Corn snakes are one of the three most commonly kept pet reptiles in North America and their popularity just keeps on increasing with each year that goes by due to being excellent beginner friendly reptiles to keep.
Due to so many people keeping a pet corn snake, we see a number of questions about how you should go about correctly caring for a corn snake each month. Although most people don’t end up having any problems, a surprising number of people are having issues with a skinny corn snake.
Due to this, we have decided to publish this article in an attempt to help our readers who have a pet corn snake that is under weight.
This article is not mean to be a replacement for professional advice form a veterinarian though and you can book a video call with a qualified vet for advice specific to your corn snakes situation to get the best advice possible.
Is It Normal For A Corn Snake To Be Skinny?
The first question you might be asking is whether it is actually normal for a corn snake to be skinny or not. The simple answer to this is no, it isn’t normal and if your corn snake is skinny then there is probably something going on that needs addressing.
There is one single exception to this and it is if your corn snake has previously had an issue and has recently been the recipient of treatment either in the form of medicine or in the form of actual surgary.
If this is the issue then your vet should have given you advice as well as a leaflet on the potential side effects of the treatment. Around of half of the common treatments for snakes can include weight loss so it may just be this and in that specific situation, it can be considered normal.
How Do I Know If My Corn Snake Is Too Skinny?
The second question you might be asking is just how skinny is too skinny for a corn snake? Unfortunately, there isn’t an exact answer to this as it can very much depend on the age and species of your corn snake.
A good rule of thumb though is that if your corn snake looks like it has no muscle mass whatsoever and all you can see are the ribs then it is too skinny. If your corn snake is so skinny that its ribs and backbone are actually protruding through the skin then this is a medical emergency and you need to take your corn snake to the vets immediately as this means it has severe malnutrition.
Why Is My Corn Snake Skinny?
A skinny corn snake can be the result of a number of different problems but the most common cause is incorrect husbandry. This means that the corn snake isn’t being kept in the right environment or isn’t being fed the correct diet.
Other potential causes of a skinny corn snake include:-
- Internal parasites.
- Metabolic bone disease.
- Infectious diseases.
- Respiratory infections (upper and lower).
Each of these potential causes will be explored in more detail below.
Incorrect Diet
The diet of a corn snake is very important as if they don’t get the right mix of nutrients then this can lead to a skinny corn snake. The diet of a corn snake should consist of live prey such as mice or rats.
It is possible to feed your corn snake frozen/thawed prey but this isn’t recommended as it can lead to a number of different health problems. If you do opt to feed your corn snake frozen/thawed prey then make sure that it is thawed out correctly and completely before feeding it to your corn snake.
The size of the prey should also be considered as if it is too big then your corn snake may struggle to eat it and if it is too small then your corn snake won’t get the right mix of nutrients. A good rule of thumb is to feed your corn snake prey that is around the same size as the widest part of its body.
You should also make sure that you are feeding your corn snake on a regular basis and not just leaving it to fend for itself. A good rule of thumb is to feed your corn snake every 5-7 days but this will depend on the age and size of your corn snake.
If you are unsure then it is always best to err on the side of caution and feed your corn snake more often rather than less often.
Internal Parasites
Internal parasites are a common problem in corn snakes and can lead to a skinny corn snake as the parasites will steal nutrients from the corn snake’s food before it has a chance to digest them.
There are a number of different types of internal parasites that can affect corn snakes but the most common are roundworms and tapeworms.
If you suspect that your corn snake has internal parasites then you should take it to the vet as they will be able to carry out some tests and prescribe the correct medication.
Metabolic Bone Disease
Metabolic bone disease is a common problem in corn snakes and can lead to a skinny corn snake as the corn snake’s bones will start to weaken and break.
There are a number of different causes of metabolic bone disease but the most common is a lack of calcium in the diet.
If you suspect that your corn snake has metabolic bone disease then you should take it to the vet as they will be able to carry out some tests and prescribe the correct medication.
Infectious Diseases
There are a number of different infectious diseases that can affect corn snakes and can lead to a skinny corn snake. The most common are respiratory infections (upper and lower), septicemia, and scale rot.
If you suspect that your corn snake has an infectious disease then you should take it to the vet as they will be able to carry out some tests and prescribe the correct medication.
Respiratory Infections
There are a number of different respiratory infections that can affect corn snakes and can lead to a skinny corn snake. The most common are upper respiratory infections, lower respiratory infections, and tracheal mites.
If you suspect that your corn snake has a respiratory infection then you should take it to the vet as they will be able to carry out some tests and prescribe the correct medication.
Tracheal mites are a type of respiratory infection that is caused by tiny parasites that live in the corn snake’s airways. If you suspect that your corn snake has tracheal mites then you should take it to the vet as they will be able to carry out some tests and prescribe the correct medication.
Septicemia
Septicemia is a serious infection that occurs when bacteria enters the blood stream. If you suspect that your corn snake has septicemia then you should take it to the vet as they will be able to carry out some tests and prescribe the correct medication.
Scale Rot
Scale rot is a serious infection that can affect corn snakes and can lead to a skinny corn snake. Scale rot is caused by bacteria that enter the skin through open wounds. If you suspect that your corn snake has scale rot then you should take it to the vet as they will be able to carry out some tests and prescribe the correct medication.
How Long Does It Take For A Skinny Corn Snake To Recover?
The length of time it will take for a skinny corn snake to recover will depend on the underlying cause of the weight loss.
If the skinny corn snake is due to a lack of food then the corn snake should start to put on weight once it is being fed on a regular basis.
If the skinny corn snake is due to internal parasites then the corn snake should start to put on weight once the parasites have been treated.
If the skinny corn snake is due to metabolic bone disease then the corn snake should start to put on weight once the calcium levels in its diet have been corrected.
If the skinny corn snake is due to an infectious disease then the corn snake should start to put on weight once the infection has been treated.
If the skinny corn snake is due to scale rot then the corn snake should start to put on weight once the infection has been treated.
How Can I Prevent My Corn Snake From Getting skinny?
There are a number of things you can do to prevent your corn snake from getting skinny.
The most important thing you can do is to ensure that your corn snake has a well balanced diet. This means feeding your corn snake on a regular basis and providing it with a variety of different food items.
You should also regularly check your corn snake for signs of illness or injury and take it to the vet if you suspect that something is wrong.
Finally, you should make sure that your corn snake has a suitable habitat that is clean and free from potential hazards.
