Quick Question

Well yesterday Mali spent a lot of time in her hot hide... I didn't see her come out at all and I was here all day (yay for days off). This morning she's still tucked away in her hot hide and I'm not entirely sure if she came out during the night. I realized she may be in blue phase, but don't want to write it off so easily if something else is the issue.

If she is in blue phase what can I do to make her more comfortable? Should I start misting the cage and maybe keep damp papertowels in there? Her last shed was June 30th as recorded by the breeder.

We also just fed her Friday, would she possibly still be digesting?

Any advice would be most welcome. :awcrap:

When ours are in blue they stay hid away until they shed (about 10 days).

If the snake was not digesting, in shed etc...and you took it out and it was lethargic/different or the poos are different then you should be concerened.

You can put in a moist hide (an appropriate size container-like a margarine tub-with a hole cut in the top-that has sphagnum peat moss dampened).

The snake can choose to hang out in the moist hide as it wants to...our is always avaiable in the center (not hot or cold side) of the viv.

Otherwise, yes they hang out when digesting too.

Unless the temps are way off don't fret...they regulate themselves to keep themselves healthy.

How long have you had the snake?
How old is he?
Is he eating regularily the appropriate sized food?

Unless you literally watched the tank for the entire 24 hour day you really don't know if he was out a bit or not. I have been watching ours from afar...they will peek out, get a drink or shift hides and it is a 60 second activity. They also sense /feel vibrations...

We tried to sneak up on our snakes when they first arrived but as soon as they sense/see us they'd slip into their hides in a flash. We have one that always slips into a hide and one that stays out to say 'hello'.

Thanks Cam5.

I'll have had her for a week come tomorrow. We fed her Friday as it had been over a week since her last feeding according to the breeder's information. She ate just fine (we only gave her half a pinkie) and up until yesterday I saw her a couple times a day, even being gone 8 hours both days for work. She's out in the living room where our TV and computers are at and I didn't see her at all. My boyfriend came home from work and thought she was dead.

The only thing we've done is refill her water dish since feeding her. I've been wanting to leave her alone for a while to settle in a bit more. She seems to be doing fine. And not that long ago I caught her poking her head out of the hide. So I guess she's all right medically, however I am expecting her to shed soon anyway.

I'll have to get a moist hide in there for her. Now could I just use moist paper towels? As I won't be able to get any moss until Friday.

Ice44 said:

Thanks Cam5.

I'll have had her for a week come tomorrow.

I'll have to get a moist hide in there for her. Now could I just use moist paper towels? As I won't be able to get any moss until Friday.

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When we get a new snake they always seem to be out a lot the first few days and then 'settle in' a bit. Yours is stil VERY new so to me anyway and my limited experience your snake is doing what ours always do
Yes, until Friday paper towels are fine...they just dry out really fast and the snakes can't really burrow into/under them so that is why the moss is a 'better' option.
I am a worrier so I freeze our 'organic' items...bedding and moss for 24 hours just in case there was anything that might hatch out. (the one time I did not was with a brick of shredded coconut fiber and we had a viv full of tiny white bugs a week later).

Snakes are so fun!

What is your little ones name?
Why only half a pinky?

She is in a new home with new sounds and smells. She is probably just feeling a little insecure right now. I really would not worry about it. If you have had her a week, it wouldn't hurt to pick her up and hold her for a few minutes and then let her hide again.

The moist hide isn't a bad idea if she really is blue. Paper towels would be fine. Crumple them up so she can hide under them.

Mostly don't worry. This sounds pretty normal.

Thanks guys. I was a little concerned, but my boyfriend (who found out snakes were nocturnal the day we got her if that tells you anything) has been fussing over her a lot. Like I said, last night he thought she was dead and then this morning asked if we should move the hide to check on her. I peeked inside and she was looking back at me like 'what I don't get any privacy around here??'

She's an Anery with some Aztec patterning on her back, so we went with the name Mali which is short for the name of an Aztec goddess of snakes and scorpians. Mali seems to fit her nicely.

I had taken her out before I fed her Friday and held her a bit, snapped off some pictures, etc. But since hadn't wanted to disturb her. I really don't want her to associate me with a bad thing. She's never been agressive towards me, but instead is actually pretty sweet, a bit timid, but once she realized I had no interest in eating her she was fine.

Do you really think it'd be all right to start handling her now? Or should I wait a couple more days?

As for the moss... will certainly freeze it before putting it in there! Now, what temperature should the water be? I'm thinking it should be warm. Will tap water be all right or should I warm up the spring water?

Oh and I almost forgot... I was a bit afraid that a whole pinky would be too much for her. But after seeing the half of one go down so easy I'm going to offer a full one on Friday.

Go ahead and handle her a little. Start with short periods and try to do it when there won't be other distractions. Just let her crawl from hand to hand.

Most corn snakes can eat a whole pinkie unless she is unusually small.

Just use warm tap water. The paper towels / moss will cool to ambient temperature pretty fast.

Corns are not strictly nocturnal. They are active during the day as well.

Don't over stress on little things. Corns are hardy animals.

Thanks Wade. It's nice to have a bit of reassurance. I've been really afraid of disturbing her for life or something. I really want her to be happy and to be comfortable when I handle her.

I'll go ahead and start working her today.

Thanks again to both of you for the advice and information. I appreciate it!

It sounds like you have a lucky little snake

By the way, Western Hognose snakes are diurnal (I am sure he knew that and just thought corn snakes were the same).

Read this link...it is a great guide for food size.
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50106

But general rule is: the snake can eat a food item about the size of its widest part of the belly plus half. You should see a slight food 'bump' for 24-48 hours.
If there is really no bump upon eating the snake could go up a size in food.
If there is still a visible bump after 48 hours either the food is too big or the temps are not correct so they can digest properly.

Any name for the little one yet?

Ice44 said:

She's an Anery with some Aztec patterning on her back, so we went with the name Mali which is short for the name of an Aztec goddess of snakes and scorpians. Mali seems to fit her nicely.

Click to expand...

Simply put her name is Mali.

Big DUH on my part...I could have just looked at your signature...

Beautiful name

Thanks and no worries! I certainly have my moments.

I was holding Mali earlier and she kept gripping me with her stomach. Well it felt like gripping, not sure how else to describe it. She'd stop moving and then tighten her belly muscles against my hand/wrist. Got any ideas as to what that means? Or what she was doing? Was it something I was possibly doing? :awcrap:

I think that's her breathing, or flexing her muscles. Jasper does it all the time.

Okay, it was just a little bit weird. Good to know it's just natural. (I have so much to learn)

That's alright. Been at this since May and I'm still learning.

The 'flexing' is actually what made me fall in love with cornsnakes. Just having her sit there comfortably around my hand is so awesome. ^_^

If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask. Everyone here is very knowledgeable.