I need some advise please

[sherry]

hello,
I just got a baby cornsnake, after weeks of talking my mom into it she finaly let me get one. and i never had one i never thought i would but i really bonded with the one i have and i cant ever put her down. and when im home from work shes in my hand(atleast i think its a she), but im having dificulties and i dont no if its mormal or not cuz i never had one and i dont want to kill her or anything. the first time we got her and she ate perfectly but it was 2 frozen pinkies, and i got her alive one but i guess it was to big cuz she threw it up whole the same way she swallowed it. and then she didnt eat, and i finally got her to eat after trying for 2 weeks. but i noticed when i got her there was a blue spot on her stumic, and she had stuff in her, and her belly isnt even it look like little bumps that you cant notic to you really examin her, but i dont no what it is or anything and just had her for 3 weeks and i love her and i dont wanna loose her so any one no what i can do, i would post what the blue spot looks like but she just ate and i dont want her to through up another pinkie and she only ate one so any sugestion if this happends again, or do you know what the blue spot is, or the lumps are,or anything, or show i call a vet? she iasnt active either, shes a baby but all she does is sleep, i never shee her drinking water, or out in her cage shes always in her cave i pick her up and put her in her water before she drinks and then she drnks a lot, but at the pet store i seen them out in the open and never in a cage and shes really calm and everything and i have rocks in her cage, what should i do, man i need help, thank you
sherry

[Spirit]

Do you know what the temperature is in your tank (the #1 cause of reptile illness)? What is the hot side, and what is the cold side. Also, how often do you feed her (how did you thaw the pinkies)? Don't handle your snake for 2 days after feeding (this can and usually does cause regurgitation), and always wait at LEAST a week to 10 days before trying to feed again if she throws it up, as her stomach needs time to heal. If you're seeing blue spots on her belly, it's POSSIBLE that the stomach contents are rotting which could be a result from insufficiant heat (and also a reason why she's throwing it up). Since she's still little, I know it's hard, but try not to handle her TOO much, as being outside of the tank is of course a much lower temp. Heat is essential to proper digestion.

Some snakes are by nature hiders. Don't worry too much about the inactivity in the tank, if she's alert and moves around (flicks her tongue a lot) on your hand.

A good idea would be to pick up the book "The Corn Snake Manual" by Kathy and Bill Love, if you haven't already. Good luck. :)

[marg]

hiya sherry :wavey:

SLOW DOWN...........TAKE A DEEP BREATH............NOW!

congrats on your baby corn.

from what you have said everything sounds normal to me......more experienced ones will soon help you out.

the blue on her stomach and the lumps might be just that.........her stomach with food in it
regurges can happen with stress........did you give her a few days to settle in before you 'held her all the time' :)
babies DO sleep ...for 2 or 3 days after eating.....that is when they are digesting their food.
the stomach needs to rest 7-10 days after a regurge to help prevent problems.
i think thats enough to begin with :)
just chill, observe and enjoy your baby.......it gets easier......

thank you

[sherry]

Hello,
my cage stayes arround 75-85 degrees, unless my mom thinks she knows it and turn off the heater saying a book she read says they digest fast when its cold and that i should treat it like its in the wild and then we fight because i cant turn off the heater and have her freeze my room is the coldest room in the house and i will keep the heater on so she has soar warm if it get cold, i have the cornsnake manual, but it says nothing about a blue spot or lumps, and it does say have a heating pad under 1 side of the take so i do and i have her rock on the side were the heating pad is and shes always there. and i give her fresh water one a day or every other day sometimes to. and i dont touch her till 3 days after shes eatien just to make sure she did her thing, and she did grow a little ill post a pic of her when i get my computer fixed. and she hasnt shed eather how often do they shed cuz my mom sad she ready they are suppose to shed every 2 times they eat. and its cold and its winter were im at so could that be a possiblity that shes not eating cuz she only ate 1 pinky and it took her like a hour just to go after it and she didnt touch the other one.and how do u know to feed them a bigger mouse? and are they suppose to vomit up bones? cuz i was holding it 3 days after i fed it and she stuck her head off of my hand and opend her mouth and barfed up what looked like a bunch of bones in a sack but it wasnt a mouse.
so the blue spot might be her intestants rotting? why would they rot, would it be painful for her, how can i stop it should i take her to a vet, what do i do. :shrugs: help
sherry

