Need some advice please

My new corn has eaten 3 times normaly, but the last 2 feeding attempts he has tried to swollow his prey but spits it back out after swollowing about a third of the pinkie does any one know why this may be happening/

Are you watching him eat? Or anything else going on that might make him feel vulnerable? Snakes are at their most vulnerable when eating...so if they feel threatened, they will do their best to spit it back out so they'll have a more likely chance to run away.

I'd recommend placing the pink in the enclosure...then covering it up with a towel or some sort of dark drape...and then just leaving it alone for the rest of the day. Check back in the evening (or next morning or whatever is 6-12 hours after you fed it) to see if the pink has been consumed.

DISCLAIMER: This recommendation of leaving prey alone with the snake for so long applies only to prey that is either pre-killed, frozen/thawed, or a live pink/fuzzy unable to do any harm. Never leave a full grown live rodent with your snake unattended for more than the 20-30 minutes it takes for the snake to decide to eat.

Thanks, I wasn't really watching just checking he didn't seen to mind before, I will definatly try what you suggested. He is a really pretty anery lavender motley and I would hate for anything to happen to him.

I did what you suggested and it worked great. Thank you so much Judy.

Awesome! Glad it worked out. I went through something similar with my gopher when he was a baby. Very skittish eater, but eats like a champ when he's sure no one is watching. ;)

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Originally Posted by JLC

Are you watching him eat? Or anything else going on that might make him feel vulnerable? Snakes are at their most vulnerable when eating...so if they feel threatened, they will do their best to spit it back out so they'll have a more likely chance to run away.

I'd recommend placing the pink in the enclosure...then covering it up with a towel or some sort of dark drape...and then just leaving it alone for the rest of the day. Check back in the evening (or next morning or whatever is 6-12 hours after you fed it) to see if the pink has been consumed.

DISCLAIMER: This recommendation of leaving prey alone with the snake for so long applies only to prey that is either pre-killed, frozen/thawed, or a live pink/fuzzy unable to do any harm. Never leave a full grown live rodent with your snake unattended for more than the 20-30 minutes it takes for the snake to decide to eat.

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Agreed!

Ed, glad you got it worked out. My other suggestion was going to be to make sure the prey item wasn't too big. But sounds like all is well.

How are the corns doing? The anery lavenders I still have are really starting to get some nice pastel-purples with each shed. Would love to see some pics of yours.

I have a normal male BP who will do the same thing if I don't feed him, then turn the lights out and leave.....lol. Needless to say, he gets fed last:) GLad you got him eating again:)

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Originally Posted by Blue Apple Herps

Ed, glad you got it worked out. My other suggestion was going to be to make sure the prey item wasn't too big. But sounds like all is well.

How are the corns doing? The anery lavenders I still have are really starting to get some nice pastel-purples with each shed. Would love to see some pics of yours.

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They are doing great, they are both growing and have shed once already for me. I will puy some pics up soon, it's hard to get them to sit still but i'll try.