Chii is a very special butter corn snake that I also bought from  Ophidile. I purchased her as a non-feeder for a small fee to fill the last spot in the box when I was having Spitfire and Brickery shipped to me. My friend and I had dealt with non-feeders and problem hatchlings before and I figured I'd try my luck.

I tried everything at first - live, frozen/thawed, scented,frogs, lizards, even fish. I could not get this little girl to eat! So then I began assist feeding her using a syringe and canned a/d food that my friend got for me. She was so tiny I was afraid she wouldn't make it. After I bulked her up with the canned food, I then began assist feeding f/t mouse pinky heads. Did this for a few weeks and then moved on to full sized pinky mice. (While always trying f/t or live before assist feeding)...at one point I even tried african soft furred rat pinkies and still nothing.

But here's the thing..while assist feeding I'd merely have to get it in her mouth and into the back of her throat and she'd do the rest. She was just lazy, I guess. In the back of my mind I kept thinking that she wouldn't survive...that one day I'd go in and find her gone.

Not the case! Six months after recieving her, she took her first meal on her own! Of course it was a live ASF rat pink, but I was thrilled! Finally, six months of patience and waiting and this little girl finally ate on her own. A week later she ate her first frozen/thawed small rat pinky and from then on she has never refused a meal (except when she is in shed..like in this picture).

You would think with all the assist feeding and such she would be an aggressive flighty girl who hates having her head touched. Oh, definitely not. If anything, she is THE MOST docile snake I have - next to Charlie. She has NEVER EVER struck, rattled her tail, or tried to get away. In fact, she is one who will come out to see you if you're nearby and will follow you around if you put her down on the ground.

I absolutely love her to death and I am so proud of her. She's still small compared to the other 2010's but I assume its because she was being assist feed for a while. However, she is catching up QUICKLY and is now eating large rat pink f/t's as well. Though her large f/t's are smaller than the others..she still handles them perfectly.

I love Chii to death and I am so glad I made that small extra investment for her and spent the time I did. Alot of corn breeders told me that they would not waste six months on a non-feeder and I probably shouldn't do that for EVERY non-feeder I get but you know what?

Comparing Chii to the other snakes I have who ate right away and have never stopped eating - she is more tame and docile than they are even though the others aren't aggressive. Chii has this personality that is just amazing and I know its because I had spent so much time with her. Its why, no matter HOW many non-feeders I have, I will probably do this for all of them. I noticed it makes them more unafraid of humans and more accepting of handling and just being close to people.

Chii is an amazing snake, and I don't think I could ever let go of her.

Chii is a butter - I believe she may also be motley or het motley, but I'm not 100% sure. Has some motley patterns but still has belly checkers. I'll have to find out her hets later.

=)