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Snake Newbie

moukin

moukin

New member
Hi all! I'm about to become a snake owner for the first time ever. I'm adopting a baby corn from a member of this forum and I'll be getting her this Saturday. I'm so excited!

A bit about me...I'm 30 years old and married for almost 4 years.

I've always been an animal person and have had many pets. Cats, dogs, birds, but only one reptile, a bearded dragon my family had when I was younger.

My biggest passion in life these days is belly dance. I've been taking classes for almost two years now and performing with a troupe since about 6 months in. Recently I've also taken up learning to play Middle Eastern drums and other related percussion.

I work in landscaping but I'm planning to seek out another job soon and once stable, go back to college. I haven't decided for sure what I'll be going back for.

The corn snake I'm getting is a baby and the woman who hatched her has been calling her Jazzy. I've decided to rename her Aki (pronounced "AH-kee"). It's Japanese for "autumn, bright, glistening".

She's going to go into a 55 gallon tank. I've got lots of hiding spots for her to start with so she hopefully won't feel overwhelmed, but if I need to, I can move her back into a smaller space until she's big enough for it. I'm hoping I won't have any trouble moving her straight into the 55 though.

Here's her tank setup at the moment.

55gal
-UTH underneath with a slate tile inside the tank over the hot spot
-Dimmer switch connected to UTH
-Acurite indoor/outdoor digital thermometer. Probe on the slate tile, readout on the opposite side of the tank. (currently reading 73.6 on the cool side and 82.6 on the warm side).
-Fake branches hanging on the back of the tank and a couple just laying on top of the substrate. If Hobby Lobby still has them for 50% off I may go back for a couple more to lay around for her.
-Water dishes with finger holes in the sides so they double as hides.
- Mesh lid with clamps

This forum has helped me tons so far in getting things set up and knowing what to expect. Thanks all!
 

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Welcome to the Forum. You'll love it here. Dont be afraid to ask questions. You are one state next to me...kind of. But thats closer than anyone here, I'm guessing. Haha, well, once again, welcome. :D
 
Thanks for the welcome! I'm going to pick Aki up today and I'm so excited!

My tank temps are at about 73 on the cool side and averaging around 82 on the warm side on top of the slate.

Now, the slate tile doesn't actually cover the entire space affected by the heater. Meaning, I think there's probably a small area where the glass is hotter than where I've been reading temps. Should I get a second piece of slate to cover that, or is it necessary?

I worried that if I put two pieces of slate tile back to back, there might be a small space between them that she could wedge herself into and get stuck.
 
Hi there and welcome to the forum. When you get your new snake you will have to post pics :D we love pics. Don't be afraid to ask questions, this site is a wonderful resource.
 
I just posted pics in the Photo Gallery under "Brave Girl Aki"

She has been exploring ever since she got home. I kind of expected her to be nervous and hide right away.
 
You could always silicone the 2 pieces of slate together so there would be no gaps but even set beside each other it should be fine (I would think)

Your tank looks gorgeous......my fingers are crossed for you that she does great in the 55 gallon right from the get-go.

Those dishes/hides are AWESOME, I've never seen those before.
Can't wait for pics of your new girly....I am getting my very first one tomorrow so I know how you feel..lol
 
For now I've put the temp probe onto the glass on the area that isn't covered with the slate tile. That way I can adjust the temps so that the hot spot on the glass isn't too high and I'll just know that the slate tile is probably a couple of degrees cooler than that.
 
Hi! I am glad I found your intro! I am so glad Aki is doing well with you, I wish her brothers and sister would do so well. They are stuborn about eating but not your girl, she would eat in the middle of a hurricane as long as her feed bin is covered lol. Love the setup!
 
She's doing great! She was super active yesterday, probably just checking everything out.

Today I didn't see her so I worried a little and finally decided it was worth disturbing her just a bit to make sure she was doing okay. I found her curled up under one of the fake branches that is laying right on top of the substrate. She blinked at me like "Moooooom...I was sleeping. 5 more minutes..."

She's actually right about mid-tank on top of the substrate although her warm side is measuring just under 83 right on top of the glass. Think she is warm enough? I figured if she's cold she'd burrow down a bit and find the warm spot.

I have the bedding pretty thick, 1.5-2" in most spots. I did scoop away a little bedding right on top of her slate tile and put one of the hides on it so if she wants to warm up there, it's easier for her to get to.
 
Sounds like you are doing just fine. Yes she will go to a warmer spot if she needs to and will go to a cooler spot if she needs. You got the best one of my clutch and I look forward to seeing pics when she is bigger :)
 
I feel so lucky to have such a good girl who was eating well and has done great from the start. By Wednesday I'll try feeding her to keep her on the schedule you had her on. On that sort of schedule, she'll have a couple days to digest and I can aim for handling her on the weekends.
 
Yup :) I love that schedule. Though some times I am a day or two off. But that happens to every one. As long as it is not weeks between feedings (for under 3 feet) it is ok, but the closer you can get to the same day each week the better.
 
Not trying to disturb her too much, but such an itty snake in such a big tank, I am taking the time about once a day to sort around and figure out where she's at. Sometimes it takes a bit of shuffling the bedding around, but so far she's doing great.

When I do find her, she acts a little startled but she has not tried to strike at me, nor does she rush away as fast as possible. Usually she just kinda tastes at the air a bit and seems to realize I'm okay.

She likes burrowing down under the bedding directly underneath one of the branches that's sitting loose on top of it, right about mid-tank.
 
Feeding day!

Scooped her up into her feeding tub and set the tub inside her aquarium while I thawed out the pinkie.

Dropped the pinkie in and it was gone in no time! Hungry girl!
 
I'm glad she ate without any problems :D

I'm going to attempt my first feed on Friday, cross your fingers it goes just as smoothly for me as it did you ;)
 
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