new member. first snake. questions

Hiya everyone. I'm Ashley and I purchased my first snake the end of July this year from the pet store I had worked at--Pet Supplies Plus. I believe she is just a normal colored corn snake but I'm not sure. It's hard to tell. Maybe I can get a picture of her up on here anyways. Anyways, her name is Ana and I'm assuming its a 'her.' She is about 16 inches long right now and about 3/4" in her widest part.

Well, I bought the reptile carpet and the thermometer. The heat lamp and the bulb. And I had a 20 gallon long tank and a lid so I bought some clips. I also got a big water dish and some plants. I also bought a heat rock because on of the workers there that I worked with said I needed one. I read up online and found out I didn't need one because it can be harmful so I took it back. However, I was reading that I needed an under the tank heater but I havent gotten one yet. Is it necessary? Some people say they are using them and some say they aren't so I don't know. I'm using a 75WATT Daylight Bulb and it's keeping the 20L about 80 degrees. Should I get a higher wattage? Winter is coming and it's getting colder and I want her to be warm enough.

About feeding now. Based on how big I said she was above, is what I'm feeding her enough? I'm feeding her pinkies that are about 1" long and about 1/2" wide. I give her two every 5 days. Should I be feeding her more? Or should she be getting fuzzies now? If so, how many fuzzies? Sorry. Kind of new to this. Her weight seems to be good at the moment.

Thats about all I have to ask I believe. And another weird question. How many times a week to they usually poop? Also, I've got a male and female mouse and she's definitely pregnant and will pop any day now. Is it humane to just toss them into the freezer? Should I leave poor mommy mousie with one or two so she doesnt get depressed? Well. Hope you all can help. BYE

Hey Ashley. I'm new to snakes also, so others can give you better advice than I can, but this is what I've learned.

First heat: 80-85 is a good temp for the hot side, but in my experience, a 75W was just not hot enough for my 25G tank (my apartment can get cold and it was holding at around 75 - NOT good enough for the winter) so I bought a 100watt. The problem with this is I was getting temps into the mid 90's. 90 is high, but 95 is TOO high... it IS going to get colder so the solution is to hang the lamp above the tank, and simply raise or lower it to adjust the temps accordingly. So for me, it's better to have the hotter bulb so I have the control. Easier to cool down than heat up.

I too have the undertank heat pad, only because I know it can't hurt in the colder temps (better safe than sorry, right?).Right now, I don't notice a huge difference, but the heat pad is belly heat, wheras the lamp is more like sun heat (directional). Both are important, but for different reasons (again, just what I know from doing the research).

As for feeding, the general rule is nothing 1.5x bigger than the largest part of their body (is that right?) adn if you can avoid feeding two at once, do it.

2 every 5 days is a lot for a little baby... 1 a week is perfect. (mine is a couple months old, thin, but 20" long and eats one pinky a week). Overfeeding can result in her growing too fast and causing complications down the road (as well as shortening her lifespan). (This is my biggest snake care pet peeve. People who speed feed should be kicked, imo).

Poop: Mine seems to go a few times, a few days after eating. Once on the second, third, or fourth, and always when I'm holding him (little brat)... I honestly have no idea. I thought they pooped like once a week. Anyway, I sometimes dip his tail in water before handling him now if it's a few days after eating (never handle for 48 hours after a meal), adn that seems to make him poop so I know he won't do it on my bed (again). lol

And always feed frozen. Thaw in a ziplock bag, in a bowl full of hot tap water. Pinky's can't really bite your snake to death, but adults sure can, if your snake doesn't want to eat. Also, I've heard abuot snakes refusing frozen if they're already used to live. Something to concider.

Just my two cents... someone please correct me if I got something wrong (I'm still learning too!)

Good luck, and welcome!

Is she going to lose weight if I cut back on the amount I'm feeding her? She always seems so hungry when I feed her.

mycornana,

It sounds like you could move up to fuzzies.

mycornana said:

Is she going to lose weight if I cut back on the amount I'm feeding her? She always seems so hungry when I feed her.

