Is It Time To Feed Something Bigger?

I was just wondering. I usually watch my Corn Snake when it eats dinner, even though it's a thawed mouse. I notice initially my Jasper stretches it's mouth and swallows the mouse very quickly, and when it goes further down his body, the mouse just kind of disappears. There's no lump. Does this mean I should move up with my mouse size? I am currently feeding Fuzzies. I've had Jasper for about a year and a half, and it's over thirty inches long, but probably not by much. Should I move up the food size? I'd honestly like my Corn Snake to get bigger, just because I'd like it to be at a more impressive size, but I know intentionally fattening it up just because I want it to grow bigger is not healthy for the snake.

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Originally Posted by ReclusiveDemon

I was just wondering. I usually watch my Corn Snake when it eats dinner, even though it's a thawed mouse. I notice initially my Jasper stretches it's mouth and swallows the mouse very quickly, and when it goes further down his body, the mouse just kind of disappears. There's no lump. Does this mean I should move up with my mouse size? I am currently feeding Fuzzies. I've had Jasper for about a year and a half, and it's over thirty inches long, but probably not by much. Should I move up the food size? I'd honestly like my Corn Snake to get bigger, just because I'd like it to be at a more impressive size, but I know intentionally fattening it up just because I want it to grow bigger is not healthy for the snake.

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Glad to see your concerned about your snake becoming over weight. It seems like some owners either don't know the snake is fat, they don't care, or they think that it makes it a "bigger snake" which is "cooler" than those skinny snakes!

In short the answer is yes. There should be a bit of a lump when the food item settles. Try feeding the corn a prey item between 1 and 1.5 times its girth at its largest diameter.

For extra guidance, this list may help, its known as the Munson Feeding Plan. Its a guide however and your snakes requirements may be somewhat different than this list, although it has proved very helpful to me!

-single pinks (2-3g) Every 4-5 days. (Snake=4-15g)
-Double pinks(3gx2) Every 4-5 Days. (Snake=16-23g)
-Small fuzzies(5-7g) Every 5-6 days. (Snake=24-30g)
-Regular fuzzies (7-9g) Every 5-6 days (Snake=30-50g)
-Hoppers(9-12g) Every 5-6 days (Snake=51-90g)
-Weaned(14-20g) Every 7 days (Snake=91-170g)
-Adult(24-30g) Every 7-x days (Snake=170g+)
-Jumbo Adults (40-50g) Every 7-x days (Snake=400g+)

You could probably feed a hopper mouse now.

I don't follow the Munson plan because I feed rats, but a hopper mouse once a week, and adult mice every 10-14 days will be good for this guy.

I use the girth rule of thumb: The thickest part of the prey item (which is the hips) should be 1.0 to 1.5 times the widest girth of the corn snake.

I don't like the Munson plan. I personally feel its too aggressive and puts too much emphasis on weights or prey and snake.

If you can't see a lump, then move up in prey size. Then feed that size until you no longer see a lump after 24 hours. Then move up. Continue this process until you hit large mice, even if there's no lump, an adult corn doesn't need more than a large mouse. Feed your snake once a week doing this method, and you'll have a happy healthy snake.