Baby cornsnake eating pinkies alive
 

So I'm prepping a baby cornsnake for my nephew (feeding, handling, transitioning to f/t, etc) and I noticed that he doesn't strike or constrict the pinkies. He just grabs the head or butt and swallows it while it's still alive and squirming. I'm worried that it could be scratching his insides. Is that possible? Should I be concerned? I know it won't be an issue when he's transitioned over to f/t, but for now it makes me nervous.

Thanks in advance!

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I've seen baby corns do this to pinkies before when I had a clutch and with a baby I had bought that was being a finicky feeder. I switched them to f/t as soon as possible. There was never any damage as far as I can tell but I think anything more than a newborn pink could possibly cause harm if taken down alive.

I never fed live after pink size so I don't know if the corns would continue to do that as they grow and the prey gets larger but I would assume not?

A pinky mouse just cannot hurt a baby corn snake in any way. I've literally fed thousands of baby corns live pinky mice over a few decades, and never once had an issue.

You have absolutely nothing to worry about.

Now when the snake gets bigger and requires larger, older meals, yeah, you might have a valid concern. I always prekilled adult mice or else used frozen/thawed adult mice. A live adult mouse will be fighting for it's life and sometimes snakes do get injured in that kind of battle.

And btw, the constriction thing will kick in when the snake feels it needs it.

Thank you guys! I feel better. His next feed will be a fresh kill and then hopefully the next one will be f/t. I'm so glad I don't have to worry about his noodle belly being hurt!

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