Feeding my Corn snake

Hi, I'm new to the whole snake scene and I have just bought an Albino Corn Snake. I have a few questions if you guys wouldent mind. Thanks

1. The lady I bought it from has had her for 2 years and I was just wondering after just bringing him home how long I should wait before handling him.

2. Is there ever a time I can feed him live pray.

3. When hes full grown can he seriously harm or kill my little multese poodle? I care for both of them and how curious my dog is should I even have her in the room while I handle the snake.... The dog isnt aggresive but will the snake perhaps try to harm my dog?


Thanks hope you can help.

Oh also is it alright to use a hand sanitizer before handling the snake or would just water/soap work too?

You should start to handle her ASAP really. I would let her calm down if she was shipped, but it doens't seem that was the case here (can't tell). If she starts striking, you got to hold your ground... Cause she may not have been handled often, and really, if you want to hold her you have to do it often because snakes are "wild" still and will not "remember" being handled if you don't do it often. just talk to her and let her know you aren't there to hurt her, it always helps me (though it doesn't seem to at first, I sware its saved me from a few bites).

You "can" feed live pray all the animals life. Call me sick or twisted, but I prefer to feed live, because I don't like to kill the rats myself. Sometimes I stun them (feeding expensive morphs) but most of the time I don't. Snakes know what they are doing for the most part, and usually the harder part is changing them OFF of live, and getting them to eat frozen.

You snake and dog might never get along. I would never let them be alone together, or assume the snake will not strike the dog causing an avalanche of animal fights in your living room. You dog isn't agressive,but all it takes is some fangs in the nose and most animals can flip on a dime. I usually don't let my snakes around mammals other than those they will be eating. Your should not be able to kill the dog, but its not impossible. Just be really careful.

Straydog99 said:

Oh also is it alright to use a hand sanitizer before handling the snake or would just water/soap work too?

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You can and should use sanitizer. Just let it all dry off before handling the reptiles. Read some of the posts involving quarantine for more info on propper protocol. I don't keep a bottle in my garage, but I don't have any snakes coming in atm, and all of my snakes have been in my possession over a year now. Did you know it could take 6-8 months before any symptoms your snake is sick might appear? Just keep that in mind, and know that illness spreads like wildfire through reptiles, so if you are out catching lizzards outside you don't want to have them contact your Corns vivarium (cage) at all, and want to change your clothes pretty much before going on to handle your reptile. Kinda along the sanitize rule, just make sure what you are letting into your snakes cage / system... Hopefully that helps.

:crazy02:

Water and soap will work too, sorry I misread the last part of that. I use sanitizer cause its faster.

Well, I hate to disagree but... since you Just got her. I would leave it for atleast 2-3 days before handleing. Gives time to adjust to a new house, new owner and new smells. When was the last time it was fed?? What was it being fed and was it eating live or frozen/thawed?? I personally feed F/T because it is safer for the snake. When you are feeding live there is No time for reaction and your snake could lose an eye or worse. If the snake is a calm one.... except for the 2-3 days after feeding you can start to handle for 5 minutes or so each day and work up to longer handleing periods.

Well right now hes been hiding under the bedding(not even in her log/leaves hiding spot) for a good 4 hours now so im not sure if I should try to pick her up or wait for her to come out on her own. She's been eating frozen food but I'd really think it would be more natural/interesting if she ate live feed ... is it to late? Oh and hes been poking her head in and out of the dirt every so often...

Oh and the lady I bought it from has been feeding her every saturday or sunday

and in response to holding my ground if shes striking me... wont that start to hurt a whole lot after a few strikes and mean shes telling me dont mess with me right now ? and not stop even if i am holding her

If she is used to eating f/t I would stay with that. The nutrition is about the same and without the worry of the rodent hurting the snake. For me? Its just worth the vet bills or having a dead snake. Being atleast 2 years old.. I would just stay with what she is used to Once a week for a schedule sounds good to me as long as the prey size is good As for biting.... When you got the snake did you handle it?? Did it seemed scared or try to strike?? If not, then I am unsure it will try it with you BUT If it does, it doesnt hurt that much. About like being picked with a needle.. well, a couple But they usually dont keep on striking once you have them picked up

When I went to pick him up the lady took him out and handled him I dident at the time I was gonna wait till I got home to do it and 2ndly very awkward/freaky I looked at my cage right next to my computer and he is like far up out of the dirt body up staring at me like my dog stares at me when she wants something ... whats she doing lol? is now the time to handle her?

oh and i turned off the day time lamp and you are suppose to leave the ngiht time lamp on 24/7 right? ugh i hope I am so noob

I wouldn't feed live Straydog - just do a search on google and you can find pics of the damage mice can do to a snake - It's not pretty - and as far as I understand the snake will do nothing to protect itself.

My uncles grey rat lost its tail this way. (Some people don't take advice till something drastic happens)

If it eats F/T then there is no reason at all to feed live.

As for the poodle - I wouldn't worry about - assuming you have your snake in secure enclosure that your dog cant get to. And I'm pretty sure you wouldn't let the snake go on its own mission when it’s out. lol

Good luck with your new snake

Straydog99 said:

When I went to pick him up the lady took him out and handled him I dident at the time I was gonna wait till I got home to do it and 2ndly very awkward/freaky I looked at my cage right next to my computer and he is like far up out of the dirt body up staring at me like my dog stares at me when she wants something ... whats she doing lol? is now the time to handle her?

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Well, she might just be letting you know feeding day is getting close I know all of mine know when its time and come out and start moving about 'looking at me' just to make sure I dont forget them or something lol

"dirt" = what kind of substrate are you useing?? Also, when you say the lights.... do you mean that is what you are heating with or are they just for viewing the snake??

Theres the white light for viewing and the blue light for heating do I leave the blue one on 24/7? and this bedding she has had for 2 years I'll have to call the lady back and ask what it is but it looks like forest floor imo

Oh and can a snake be over handled? and can I take him outside in the summer it gets about 30C outside

Straydog99 said:

Theres the white light for viewing and the blue light for heating do I leave the blue one on 24/7? and this bedding she has had for 2 years I'll have to call the lady back and ask what it is but it looks like forest floor imo

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If the bedding is Forest Floor (Cypress Mulch) It generally lasts 45 days max. So being 2 years out I would say change it... hehe

Really, whatever it is 2 years is 2 long... Really not good to have any bedding that long.

change the bedding he will love you for it:dancer:

and as far as heating your cage they make a sticky pad that goes under your tank it is sticky but dont stick it to your tank place a layer of newspaper between it and your tank the pad uses much less electric as a heating bulb my electric bill dropped about 15 bucks a month thats your mice for the month i know being new to all of this can be scary but trust me you dont have to go out and buy all this expensive stuff most of the time you can get everything you need at a place like lowes or a home improvment center for much cheaper than a pet store it just has a difernt use there like the light domes there about 15 buck at a pet store walmart has the same thing with a 15 ft cord and a clamp for 6 bucks so just look around but some things are important a good bedding made just for snakes is vital some are cheap but a really good bedding is gonnna cost a little more but trust me its worth the extra bucks hope some of this helps ya out and welcome to the club theres some really good people here who really here just to help good luck and hope to see some pics soon