baby corns regurgitating 1-day old pinky

[Andys-Python]

I have 2 baby corn snakes 8 grams each newly purchased. I have offered them 1-day old mice pinkys and they eat them down without a problem. 1 or two days later, they regurgitate them up. Are the pinkys too big? Should I be cutting their heads off or something? This has happened twice now.
A third baby corn weighing 16 grams is keeping her food down - so far.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks - Andy

[Spiritserpents]

A baby corn weighing 8 grams should easily be able to keep a day-old pink down. I've had 4 gram snakes take a day-old without problem.

How long have you had them?
How are they housed and where?
What are your temperatures, and how are you measuring?
Do they have any swelling so that they look like they still have a meal despite regurging?

[Andys-Python]

How long have you had them?
How are they housed and where?
What are your temperatures, and how are you measuring?
Do they have any swelling so that they look like they still have a meal despite regurging?

I just got them two weeks ago.
I keep them in individual plastic shoeboxes with paper towel on the bottom, a water bowl and blanket to hide under. The blanket also fills up the empty space in the boxes so they feel more secure. The boxes are kept on a shelving unit in a quiet room and covered so they are not disturbed by movement in the room.
They have ambient temperatures of 75 at night to 81 during the day. No hot spot per se.

[Spiritserpents]

So... time for regurge protocol!

Wait 10 days before feeding again. Feeding right away after a regurge can trigger more, which can be very dangerous for the snakes.

For the first offering, offer 1 pinky head. If there is no regurge, wait 7 days and offer another head. If there is a regurge, start over.
After the second head offering, if no regurge wait 7 days and offer another head. If no regurge, wait 7 days and then offer half a pinky, cut lengthwise (do this while it is still frozen, then thaw it). If the snake keeps that down, keep offering half-pinks for 4 to 6 weeks before moving on to slit whole pinks. Once the snakes are keeping whole pinks down, you can decrease the time between feedings if you like, but to no more often than every 5 days.

[Andys-Python]

So... time for regurge protocol!

Wait 10 days before feeding again. Feeding right away after a regurge can trigger more, which can be very dangerous for the snakes.

For the first offering, offer 1 pinky head. If there is no regurge, wait 7 days and offer another head. If there is a regurge, start over.
After the second head offering, if no regurge wait 7 days and offer another head. If no regurge, wait 7 days and then offer half a pinky, cut lengthwise (do this while it is still frozen, then thaw it). If the snake keeps that down, keep offering half-pinks for 4 to 6 weeks before moving on to slit whole pinks. Once the snakes are keeping whole pinks down, you can decrease the time between feedings if you like, but to no more often than every 5 days.

Thanks! I'll make sure to do this. They are so tiny, I was worried they needed food more often and fed them again right away. I will make sure they are not disturbed for 10 days and go with this program.
I'll keep you posted.
Thanks again!

[BHReptiles]

I would also go ahead and give them about a 85-86* hot spot. That will help them digest their food.

Another thing to consider is that they could have an impaction if they continue to regurg. About two years ago I had a corn snake who continually regurged even after doing a similar protocol. I ended up taking her to a vet and she had an impaction that she could not recover from. She had to be put down.

[Dracoluna]

With such young snakes, an impaction is highly unlikely. Just follow the protocol outlined by Spirit and you'll do fine. Right after a regurge, their systems have lost a lot of the natural gut bacteria they need to digest their food. That and the stress are why you wait the 10 days or so. It gives them a chance to not only let their system calm down but the bacteria they need to digest will also replenish themselves. If you get another regurge with the plan, I would actually add in probiotics. Sometimes after multiples, it makes it harder for their systems to replenish so they can use the help. I just get the capsules for humans, open the gelcap, and put it on the pinky. They will eat it anyways as it doesn't change the smell.

[BHReptiles]

I just thought that I would mention it because my girl who died was from a pet store and she was about 8 or 9g. It's been awhile so I don't remember the exact weight on her.

[Dracoluna]

Makes sense and it's something to consider if the babies continue having problems but chances are it's more stress related. A hot spot would definitely be a good idea though and I would suggest giving them that. I've noticed a difference in growth patterns when they are offered a 'hot spot'. It helps them grow faster especially while they are so little.

[Andys-Python]

OK - a hot spot it is. That won't be difficult to do.
Thanks SO much for the help and support. I'll do the probiotics as well.