| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| gemini232 |
Posted - 17/09/2011 : 17:43:27
i brought a new hatchling cornsnake two weeks ago from my local reptile store who said she had fed and would be ready to do so in a weekds time. I left her alone in her faun for a week and then tried to feed her outside her faun in a small tank on a thawed pinky, however she refused to eat. I left her and tried again 3 days later (based on advice online) but this time i brained the mouse but she was still not interested. I tried to feed her again yesterday but again she was not interested. she seems to still be nervous especially when outside her faun so i placed the mouse inside the faun and left over night but it was still there this morning. She does not appear to be shedding as her skin is normal colour and so are her eyes. I was worried i may have the faun set up wrong eventhough it is set up the way the reptile shop advized me, with half the faun on top of a heat mat, a water bowl in the cool end, a piece of bark which covered majority of tan and both warm and cold end and used as a hide and a plastic plant on top of this. I have just taken some of the substrate (chipping) out as there was almost 2 inches (again how the shop set it up) and i thought this may be to thick and so the faun may be to cold, especially as she doesnot seem to be very active...although is very lively when i take out and attempt to feed. I am worried that she is not eating and that i might be doing something wrong as i have not owned a corn snake before. I am planning on leaveing her another week before trying to feed to see if settles in more. |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Simmy_82 |
Posted - 26/09/2011 : 13:13:12
You can pick up a thermostat for around £20  |
| stroodsue |
Posted - 26/09/2011 : 13:08:17
ABSOLUTE necessity.... A THERMOSTAT!!!!!
Not only for the sake of IN CASE the heat mat over heats and could burn your snake, melt the faun,.....
FIRE SAFETY too!!!
I know they are not cheap but I knew before I bought my snake that I would NEED one so I budgeted for that in my starting up costs!
and I tell everyone too, If I hear they DON'T have one!!!
sorry if I seem to have ranted lol
Sue |
| viraleye |
Posted - 20/09/2011 : 07:56:24
i too use kitchen roll as substrate.... its a dam sight easier yo clean too!!! |
| kdlang |
Posted - 19/09/2011 : 20:14:26
if your temps are hotter than they should be then you just turn the thermostat down a little, not add more substrate. what are you measuring your temps with?
|
| gemini232 |
Posted - 19/09/2011 : 20:05:07
ok re read and realized should be bout 85 so have added bit more substrate |
| gemini232 |
Posted - 19/09/2011 : 19:35:24
i no have a stat and reading 90f is this about right was told bout 85-95? since removing the substrate to just thin layer above mat she seems alot more lively |
| ADZUK2007 |
Posted - 18/09/2011 : 01:14:49
I was also told I don't need a stat, it was only when I read on here that a stat is just as important as the snake it self that I purchased one !!! |
| johno |
Posted - 17/09/2011 : 19:17:36
ok in that case turn off your heat mat straight away, i cant express enough how wrong it is to not use a stat with heat mat, why do all rep shops say you dont need a stat it makes me soooo mad!!!!!! i got the same bad advise from my rep shop when i bought my snake then i joined this forum and found out how dangerous it was to not use them. i expect she could be way to hot and that may be the reason for her not being interested. there should be a law in a pet shops licence to make sure a stat is purchased with the snake (or at least proof of owning a stat) there must be loads of novice snake keepers who dont know anybetter burning thier snakes because of these idiot shop owners :( |
| gemini232 |
Posted - 17/09/2011 : 18:12:24
yeah i have tried wiggling it in front of her face but she showed no interest the tounge flickered a bit but that was it i dont have thermostate at the min was told i didnt need one for a faun, am going to get one tomorow now after finding out i do. she doesnt seem to like to borrow spends most of her time ontop of the bar and under the plant at the minute |
| johno |
Posted - 17/09/2011 : 18:00:09
i always use plastic tweezers to feed aswell so it doesnt assosiate my hand with feeding, even though i usually feed out of the faun anyway. |
| johno |
Posted - 17/09/2011 : 17:55:49
make sure the temps are correct because heat stress could cause her to lose her appetite,have you tried wiggling it about infront of her then if shes looking at it slowly start to take it away see if she follows? if so and she shows no interest at all all i can say is wait a week and try again. as for the substrate a very thin layer at the warm end as little as possible, i have my stat and thermometer probes underneath the substrate as they like to burrow sometimes and i had a variation of 5 degrees from on top of the substrate to underneath.. ive been lucky with mine its always fed without a problem the second it gets a whiff of pinkie bammm it takes it so im sorry i cant be of much help. |
| gemini232 |
Posted - 17/09/2011 : 17:54:10
ok i shall try that thankyou very much |
| gmac |
Posted - 17/09/2011 : 17:52:51
is why I use kitchen towel as a substrate for hatchling corns means they dont need to be moved for feding you can see exactly what is happening n the tank and can feed safely in the tank. Possibly consider moving to kitchen towel for a while. |
| gemini232 |
Posted - 17/09/2011 : 17:51:12
yeah ive removed over half of what was in there theres now only bout a cm covering the hit mate and a bit more down the cool end...ok thankyou im just worried bout feeding in faun as alot of people said can cause probs if snake injests substrate or that it may associate my hand with food and strike at me? shall i feed in faun few times then once calmer and used to me a bit more take out to feed? |
| gmac |
Posted - 17/09/2011 : 17:47:50
all you need in the base of the faun is about 1cm of substrate, i use kitchen towel on the base of mine. It is likely the heat wasnt getting through all that substrate. Remove it so there is only a dusting on the bottom and try feeding again in a few days. Try feeding in the faun as that is what the snake is used to for now. |