[Jicin]

Your mom's wrong. They need heat in order to digest. If it's to cold the food is regurged. If she doesn't believe you, show her this forum. At night temps shouldn't drop under 18 degrees. If she's always on the warmest spot in the viv, temps may be raised a bit. Juveline corns should be fed each 5 - 7 days. Though they won't die if you give them less, it would surely stun their growth. And that also means they'll shed less often. Wich ends in a malnurished snake.

If she regurged on your hand, you held her to soon. Wait a bit longer next time. Don't forget, wait 7 - 10 days before feeding again.

I would definately take your snake to a vet. And take your mother with you. Obviously, she knows absolutely nothing about snakes. And you do but she's holding you back. Let a reptile vetrenarian tell her how a snake should be cared for. Point her to this site or print our some care sheets. If your mother refuses to let you give the snake proper care give the snake to someome else. Sad, but choose what's best for the snake.

[Spirit]

What do you mean by 75-85? Do you mean it stays 85 on the hot side, 75 on the cool? The stomach contents will rot if there is insuffucuant heat. Do you have a heat lamp as well as a pad? A hide on both sides (at least)? Have you tried holding her up to the water to see if she'll drink (commenting in that you've never seen her drink). I'm SURE she does when you're not looking, but if it gives you peace of mine to hold her up to some water, then just do that. I've never seen mine drink on his own, but he never refuses water if he's in my hand.

Everything sounds perfectly normal, and you seem to be doing all the right things and asking all the right questions. As for your mom... don't get mad. Get educated! Sounds like mom may need to do a little research. ;) My only concern right now is the heat. Being handled outside of the cage maybe too much (getting too cold) or insufficiant heat inside the tank (with your mom turning it off, etc). The temps you mentioned are perfect though, so no need to worry yourself.

As for the feeding, don't stress out if she doesn't want to take the pinky right away. Some people wait 2 weeks before even attemtpting to feed after a regurg to give their stomachs time to heal and create less stress on their next meal.

It'll all be good. Breeeaaaathe. :D

[sherry]

ya i waited a week before i fed her again. and i have a picture up of her i took a while ago, and ill take her to the vet as soo as i get paid to see what that spot is, she doesnt seem to be in pain, and shes active in my hand at times and sometimes she just like to chill and not move and she loves to hide in my shirt pockets. shes a real sweaty. how do i know what kind of cornsnake she is. the pet store never told me. and she had that slue spot since i had wich wich on thursday would be a whole month :). and i do have a heat lamp and a heating pad, and i have a rock that she hides in on the heated side and a long paper towl cardbord thing barried on the cold side and a big pink rock that she can curl up in the middle and a waterdish and i see her in the hiding things and i usualy dont no wear she is but when its a clear day she usualy goes between the pink rock and the cardbord holder, but when its cold she goes to the heating pad. and when she startes getting cold in my hands i cuf my hand together and put my hand agains my shirt and she goes in my hand till shes warm then she peeks out then comes out and plays, and she absolutly loves kids and her little toung is always going. and thank you guys for the help i sooo needed it :)
sherry

[Spirit]

Aw Sherry, you're doing JUST FINE. A vet visit is always a good idea, but try not to worry.

As for what kind of corn... post a pic. Someone here will know for sure. So damn smart, these people are. :D

EDIT: CORN! CORN! I meant corn. Not porn. Oh man, I need sleep. :laugh:

