When juvi corn snakes get to be about half grown and are eating adult mice, do they need to eat less frequently? We've been feeding Spectre every 7 days pretty much since last summer, but the last couple of times we fed him on feeding day, he hasn't really seemed very hungry. Last night he simply refused to eat it at all. Does it mean he should go to a ten day feeding schedule? Or a two week schedule? I have no idea what to think. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you!

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~Juliane~

A 7-day schedule is fine, even for adult corns,. their digestive systems are much faster than that of a larger snake, like a boa for example, and they can still eat frequently. At the very most I would take it up to every 10 days, but once a week is fine.

It doesn't matter that he's not so hungry - try him with something smaller, or feed him every 10 days, but if he is eating it then he is still hungry - do you mean that he hasn't been as enthusiastic as he was before? Our corns were much more excitable feeders when they were younger, and they used to strike feed and coil around the food item, now they will take it after they are left with it for a while.

He may have refused to eat because he is coming up to a shed, or just because he wasn't hungry, or wanted it warmer, or wanted a diff food item - there are so many reasons why a snake won't eat, we have several rats and mice left over on feeding day, just because some of the snakes are such fussy feeders. Just give the mouse to someone else if he doesn't eat it.

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

I feed all of mine even the adults on a 7 day schedule. Sometimes they just aren't hungry. Maybe they had a bit heavier meal than normal or they are going into shed. I just let them wait till the next feeding day rolls around. Some snake's appetites do slow down a bit in winter.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Some weeks mine don't seem as enthusiastic, yet other weeks they go for the kill my corns very rarely miss a meal, one of my kings is off food at the moment though, he's driving me mad

We too stay on a 7 day cycle.

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Ken
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan

I feed mine on a 5 day cycle until they are about 2.5'-3'. After that I move them to a 7 day. Maybe your corn is just stressed out from a large food item. If I were you, I would try something a bit smaller.

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Josh Shrader

1.0 Ball Python (Monty)
0.1 Red-Eared Slider (Woody)
0.1 Yellow-Bellied Slider (Buz)

Should we move him back down to hoppers then?

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~Juliane~

Juliane as long as there is a just discernable lump in the snake after feeding the size is fine. The snake may just be having an off day.
Just go ahead and give him a bit and then try again.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Ok, thank you...we'll wait a while and then try again with another mouse.

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~Juliane~

If you are still having trouble next time you feed him please let us know. We will be happy to help you.

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Josh Shrader

1.0 Ball Python (Monty)
0.1 Red-Eared Slider (Woody)
0.1 Yellow-Bellied Slider (Buz)