Strider

Strider · Sep 30, 2007

Hello guys my names Steven, but friends call me Strider because of how fast I walk! (Strider means to walk/take Strides).

I just got a snake today and I was on this site yesterday looking for names. I don't know if its male or female, but its about a month old. It's orange/red if that helps people identify what it is, cause I don't know myself :sobstory: So I desided to call it Blaze

.Can someone help answer a few questions as its my first reptile.

1) How do you pick it up without hurting it or myself?
2) Whats the best temperature to have with a four foot tank where the heat mat takes up two feet?

Thanks in advance

Lennycorn · Sep 30, 2007

Lennycorn · Sep 30, 2007

Sorry, I should check my post before sending.

Tinycritters · Sep 30, 2007

Welcome to the forums Strider! You will find lots of useful information here, and definitely check out those links Lennycorn posted. And Blaze is a great name! Its the same as one of mine. Makes me feel better about naming him that now. Thanks, and have fun learining all about corn snakes!

Susielea · Oct 1, 2007

Hi Strider and welcome to the forums!

I too have a male called Blaze! He's a Reverse Okeetee and has red saddles ringed with white on an orange ground colour and red eyes.

If you could post a picture of yours in the photo gallery we should hopefully be able to tell you what s/he is.

Lenny's advice on handling and temps is spot on as always. Just be gentle but firm with holding your little guy and until you get used to the way he wants to move try holding him over your bed or sofa, so if he does slip from your hands he'll have a soft landing.

Best wishes,

wax32 · Oct 2, 2007

Strider · Oct 7, 2007

Thanks guys, your information has helped me out a lot. I went to try your advise but guess what?

S/he has desided to shed :eek1:
I don't know whether to be happy or not! S/he has gone pale and hides 24/7

and has gone off its food! But to be truthful what really scares me is the fact that if the part of the eyes and tail don't shed then it will go blind and lose some of the tail

if that happens I want to help but I can't pick it up...HELP PLEASE!!!

Velvet · Oct 8, 2007

Hi there!

Welcome to the site!

Firstly, you should be HAPPY your snake is shedding! lol It's a good thing, they shed when they grow.

Going off food is COMPLETELY normal when they go into shed, many corns do...So don't worry about that.

Corns naturally hide alot but more so when they are in shed. Don't worry about that either. As soon as it sheds, it will be brighter and more beautiful than ever before.

Retained Eyecaps when shedding is EXTREMELY rare, I wouldn't worry about that at all! Also, if the snake does have a "bad" shed and doesn't shed all at once, you can soak it in warm water for a bit and all the skin should come off.

I'm sorry, I think I am missing something? Why can you not pick the snake up? I have assisted one or two of mine when they didn't shed well and did not hurt the snakes in any way...

Lastly, relax...lol Don't stress about things that will most likely not happen.

Oh PS: your snake's eyes will most likely look clear a day or two (sometimes more) before shedding, your snake is still going to shed, don't worry about that.

Strider · Oct 8, 2007

Wow thanks, that cheered me up a LOT

By the way your snake looks really cool.

Good news= I came in from work and he has eaten

Bad new= He hasn't shed yet :crazy02:

:-offtopic I like the fact that there are people of all different ages. Most forums I used to go on were people too young!

Back on topic...Is there any advise I should get as a new person with a young snake!
If so thanks in advance <3 <3 <3

Sanebedlam · Oct 8, 2007

They will likely be in blue for a few days then go clear then shed in another day or two its a long process don't worry about it! As far as you coming home from work to find it eating does this mean you are feeding it in its cage? If thats the case you really want to avoid it. You should always feed in a separate container to avoid the possibility of your little snake ingesting some of its substrate. You also don't want your snake associating the cage opening up with food entering the cage. The feeding container can be something as simple as a cardboard box to something like a small plastic cage similar to what you see pet snakes or feeder crickets in. Hope this helps!

aztek · Oct 8, 2007

Strider Hyru

Strider · Oct 10, 2007

Hey guys came home last night from work and s/he has finally shed! The eye caps were on there and so was the tail as far as I can tell

Also about the feeding... I can't pick the snake up remember

thats why it eats in its cage. But as soon as I can pick it up I'll make sure it feeds somewhere else!!!

Sanebedlam · Oct 10, 2007

Strider said:
Hey guys came home last night from work and s/he has finally shed! The eye caps were on there and so was the tail as far as I can tell

Also about the feeding... I can't pick the snake up remember thats why it eats in its cage. But as soon as I can pick it up I'll make sure it feeds somewhere else!!!

Why can't you pick the snake up? There is no reason I know of that you wouldn't be able to pick it up for 30 seconds to lift it out of the cage and into a feeding cage.

Velvet · Oct 10, 2007

I also don't understand why you can't just pick the snake up...are you afraid of it?

wax32 · Oct 10, 2007

Strider said:
Also about the feeding... I can't pick the snake up remember thats why it eats in its cage.

No, we don't remember, enlighten us.

Strider

Strider

New member

Lennycorn

Just see the truth

Lennycorn

Just see the truth

Tinycritters

It is what it is

Susielea

Lily

wax32

ALL YOUR BASE

Strider

New member

Velvet

Totally corn crazy!!!!

Strider

New member

Sanebedlam

New member

aztek

New member

Strider

New member

Sanebedlam

New member

Velvet

Totally corn crazy!!!!

wax32

ALL YOUR BASE