Feeding baby corn snakes and care of corn snakes
 Corn
snakes are a very popular reptile pet due to many factors, among which
is the fact that they’re not venomous, they don’t grow to large lengths
even when they’re adults and the fact that they are relatively easy to
care for once they’re all grown up. However, while they’re babies, corn
snakes need to be paid a lot of attention. Hatchling corn snakes
should be fed once every five to seven days whilst juveniles to adults
once every ten to fourteen days. Keep in mind that you can over-feed a
snake just like you can over-feed any other creature on the planet,
making it fat and unhealthy, just like humans. The normal diet for a
corn snake in captivity will be mice or rats, and the general rule of
thumb while feeding them will be to offer them mice that are about the
size of their midsection, or only slightly larger. In the case of a
hatchling this will mean newborn mice.Keep in mind that feeding your
snake a mouse that is too small will leave it hungry, while feeding it
one that is too large may lead to regurgitation.
Ideally when it comes to your pet, you should never feed them
wild-caught rodents because these can then transmit parasites that may
harbor to your snake. The best option is to purchase frozen rodents
because the freezing process will kill any parasites. You should always
thaw the mice in warm water before offering them to your snake. Don’t
forget that they can’t regulate their internal temperature and eating
something that is frozen might have dire repercussions. Also, never try
to defrost the mice in a microwave oven. After you feed your snake you
shouldn’t handle it for the following 48 hours, it needs to digest the
food, and handling it might cause regurgitation. In order to help
digestion you need to make sure that your tank’s temperature is properly
regulated for your snake’s normal environment. Stress and improper
temperature control are the main reasons why most snakes will refuse to
eat in captivity. One other reason why a snake may refuse to eat is the
fact that it’s starting to shed its skin, but this is completely normal.
It is also worth to note the fact that snakes don’t need vitamin or
mineral supplements, they get all their necessary nourishments from
their food, everything else is just a money-making scheme. |
