Corn snake food alternatives come in many forms. You can feed it adult mice, weaner rats, or pinky mice. Ensure that the feeder is small and provides enough space between feedings. If the feeder is large, it might regurgitate or stress the snake, so allow it more time between feedings. Generally, you can give your snake a weaner rat every 10 to 14 days.
Pinky, fuzzy, and adult mice are corn snake food alternatives
Although adult corn snakes prefer to eat lizards and frogs, you should avoid offering them rodents as a first meal. However, if you have a hatchling corn snake, you can try feeding it pinky mice or fuzzy mice. The key is to make sure you find a frozen rodent that’s the right size for your corn snake.
Pinky mice are the smallest of the three, while adult and fuzzy mice are the next smallest. You can buy pinky mice in peach or regular varieties. You can also buy adult mice that range in size from very small to extra-large. However, be aware that the size of these mice will vary depending on where you buy them. A general rule is to never give a corn snake a mouse bigger than its body width.
When you first get your corn snake, it is best to handle it with two hands. The first hand should be cupped, and the second should be ready to catch the snake if it moves out of your hand. Once it’s older, you should be able to handle it for longer periods. However, you may not want to handle your snake while it’s shedding, or if you’ve recently handled a rodent.
You should avoid handling the corn snake after feeding. Doing so can stress the animal and cause regurgitation. If you notice a regurgitation, wait a day or two, or give it smaller food. Remember that reptiles are sensitive to changes in air pressure. They may act differently during a storm, so be patient. If your snake is refusing to eat, it may be suffering from some type of disease.
Avoid feeding a chick to a corn snake
If you have a corn snake, do not feed it a chick! This snake is extremely picky, and may refuse your food if it is cold or too warm. It may be dehydrated during the shedding cycle, or its digestive system may be struggling. Also, a chick may be odorless after it has been cooked and cooled.
Corn snakes have a high protein diet, and rodents are the most popular choice for snake owners. You can also feed them fish, but crickets are too small for them to eat. Baby corn snakes, on the other hand, will eat small frogs and eggs.
Before feeding a corn snake a chick, it is important to measure the snake’s width. Then, hold it by its neck and the rest of its body in your hands. Do not force feed it unless you have measured it carefully. It is important to know the snake’s maximum size and weight so that it can eat the food in the safest way.
It is important to provide a warm environment for the corn snake to digest the food. A warm place will help the snake regulate its body temperature. It should also have plenty of food and water.
Avoid pine and cedar shavings as a substrate for a corn snake
If you want to keep a corn snake, you should avoid pine and cedar shavings as a bedding material. These two woods contain toxic oils and can irritate the snake’s skin. They also can cause respiratory problems and chemical burns. Cedar is also not the best choice as it releases fumes that are harmful to snakes.
Newspaper is another good choice for substrate. Newspaper is inexpensive and convenient. However, there are other substrate materials you should avoid for your snake. While pine shavings are widely available in pet stores, they contain toxic oils that can harm a corn snake. Also, avoid reptile sand because it can get into the snake’s nostrils and cause impaction problems.
If you want to keep a corn snake, you can also use newspaper as bedding material. Newspaper is a cheap, easy-to-clean substrate that will not harbor bacteria. Besides, newspaper will not cause any dust. It is also absorbent, making it a good choice for naturalistic terrariums.
Sand is also a good substrate. It can be purchased in pet shops in a variety of colors. Sand is ideal for burrowing snakes, but it is not recommended for corn snakes because it can cause impaction, a serious medical condition that can kill them. Cedar and pine shavings contain aromatic compounds that can cause neurologic problems in snakes. Cedar shavings and bark can cause a similar neurologic reaction in snakes. Luckily, however, cedar shavings are safe for corn snakes. Cedar shavings are recommended by professional herpetologists around the world.
