Try number 4 to feed a nonfeeder baby corn.

[jorgasm]

So our little guy Tanas has yet to eat since we got him 4 weeks ago. We've been trying once a week, every week, with f/t pinkies, and he has snubbed every one of them. Tomorrow we are going to get a live pinky and do the "deli cup over night" trick- hoping that he will eat it so we, my boyfriend and I, will finally stop being so worried about the little guy. My question is... if he doesn't eat... what should we try? We bought him at a petco... and they didn't really give us any information about his feeding habits other than, "today was feeding day and I don't believe he ate". We have since been back to that petco to talk to them about their corns and the lady said that there were two or three in that clutch that refused to eat... so, we're thinking that our little baby might be one of those nonfeeders. If that is so, then this little guy hasn't eaten in at least 5-6 weeks. I'm just asking what you guys think we should do about the little, and I mean little, guy if he doesn't eat?

[butters!]

if i had to guess its prolly not interested in f/t.unless you get a snake from a reputable breeder that tells you it eats f/t,i would feed live for at least a month just to get it going.

[jorgasm]

Yeah, we're trying live today. We're taking the snake to the pet store with us, placing the live pinkie in a deli cup with it, and brining it home. Hopefully it eats the little sucker before it dies. But in the off chance that it shows no interest in the live food, what to do? Wait another 5 days? How long do we wait for this little guy to eat before it becomes torture to the animal? Thats what I'm worried about. I really don't want him to starve to death. Is force feeding an option with a snake so young?

[greghall]

every year I have 40 + corns hatch most won't feed for the first month this year I kept two that were good feeders fed after their first shed & also 1 black corn that was real pretty its been 6 or 7 weeks after hatch & the black corn has not ate tried all the tricks Im going to try to force feed pinky heads if he don't eat by next week. some never eat & just die. just keep trying the smallest pinks that you can find put them in a small paper bag overnight & see what happens.

[kc261]

I would NOT take the snake to the pet store with you. That will just stress it out and pretty much guarantee it won't eat.

If you are worried about the pinkie dying too soon, you don't need to worry as long as it is a healthy pinkie and you go straight home. I've seen people who bring pinkies to sell at snake shows and they survive all day.

I have a baby corn that was really stubborn about eating for me when I brought it home. I did the deli cup overnight thing, because that is what the breeder recommended. I tried live & f/t. It wasn't eating. I decided to try leaving the snake in its regular enclosure to avoid any stress moving it to the deli cup might be causing, and it ate just fine that way even though most people have more luck with the deli cup method. You can read the thread about it here:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=72052

I'd really recommend doing everything you can to avoid stressing the snake. Not just at feeding time but all the time until it is eating reliably. Also, if this is a snake that has never eaten, you might try some of the tricks with chicken broth or ivory soap or lizard scenting. If it has eaten before though, I'd think it would recognize the pinkies as food and just needs to feel safe and secure to eat.

[anendeloflorien]

I had a couple of problem eaters myself but the best thing I found for them was live pinky in a small deli cup with nothing else in it overnight. Eventually I guess they get pissed off enough at the little thing bumping up against them that they bite it and OMG it's tasty lol. After doing that a few times they usually get it and will eat f/t or anything I throw in there. Good luck with him/her!

[jorgasm]

Well, he has been in the deli cup with the pinky for like 10 hours now... hope its eaten by the morning.