[sherry]

i have a pic up right under my name she is cute and tinny and very loving and sweet and very smart. what was funny was im just now getting my mom to wear she will hold it. my mom i s afraid of snakes and i had a adult one arround my neck in the pet store and my mom seen it and started hyperventlilating and screaming and ran out, but eventualy and lots of talking and exsplning and taking her back she agreed a aby is fine so i can raise it and it be use to me and what i do and so on so i agreed and got one wich im glad cuz i love my baby moreand then i started bringing the baby out and arround her and i let her touch it and then she started letting it run accrost her hand then i informed her that its a god idea to breath while holding the snake so she dont pass out and this morning the snake started crawling up her arm and mom was all sherry get her sherry SHERRY o it was funy and slinky(the snake) was just cilling on her it was pritty funny. she likes to be out and on a nice day i took her out to show a little girl next door and slinky didnt mind at all.shes a wonderful snake i love her and when she gets a little bigger im gonna let her cill arround my neck i think shes to small right now, shes only like a foot.but she loves my pockest and when my hands are cuffed and its so cute when my hands are cuffed she sticks out her little head and flickes her toung out andstayes like that for a while its so cute ill take more pics when shes done digesting

[pcar]

Aw Sherry, you're doing JUST FINE. A vet visit is always a good idea, but try not to worry.

As for what kind of corn... post a pic. Someone here will know for sure. So damn smart, these people are. :D

EDIT: CORN! CORN! I meant corn. Not porn. Oh man, I need sleep. :laugh:


Saw that before you edited it...wow...Thanks for the edit though. I am sure that would have caught a lot of eyes here.

Sherry, I would deffinately take your corn to the vet. Something else to do would be to take a fresh drop of poo with you so that the vet can check this too. The vet can look for internal parisites and such this way a lot easier than with the whole snake.

[pcar]

Your Avatar is a little blurry, but it looks like either a normal or a hypo to me.

[Cindy]

Be extra careful she doesn't escape, your wouldn't believe how small a gap they can escape from. As your snake is quite light coloured the 'blue' spot you can see is possibly her liver. Good luck with her.

[Spirit]

then i started bringing the baby out and arround her and i let her touch it and then she started letting it run accrost her hand then i informed her that its a god idea to breath while holding the snake so she dont pass out and this morning the snake started crawling up her arm and mom was all sherry get her sherry SHERRY o it was funy and slinky(the snake) was just cilling on her it was pritty funny.

Just a thought, but maybe you shouldn't let your mom handle her just yet. That kind of "panic" can be very stressful for snakes (ditto with the taking her out to show people - esp if the temps outside are below 20-25C), even though your Slinky (great name) seems to have no problems with this... I'm just thinking it would help (for now) to keep that sort of thing to a minumum. I know it's hard to not handle them all the time... I mean the more time you give them the better, but at the same time the well being of the snake has to be taken into concideration. Though I do think it's GREAT that your mom is trying. :)

Anwyay... I could be way off here, but that's just my $0.02.

Paul: Could you imagine? :laugh: Please no one post corn snake porn. Thank you. lol

[pcar]

Paul: Could you imagine? Please no one post corn snake porn. Thank you. lol

If you ever breed, you will get plenty of it.

[sherry]

thank you ya im taking her to the vet when i get paid, so i can aford the vet bill, i just hope its not over $400 even so shes worth it. does the type of snake matter with how active it is. i have to older sisters and they have a snake to, my oldest sister brandy has a corn but its always biting her and she literally has to have gardening gloves on to pick it up how can she stop that?, they want me to look at it but i dont no what to look for, im so not a exspert, and i dont feel like being bit. and her snakes is active and y snake is older then her and mine sleeps, and brandy has a corsnake to and my seldond oldest sister mandy have a ball python and hers is calm in the day and active in the night and doesnt bite and likes to chill arround your neck, her and my snake are calm when being held but fast in the tank. is that normal, and what should brandy do for her snake to chill it down on the biting, she holds it everyday but it trys to escape from her hand and bites her and she was holding it in the pet store and it didnt do that it just did it when she got home the 2nd day to the first day it was normal, wuts caused the sudden personality change
sherry

[sherry]

lol my mom said i cant breed her and i dont no if i want to i dont no if it hange her or anything so ya :P

[Spirit]

If you ever breed, you will get plenty of it.

Someday, Paul. Someday. :)

(though my next purchase will more than likely be a ball. Corns poop a LOT.)

[Azruial]

night temps shouldn't drop under 18 degrees.
I would assume Jicin meant Celcius, since 18 Farenheight and you have a Corn Snake Ice Pop! That is about 65 F I believe which is a bit chilly but, like Jicin said, that's the minimum.
can the limps be mites? just sounds like what I have heard here.

