Hatchlings at work

[Jay_Bunny]

I work at Petsmart and we have two hatchling corn snakes there. They are in the same cage (temps and humidity are good though). Of course, Petsmart has dumb feeding rules. We have to take the corn snakes out of their cage, put them in the plastic critter keepers and feed them only f/t feeders. The method of warming the feeders is having them in little baggies and warming them up in boiling water. This tends to cook them and they are gross (no wonder they won't eat them)

Today I tried just thawing out a pinky (it is about the size of a 3 day old pinky, so a little too big for the smallest hatchling) but neither took one. I have to follow Petsmart rules and I can't bring in my own feeders, so how can I get these two to eat?

Do you think moving their entire cage to the back (we can't feed them "on the floor") and feed them in their cage will work? Any advice? Oh and they have been at the store for just around 2 weeks. They have attempted to feed 3x (today was try 3).

[joepythons]

I work at Petsmart and we have two hatchling corn snakes there. They are in the same cage (temps and humidity are good though). Of course, Petsmart has dumb feeding rules. We have to take the corn snakes out of their cage, put them in the plastic critter keepers and feed them only f/t feeders. The method of warming the feeders is having them in little baggies and warming them up in boiling water. This tends to cook them and they are gross (no wonder they won't eat them)

Today I tried just thawing out a pinky (it is about the size of a 3 day old pinky, so a little too big for the smallest hatchling) but neither took one. I have to follow Petsmart rules and I can't bring in my own feeders, so how can I get these two to eat?

Do you think moving their entire cage to the back (we can't feed them "on the floor") and feed them in their cage will work? Any advice? Oh and they have been at the store for just around 2 weeks. They have attempted to feed 3x (today was try 3).

Well have they had the first shed? If not they might not be hungry yet.You will be surprised what they can eat .I would be patient and try next week.Oh tell the manager you do not have to boil the pinky

[Jay_Bunny]

Yea, I told them they didn't have to boil the pinkies. I'm not sure if they have shed yet. The bigger one, maybe, but the tiniest one is really small. I will try again next week.

[Blue Apple Herps]

Yeah, don't boil the pinkies. Just warm them up in how water from the tap. Might be time to try live.

[Jay_Bunny]

Petsmart is against live feeding of any animal other than insects and fish so I could try and sneak some live pinkies to them but I don't want to risk getting fired.

[DesignerBP]

When I worked there, any snake that wouldnt eat I would set up in the iso room separately and lay the pinks under a basking light until thawed then offered. If refused I allowed 2-3 days before offering again.

[oliverstwist]

I havent fed the snakes at petsmart yet, the manager does it. but after a while they catch on, just dont boil them...

[Jay_Bunny]

Hmm, I might ask the manager if we could at least take one corn snake out of the display tank and set it up in the back and to and get it to feed. The thing is, I think they are more concerned with selling it than getting it to eat, though I wonder what the "pet parents" think when they take home a snake that won't eat. Ugh. Yea, I already have to talk with him about an employee who forgot to give the guinea pigs water overnight (I was livid when I got to work this morning and found them without water!), so I could just add this to the list of things to talk with him about.

[DesignerBP]

yea set it up in the back. customers should refuse to buy a non eating snake anyway unless they are well experienced. There are always ways to get around P&P (petty and pointless) at Petsmart. My store didnt have cameras which made things better too!

[Blue Apple Herps]

Well if its against their policy to feed live, then just politely inform them that the snakes may die.