CornSnakes.com Forums  
  Tired of those Google and InfoLinks ads? Register and log in!

Go Back   CornSnakes.com Forums > The CornSnake Forums > Health Issues/Feeding Problems
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read

Notices

Health Issues/Feeding Problems Anything related to general or specific health problems. Issues having to do with feeding problems or tips.

Baby corn death within 12 hours?
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-09-2017, 08:25 AM   #1
roubaix
Unhappy Baby corn death within 12 hours?

Hello! First time snake owner and new to the forums.

I received a grant for Pets in the classroom and picked up my new corn snake from PetCo last night. Upon putting it into the tank, it didn’t move much at all. After a couple hours, it had shifted positions but never found a hide and stayed mostly stretched out under the heat lamp. (The store didn’t have heating pads, I’ve since ordered one.)

The temps read at 72° in the cool end and around 78° under the lamp, which I know is cooler than preferred. Humidity was close to 50%.

I got up a few times throughout the night and it had moved to a couple different places in the tank but was never, ever in any kind of hide... just stretched. The snake hardly moved on the few times I handled it, it almost never flicked its tongue, and even the two days I saw it at PetCo, it wasn’t in a hide but lining the tank.

It’s pretty limp this morning and I’m confident it’s dead. I’m really upset and feel responsible, but my instinct tells me something must’ve been wrong before I brought it home.

I’m looking for some clarity. Thank you!
 
Old 12-09-2017, 10:03 AM   #2
Karl_Mcknight
if you saw the snake at Petco was not in a hide, and you noticed it didn't move much and you noticed it didn't flick its tongue much, you probably should have kept your money and looked elsewhere.

I doubt it's anything specific that you did, the snake was probably already a goner, you just happened to be the unlucky patron that walked off with it.

For future reference: When purchasing a baby corn snake, the tongue should be flicking almost non stop while you are handling. Most baby snakes are a bit nervous and flighty, so it should squirm and move a lot too while handling. Its nose and mouth should be clean and free of mucous, no wheezing or coughing, and you should ask the store (or dealer, breeder, etc....) for feeding records, shed records, and medical reports. If they can't or won't provide this info, move on.

Fortunately, corn snakes for the most part are "Cheap" and you can easily find another one if you wish. But do some research first, you don't have to buy the first thing you see.

Optimum temps should be 82 to 88 on the warm end (this temp should be measured inside the warm hiding spot). On the cool end, room temps are ok, just try not to let them drop below 70. (74 would be better).

Heat lamps are generally frowned on, although some people use them successfully.

Even if your temps were not ideal, the snake should not have died in 12 hours. That's why I say there was probably something else going on.
 
Old 12-09-2017, 10:09 AM   #3
roubaix
I appreciate your comments, Karl_Mcknight. You're affirming what I feared.

Luckily, the snake was included as a part of the grant and the clerk did guarantee me a 30 day money back/exchange if the snake died. I will be going back up to Petco within the hour. I was so excited about the purchase that I neglected to wait until the "right one" showed up and just selected the only remaining one as soon as my grant approval arrived.

Even with my research prior to its purchase, and warnings of purchasing from a chain store, I still should have looked it over for signs of illness and knew something was wrong with it when it wasn't in a hide even at the store.

Again, I appreciate your help.
 
Old 12-09-2017, 11:00 AM   #4
Shiari
I would try to find a snake to purchase from a local breeder. Don Soderberg of South Mountain Reptiles is located in Texas. I know it's a big state, but I'd go through him. His animals are top notch and healthy.
 

Join now to reply to this thread or open new ones for your questions & comments! Cornsnakes.com is the largest online community dedicated to cornsnakes . Registration is open to everyone and FREE. Click Here to Register!

Google
 
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:41 AM.





Fauna Top Sites
 

Powered by vBulletin® Version
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Page generated in 0.04057407 seconds with 11 queries
Copyright Rich Zuchowski/SerpenCo