[pcar]

Someday, Paul. Someday. :)

(though my next purchase will more than likely be a ball. Corns poop a LOT.)

I believe that...at least from what you have said here...but what makes you think that the BP that you get won't do the same thing? Just because someone else's snake doesn't, doesn't Necessarily mean that your's will do the same.

Sherry, the best thing I can tell you to tell your sister is to look at husbandry...how is the environment that the snake is kept in? Are all conditions correct for proper health of the snake? And, holding the snake and getting the snake used to you is the ony way to calm one down. Point her to this site and tell her to join so that she can read and ask her own questions.

[pcar]

I would assume Jicin meant Celcius, since 18 Farenheight and you have a Corn Snake Ice Pop! That is about 65 F I believe which is a bit chilly but, like Jicin said, that's the minimum.
can the limps be mites? just sounds like what I have heard here.

Mites are usually on the outside of the animal and pretty easy to see. Snake mites are black in color and look like pepper on a snake. if the lumps on Sherry's snake can't be seen, but felt, then it is an internal problem, and could be caused by internal parasites. Thus taking Slinky to the Vet is the best course of action.

[sherry]

i got a couple more picks so here they are

[pcar]

Am I right in saying that there is no black in the patter of this snake? If so then I revise my comment on what it could be. This can't be a Normal. More likely a hypo or other anti melenistic snake.

[Spirit]

I believe that...at least from what you have said here...but what makes you think that the BP that you get won't do the same thing? Just because someone else's snake doesn't, doesn't Necessarily mean that your's will do the same.


A ball is what I wanted to begin with, but I was told that corns are a somewhat "easier to care for" snake for a newbie. As for the poop, I'm aware I could get a poopy python but from experience (both reading online and I know several people who have cared for both balls and corns) that corns do tend to crap a lot more than the average ball. Someone I know used to breed both (though now she keeps just pythons) and the corn to ball poop factor is just rediculous.

But I digress... LITTLE DID I KNOW (*grumble*) balls are much more docile than corns (draping a corn across your shoulders and hoping it will stay there is just laughable) and because I originally wanted a ball... that's what I'm going to buy next. My corn was litterally a 30 minute decision.

I went into the pet store to give them my tarantula (with NO intention of replacing her), saw the snake, came home, cleaned the tank... and 30 minutes later I went back to buy the snake. It was half the price of the ball and, I was told, a better beginner snake. A good idea I thought, but a week later I was all "ready" for the ball. :laugh:

As for breeding though... I DO think I might be interested in breeding Max when the time is right. The idea of "all the cool colors" excites me to no end, but we'll see. :)

I have TONS of breeding questions, but that's for another thread, at a MUCH later date. :)

[Spirit]

GORGEOUS snake, Sherry!

[pcar]

Well, Spirit, to tell you the truth, I almost but a Ball about a week ago when I sold off my hatchlings. The place that I sold them to had a Ball there for exactly what I received in payment for the hatchlings. The only reason I didn't get the Ball is because I didn't have another viv to put him/her in. but, i have plans on getting a breeding pair of Balls, a pair of Red Tailed Boas, and a pair of Gray-Banded Kings.

[sherry]

theres no black marks on her what so ever and i cant feel it, i was just holding her up to the light and just seen 1 bump and thats all and they arnt huge they are really tiny and i dont no if they are still there. i dont no if it was just the way i was holding her i dont no, and i get cold fast if it not atlest 73 degrees im shivering, so i guess me and slinky are both cold bloodedand i usualy hold her close to me so she wont get cold and when my mom touches her she says shes usualy warm even when im holding her and when its really cold out i dont pick her up cuz i dont wanna freeze her ir when im cold i dont pick her up cuz i dont want to freeze her. and before and after i pick her up and hold her i wash my hands just to be safe, and im always cleaning her cage and she crawls in my hand so i have to do it one handed, she likes to curl up and chill in my hand, i think its pritty cool, and i hope from those picks someone knows what kinda of snake she is im just courous, it doesnt matter cuz ill still keep her but i was just wondering.
sherry

[sherry]

my sisters ball is so sweet and calm hes really causous when beig held. and very smart. the other day my sisters boyfriend took him out and was letting him roam arround and he wanted under the couch and he wouldnt let the snake under so the snake kept peeking to see if he was still watching the snake it was pritty funny and cute.

