q's about buying corns

First of all which would be better buying locally or buying on the internet. I think I already know the answer but just want to make sure. 2ndly if I buy from say, a pet store or a breeder what queastions should I ask? i already have all the equipment and I'm just looking for the snake now. 3rdly since I'm just starting out should I buy a hatchling or jeuvinile/adult? 4th and last q, do sound levels in a room affect the snake by stressing it out or are they tolerant to some loud noise?
Thanks for any help you can give me.

I already posted this in another part of this forum but i'll still check em both.

OK, these are my personal opinions, others may think differently.

I would NOT buy from a petstore as I have expressed to you in another post on another thread. I have had very bad experiences with buying animals from even specialist reptile stores as the animals just do not receive the care and attention that a good private breeder will provide.

If you know of someone locally who breeds cornsnakes, then great, buy from them. Or go to a local show and buy from a private breeder there.

Personally I buy all my corns over the internet nowadays, There are some great breeders out there with some fantastic animals, who offer great advice, a good guarantee of health, shipping etc.. and a wide selection of morphs.

Rich, who runs this and many other herp sites on the web sells his corns at:
Rich's wonderful corns

Other very well known breeders are
Kathy Love

and Don S.

I would buy a smaller one to start with so you can watch it grow, maybe a hatchling from last year.

If you buy locally you need to know what it is eating (size) and how often and when it last ate and its health record amongst other things.

Finally, snakes don't have ears, but they are good at sensing vibrations and so loud music/noise will affect and could stress the snake so this should be kept to a minimum.

Skye

I would second buying from a breeder, or at a reptile show. If nothing else, the local pet store charges about twice what you would pay from either of the former sources. I got my snake from a reptile show, and probably will get my next one from a breeder. Ditto on the rest of the questions.

Thanks for your help. I'll have a little trouble finding a reptile show but I might be able to the sote i'm looking at for my snake is
http://www.vmsherp.com/4saleAvailCorns.htm it is a black albino
het charcoal-motley. female last one on the list

I do not think it is fair to discriminate against all pet stores. This is wrong.
I got five of my snakes from a local pet store.
Of course it is a reptile specialty pet store and the owner breeds a very high percentage of his snakes but it is a pet store.
They definitely have some nice corn snakes and know what they are doing.
The ones I got from them are great snakes, great eaters and have great temperaments.
Via the internet through reputable breeders such as Rich, Don Soderberg and Kathy Love, just to name a few, is an excellent way to go, but to just lump all pet stores together as bad places to get snakes is wrong.
I am still not convinced that shows are the best place either.
There can be just as bad of animals at shows as at pet stores.
And there can also be breeders representing animals as healthy when they aren't and as having ancestry they don't.
Especially at some of the smaller local shows.
Now this is by no means to say all shows or vendors at shows are bad. By No Means. It is just to make a point that just because they are breeders doesn't mean they all care about anything other then the almighty dollar.

Jimmy, I completely agree with you.

However, unless I know the petstore being considered I gave my advice (which I stated was my personal opinion) based on my experiences.

The last reptiles I bought from a speciality petstore were:

a) sick - one died even after I spent all our vacation money on vet bills

b) mis-represented - they were not the pure species they were sold as, but turned out to be hybrids

As such, I recopmmend staying away from petstores as a general rule. There are always exceptions - thankfully - there are some wonderful petstores around, but sadly they do appear to be the minority.

I was unlucky, but equally, I would say that you were lucky to have such a great store near you. I would also point out that your store is really the exception because it is owned by a private breeder. Most petstores just buy the animals in in bulk lots from many sources.

With regards to the shows - again I completely agree - I have seen awful and excellent examples at shows I have been to - which makes me say to anyone - know the reputation of whom you purchase from.
Whether this be a petstore, over the internet or at a show.

Skye

I was pretty sure we basically had the same ideas.
I just don't like a blanket description.
There are definitely good and bad examples with stores, shows and breeders. It is best to check around until you find a store or person you feel comfortable dealing with.
I have been lucky but a lot of it comes with knowing what to look for.
Sometimes you don't have that luxury over the Internet. But with the big name breeders you get a guarantee with your snake so that is hard to beat.
"my" store offers a feeding guarantee. If it won't eat he will replace it so I can get the best of both worlds.
Actually all three worlds. The 16 eggs I have incubating are from a female snow I picked up at a show in Birmingham and the dad is a Ghost from Don at SMR.

Thanks again, I'll keep all this in mind.Jimmy do you sell corns over the internet? If you do send me an e-mail with your inventory and I might buy.
my e-mail is lil_payton16@hotmail.com

Also Jimmy if you don't sell over internet what area of the us south east or what, unless you live in the uk or elswhere. I could always get up to your pet store to buy. i'm that picky about the quality of my snake.

I don't have any corns for sell. My first clutch is incubating at this time but they will be anerys. I didn't think you were looking for anerys.
Chattanooga Tennessee
Southeast corner of the state