Power Feeding?

whoaxmary · 02-26-11, 10:45 AM

So - as some of you probably know- a little while ago I received a two year old corn snake from a friend.
The snake, I personally think is very underweight. I'll try to post some pictures in this thread when I get home from work. The pictures I've already posted don't show her size too well. She was being fed one f/t pinkie every ten days for over the past years. She was fed before I received her, and had no visible lump where the pinkie sat in her stomach.
I went out to a local pet store and asked to see their frozen feeders; and picked out six smaller fuzzies that looked like they would be the right size.
Now, when I was talking to the one girl who works at that pet store (the only pet store employee I've ever trusted as I know she owns many of her own snakes and reptiles and is always very helpful and actually cares about the herps - not simply making her store money) she told me I had to power fed the snake. Normally I trust this girl’s opinion, but I've done a lot of research on power feeding and I'm not sure the risks are worth it.
Would I be better off just keeping her own her regular feeding schedule every ten days - just switch pinkies for fuzzies - or should I be power feeding her?
Experts I need your opinions. <3 Thanks.

Lankyrob · 02-26-11, 11:09 AM

No expert here - BUT DO NOT POWERFEED - switch up to a fuzzy every seven days and you will see a nice gradual weight increase. Once the snake is big enough for large mice ie it is an adult then you can ease out the feeding to every 14 days.

marvelfreak · 02-26-11, 11:54 AM

I agree with Rob. If you start power feeding a underfed snake all your going to get is a snake throwing up it's food. Work your way up. I give her one fuzzy every 7 days after a month bump it up to two every 10 days.

infernalis · 02-26-11, 12:03 PM

I also agree, rather than feeding too much in one sitting, just wait less days between feedings.

Corn snakes are resilient, and with a closer feeding schedule, it should pick up some weight at an acceptable pace.

whoaxmary · 02-26-11, 02:19 PM

Thanks for the reassurance that I was right to worry about the risks of powerfeeding. Glad I did my research and checked in here. I'll keep going with my orginal plans then - will feed her a fuzzy monday (7 day mark - rather than waiting ten days like prev. owners..)
Besides being tiny; she seems completely heathly; so I'm glad this sounds like an easy fix.

Jendee · 02-26-11, 06:05 PM

lol that's funny they told you to power feed your snake. That's a big no no lol if there isn't a lump or your snake looks "unsatisfied" always bump up a size not numbers

whoaxmary · 02-26-11, 06:16 PM

I know. I was pretty disappointed...She was the only reason I trusted that store... ;/ Not going to rush back there...

whoaxmary · 02-26-11, 07:15 PM

Don't know if you can really see you size well in these pictures. But as I said she is over two years, over two feet long, and was only fed one pinkie every ten days.

whoaxmary · 02-26-11, 07:16 PM

Putting this one up because it shows her colouring nicely...Think I'm going to settle that she's a hypo-snow? ... :S

whoaxmary · 02-26-11, 07:17 PM

You can sort of see in the first pictures how it looks like her sides cave in almost...

marvelfreak · 02-26-11, 08:07 PM

Nice looking corn and remember any can make a mistake. Maybe she was misinform. That why it always good to ask around and get different opinion.

percey39 · 02-26-11, 08:12 PM

I have done my own experiments as such with powerfeeding. I have found there to be no ill effects to the breeding abilities with snakes that were bulked up young when they were successfully bred at 4-5years of age or their health. I am yet to find a realiable or trust worthy document that has specific and accurate accounts of powerfeeding causing problems. The only issue is when snakes reach the 18 month age and their metabolism slows as does their growth rate, this is where you slow your feeding down! Practically all snakes are over fed in captibity compared to their wild counterparts anyway. With everyone constantly feeding rats too the fat cells are a lot higher. A varied diet is always better in my experience, but some snakes can also be extremely fussy.

I would suggest in your case just to get your snake on bigger meals every 7 days as corns have a higher metabolism than pythos anyway. Bigger meals are a lot better than lots of small prey items.

whoaxmary · 02-26-11, 08:13 PM

exactly why i'm so glad i found this forum.

whoaxmary · 02-26-11, 08:35 PM

thanks for the advice. <3

kinggill · 02-27-11, 12:48 AM

If its hungry feed it....i never fed like exactly 1 rat every saturday schedule like alot of keepers do ...im pretty sure thats not how it works in the wild...they eat meals as often as they find them.....if they found a nest they might eat 1 or all... if my animals are just hangin out 2 days later i figured they were full...if they are alert and active i feed again...