[Jicin]

A ball was what first peeked my interest for snakes. A baby one. I asked the pet store owner if i could held it. Love at first sight :D After a lot of investigation i decided a corn was a better choice for me. I don't like how 'fat' and short balls are when they mature (No offence ;) And how boring. I was allowed to see a fellow snake keepers ball and he told me balls never cruise around and can be really picky eaters. I can't really find any other snake for me then corns and snake that look like corns and morps :/

[Spirit]

I don't like how 'fat' and short balls are when they mature (No offence ;)

:laugh:

They can definitely be picky eaters, and if a ball refuses to eat, there's really nothing you can do. I know little about them, but my understanding is as babies they can stress easily and it's not uncommon for one to starve to death. A friend lost 2 babies to this, and she's somewhat of a reptile expert (had bred many different kinds).

Corns are very much better beginner snakes, imho. :)

[sherry]

how often are they suppose to shed and so on cuz i feed or atleast try to feed mine every thursday arround 12 my time and i had her for almost 4 weeksand she still hasnt shed and she isnt gloomy, shes still really shiny and pritty. and shes never active, ever, but she loves to be held, and she hasnt bit me, shes really sweet and calm.im i doing something wrong?

[Azruial]

about once per month, so you are fine, every 7 days is on the long side which may mean less growth, especially if she refuses food sometimes. Don't worry about it, she'll shed when she needs to.

[sherry]

How big do they get? and when do they stop growing? and whats the most ill have to feed her? and the more i feed her the faster she grows? i never had a snake and is kinda jumping into to it pritty fast i reachered it but i still have questions lol cuz i dont no what to do, so any info anyone wants to share is great im always listening and taking in advise, and how old can you tell if its a girl or a boy, cuz i dont no i just been call it a girl but im not sure and is it more exspanecive for a vet to see a snake then any other animal cuz its a snake

[darkbloodwyvern]

Congrats on the snake dear! she is very cute, and does look like an amelenistic corn, which is a snake that has no black coloring. check out the photo section and maybe you'll be able to figure it out looking at other people's pics of amelenistics :)
you seem to be a great parent so far! i can tell you care a lot about your snake. good job finding answers here, it's very nice to see new parents being informed about their babies! As someone already metioned, if you have the money, definatly get The Corn Snake Manual by Kathy Love. It's an awesome book, it has helped me soo much! Even browsing around these forums is helpful since alot of people ask the same questions, you can usually find answers to your questions too.
You said you're going to try and take her to the vet, right? when you do, sometimes the vet may be able to tell the difference between males and females. One way i heard was to hold her tail up to a light to see through the skin, and usually you can see dark spots behind her vent (where she poops from) if it's a male-the dark spots are the inverted gentilia. And when she gets bigger, the males have longer tails that taper more. check out the photo gallery and there may be pics of male vs. female tails.
As for size, most males get about five feet, and females are a little shorter. some snakes get up to six feet but that's unusual. the larger snakes can eat a medium sized rat or two large mice every two weeks or so (someone can check me on this, i'm not sure how often you feed larger corns)
If you feed your snake more often she'll probably get big faster, but you don't want to overfeed her because it can be unhealthy. Again, check out the corn manual book becuase that is the best advice i can give you! i'm a bit of a begginer as well, but i learned so much from that book and it's so worth the money! I've answered many questions reading through it once or twice
here's a link, they are probably about 10 bucks with shipping..

http://half.ebay.com/cat/buy/prod.cgi?cpid=5009210&domain_id=1856&meta_id=1

<<as a personal request, it is kind of hard for me to read your posts, if you could space things out a little more and have more punctutation, it would help very much and i could read your posts so much faster. i'm not trying to insult you or anything, i just have a really bad eyes and it can be difficult to interpret the posts! thank you!>>