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If you feed a fuzzy every 5 days like you were the pinks she should do just fine. If she continues to act hungry you can up the size of the fuzzy.

Hey everyone... Im new here...my name is Kim and I have loved reptiles for over 5 years now
I got my first corn snake for my 18th birthday this year from my boyfriend and it is absolutely gorgeous. Its name is Gollum and its colouring is brown.
I have fed Gollum once since I got him and im going to feed him this afternoon aswell. Also Gollum had his first shed with me last night. The shed was complete and I am really happy
Anyone who has any suggestions for a first time keeper please e-mail me or please reply to this message.
Thank you

Feeding 2 pinks in a feeding is ok. Actually, this is suggested when you are getting ready to move up in food size. At 20" Spirit, you should look into offering a larger meal too. Baby snakes need a lot of nourishment as they are growing babies.

Welcome to the Forums.

I did enquire about bumping up the food, but he's very thin (just crazy long) so I'm trying to stick with the rule of 1-1.5x the size of the largest part of the body.

He seems to be in good health though... I was shown how to tell if your snake is at a good weight and how to check overall health by the underbelly, and mine was (so I was told) "a very healthy snake, and a perfect specimen"... whatever that means.

I AM a little concerned that one pinky is not enough, but like I said... he's growing like a weed as it is.

Crap, now I'm in nervous mommy mode. Should I up it? How do I know when a good time is? I don't want to judge by length alone... :shrugs:

Meal size can be deceptive

Frozen fuzzy mice look much bigger than they actually are. (I call this the freezer effect) But once they are defrosted, they become much more squishy and elastic. Once swallowed, a fuzzy doesn't bulge the snake like you would have imagined. I have seen this repeatedly in my collection. Actually, the bulge from two pinkies in a smaller snake is indistinguishable from a fuzzy.

The sure-fire test to see if they are ready is to just try the next larger size. If the snake doesn't regurge, you’re safe. Does this work?? Yes! I'm already feeding September hatchlings small fuzzies. Not a single one has had a problem keeping a fuzzy down. Several of them were small enough that I just knew I would be seeing the fuzzy again. Boy was I wrong. They are now growing faster and putting on more weight between feedings.

If our parents had been so protective with our eating habits, we would all still be eating stained peas instead of Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburgers....

WHAT KIND OF A LIFE WOULD THAT BE?!?!?!

CAV said:

we would all still be eating stained peas

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Stained peas?!?! Ewww...yuck!

'Bout time you showed up. I've been fending Paul off all day, single handedly! :blowup:

Very good then. I'm still not 100% confident in my snake raising ways, even though I'm about as booksmart as I'm going to get for right now... I need to knock off the nervous nonsense and just do it, eh?

I have 10 pinkies in my freezer, so as much as I dislike the 2in1 feedings, I'll try two of the smaller pinkies at his next feeding and see how that works. Then my next buy will be a fuzzy. (about 6 weeks).

Thanks, CAV. (btw, what does that stand for?)

Spirit said:

CAV. (btw, what does that stand for?)

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"Cav's Critters"

**More info than that requires you, buying me, adult-style foamy beverages.**

Guiness, perhaps?

Yeah, I saw that he has been getting a little frisky lately. What's up with that? Time to dust off the ol cattle prod, huh?


Quigs

Oh dear... *readies whip*

yummmm...."RediWhip"

Be careful what you suggest Quigs...I do happen to have a black belt in Shaolin Kempo, and I know know to use it.

cav said:

**More info than that requires you, buying me, adult-style foamy beverages.**

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Will remember this the next time that we go for a :cheers:

Aww c'mon now, Paul!

I wasn't threatening you. It was merely a suggestion for my buddy Cav to deal with your unruley-ness! :shrugs:

Besides, I have a black belt in JAGERMEISTER , so beware!

Quigs