How to get to eat frozen/thawed?

[badgerboy8608]

I've had my most recent corn snake for about 2 months. After giving him a week to settle in I gave him a frozen/thawed pinkie and he struck right away. Since then he hasn't been interested in frozen/thawed so after a little while I give in and give him a live which he eats no problem. What can I do to encourage him more the direction of the thawed? How often should a young corn eat? I don't want to underfeed him but also don't want to have to feed him live all the time? Also is it ok to leave a pinkie in with the snake? I know you're not supposed to leave your snake alone with prey but is it ok for brief periods with a pinkie since it doesn't seem like it would be able to fight back against my snake? I know that was alot of questions but thanks for responses to any or all of it.

[MeMe]

Why do you want to convert him to f/t?

I feed both of my corns...well...all of my snakes live.

I feed my corns every 7-10 days.

I don't feed f/t so I really don't have any advice for you.

You can leave a pinkie in al leave them alone for a while.

Pinkies are prett harmless.

What size is your corn and how long have you had him?

[tmlowe5704]

you are fine leaving prey with a snake overnight until they open their eyes.

[joepythons]

I've had my most recent corn snake for about 2 months. After giving him a week to settle in I gave him a frozen/thawed pinkie and he struck right away. Since then he hasn't been interested in frozen/thawed so after a little while I give in and give him a live which he eats no problem. What can I do to encourage him more the direction of the thawed? How often should a young corn eat? I don't want to underfeed him but also don't want to have to feed him live all the time? Also is it ok to leave a pinkie in with the snake? I know you're not supposed to leave your snake alone with prey but is it ok for brief periods with a pinkie since it doesn't seem like it would be able to fight back against my snake? I know that was alot of questions but thanks for responses to any or all of it.

To be honest you should have kept him on eating the frozen thaweds since he allready ate one.I know you said he showed no interest at all the second time.In my experiance with corn snakes they normaly will eat ANYTHING you give them lol.What are your temps? What is his enclosure? Does he have any hides? The reasons i am asking these questions is because maybe he is stressed(maybe temps not correct or feels unsecure),they are not as bad as a ball python is in these areas(being stressed and such easily).It is ok to leave the pinky alone with him as it can not hurt him.What was the person you bought it from feeding him? Keep us posted

[Jonny2184]

Yeah for sure check the temps.

When I thaw my rats I put them in pretty warm water. Takes about 2 hours to thaw and if he doesnt take it the first try, I go back the bathroom get the hairdryer out and heat it up a bit.
Usually that should help make it seem more alive or real.
My BP always wants them warmed up for some reason.

I dont think switching with Corn snakes is that bad.
Maybe more so for a BP (imprint feeders) but I have changed from Live to Thawed a few times with not only my Corn but my BP a few times.

Just don't stick with live too long or they will have a hard time going back.

Mice and smaller rats have done a number on my corn snake so he is now a little afraid of them I think. and his striking speed is much slower and not acurate at all... a lot of times he will miss the one in the tweezers.

anyway, good luck to ya

[joepythons]

Yeah for sure check the temps.

When I thaw my rats I put them in pretty warm water. Takes about 2 hours to thaw and if he doesnt take it the first try, I go back the bathroom get the hairdryer out and heat it up a bit.
Usually that should help make it seem more alive or real.
My BP always wants them warmed up for some reason.

I dont think switching with Corn snakes is that bad.
Maybe more so for a BP (imprint feeders) but I have changed from Live to Thawed a few times with not only my Corn but my BP a few times.

Just don't stick with live too long or they will have a hard time going back.

Mice and smaller rats have done a number on my corn snake so he is now a little afraid of them I think. and his striking speed is much slower and not acurate at all... a lot of times he will miss the one in the tweezers.

anyway, good luck to ya

I would not use a hair dryer to warm up a pinky as that could be a little messy and smelly .If a corn snake is kept in the proper heat ranges they normaly will eat live or frozen thawed.I had a couple that would eat it frozen if i would have let them lol.Now as far as your snake(jonny2184) you might want to try fresk killed on your snake since he has a striking problem.

[Jonny2184]

I would not use a hair dryer to warm up a pinky as that could be a little messy and smelly .If a corn snake is kept in the proper heat ranges they normaly will eat live or frozen thawed.I had a couple that would eat it frozen if i would have let them lol.Now as far as your snake(jonny2184) you might want to try fresk killed on your snake since he has a striking problem.

I wasn't thinking about a pinky (i was thinking bigger) but I could see you doing it to a pinky too but not that long. just to make it warmer... not roast the bloody thing... and thats after u thaw it slowly. But your point is well taken! (it was just my )

I don't think fresh killed would fix the striking thing either.
I've done it all... live/fresh killed/frozen thaw/ It's all been done.
I used to have them fresh killed but I ran outta room to keep them all alive at once.
And I find it hard to keep them the correct sizes if I want to do fresh/kill. Usually I kill them when they are at the proper size. They could grow too big eh!
but again your point is well taken. I think he just sucks at striking.

[MeMe]

I would not use a hair dryer to warm up a pinky as that could be a little messy and smelly

I have used a hair dryer on f/t.

If you don't lay it directly on the pinkie and don't turn it on full blast you should be ok.

I only used f/t on Ayla who was a rescue and that is what they had her on. She ate them 2 times and I changed her to live.

[joepythons]

I wasn't thinking about a pinky (i was thinking bigger) but I could see you doing it to a pinky too but not that long. just to make it warmer... not roast the bloody thing... and thats after u thaw it slowly. But your point is well taken!

I don't think fresh killed would fix the striking thing either.
I've done it all... live/fresh killed/frozen thaw/ It's all been done.
I used to have them fresh killed but I ran outta room to keep them all alive at once.
And I find it hard to keep them the correct sizes if I want to do fresh/kill. Usually I kill them when they are at the proper size. They could grow too big eh!
but again your point is well taken. I think he just sucks at striking.

No problem .I just thought about something,is it possible he has an eye cap retained over his eye/eyes? If so then thats why his aim is off,if not then his striking aim just sucks

[joepythons]

I have used a hair dryer on f/t.

If you don't lay it directly on the pinkie and don't turn it on full blast you should be ok.

I only used f/t on Ayla who was a rescue and that is what they had her on. She ate them 2 times and I changed her to live.

Thats true.I would just set out the FT and let them thaw at room temp.I guess each snake has thier likes and dislikes lol.