From what you've posted slinky sounds just fine well, i hope this answers some questions, and thank you again for being concerned about your little slinky! Good luck to you both and try not to worry too much, i'm sure you'll do just fine!! ;) :D

~jessi

[sherry]

im trying to be a good parent, im trying my hardest to, i didnt know they get that big that really big, im still so keeping her. no matter what ill keep her, unless i think its in her best interet that i dont, wich that be very hard to give her up. shes so awsome, and i love that shes not like my sisters and bite me or even act like it, shes very calm while being held and is very cuddly, she likes to curl up and chill in my hand i dont no how id be able to hold her if she gets bigger then 3 feet, i guess id have to dedicate a room to her and go in and viset her then huh lol. and on each pay day i fix up her tank a littleas you can tell its a pritty dull place for her but i plan to change that. im just not rich, i have to support her and me both on $400 every 2 weeks lol. and tr to fix my car all at the same time, but i plan to not spend any of my next check till i take her to the vet, and anything after i guess i can get her a new toy and so on. i have a dog and i love my little slinky more. lol get this my snake is more calm and gentle and cuddly then a dog:P. lol, and what are the signs of shedding. and i have the "cornsnake manual by kathy love" and it did help me a lot, but it didnt exsplane everything and i still have questions and so on. and shes looking more greyish then she ever did since i got her and the lumps arnt there anymore, i had to pick her up to schoop out some poop and i had to check, and they wernt there :D i was so happy. but what were they and how did they just disapear.

[Spirit]

I just started a thread about shedding, if you want to check out the pic. I didn't add a pic of the underbelly (too hard to get a clear shot) but it's very "milky" looking.

[sherry]

slinky is still shiny aolthough her belly is getting cloudy its still shiny, she has been looking a bit couldy but i didnt no if it was her getting bigger cuz i can tell shes getting a little bigger or if shes shedding i have never seen a snake shed or anything. i added some more fun stuff to her exibit. i added a new water dish and a glass bowl thing. what i thought is cute is i put some bedding in the glass container and she baried erself in it. i got a new paper towl thing to, and i got a tupawear for her water dish so she can fit in it i had a tinny one before, i didnt no it had to be bigger then her. and i found out its a her cuz i held her up to a light and she was clear near her poop whole. and latly i been finding her barried to the glass were the heater is like touching the heater is that normal or what, and her belly is to grey to notice the blue spot it all looks like grey checker bords. and i took new pics of her and her cage, although you wont see her in her cage cuz shes hiding all the time and i dont no why but ya if shes happy so am i if shes not then i want to make her happy lol. i would post the pics i took tonight but im on my computer and it needs to be fixed so ya. how can i get her more active and so on
sherry

[pcar]

You said you're going to try and take her to the vet, right? when you do, sometimes the vet may be able to tell the difference between males and females. One way i heard was to hold her tail up to a light to see through the skin, and usually you can see dark spots behind her vent (where she poops from) if it's a male-the dark spots are the inverted gentilia. And when she gets bigger, the males have longer tails that taper more.

Just thought that I would correct you on a couple of things. The females tale is the one that tapers more past the vent. This is stated in Kathy's Book. The only way that you can do the light trick to see the genitilia is if you have a blizzard, snow, or opal as they don't have any kind of pigment that can impead the light. The vet, as long as it is a vet that knows Herps, will be able to tell what sex the snake is either by "popping" or by probing.

[Naeris]

Hi Sherry,

Sounds like your Mum isn't helping you much at all lol.

I saw someone guessed your snake was an amel, if it looks like our Bob (check out my avatar), which I suspect it does having screwed my eyes up somewhat to check out your pic, then it is, as he is too!

Good luck!

[sherry]

hey,
ya your snake looks exactly like mine. its cool to know that kinf it is. is yours chilled back to? my solinky is a sweetydhe is he best though. and i shouldnt be on cuz im really tired and i havent picked her up for 2days would that make her skidish of me again and shes cloudy yet shiny i dont no if shes sheding so ya, its so confusing i need someone here. but for the first time in a mounth she laid on top of her cave.in site but i have to go to bed i worked 2 shifts at work the last to day i have to sleep
sherry