its tank.


I'm not an expert on snakes but this is what I've got to learn from my school so far. I'd be really glad if anyone could come up with more examples :)