Few questions about my new corn...

I picked this one up a few days ago from a local pet store, and they said it’s about four months old. This is my first one, and it was just listed as "Corn Snake" Do you think this is just a typical albino, or something else? (I’m color blind, lol). My only other question right now is I’ve read in different places where some say you should feed them once a week, and others that say every 5 days or so. I know that’s not a huge difference, but ends up being two meals less a month. Also, how big should he be when I switch from pinkies to fuzzies? (I’ve own lots of reptiles before, but never snakes, so this is new to me). Oh yeah, The bottom of his aqaurium has repti-bark in it, and he buries himself and doesn’t come out until I take him out, which has only been about once/twice a day.....is this normal?

Here he is, yet to be named:



I was also going to ask, how often does a snake this size drink??? Like I said, when I have taken him out, mostly to make sure he’s alright (since he buries himself) I’ve been putting him near his water, which he then drinks, and goes back to hiding. I don’t know....maybe I’m just a worrier...

Any other advise would be great!

as for the color question, I have no idea. But for the substrate, I know some people use reptile bark, but I prefer Aspen bedding, my snake likes to hide under it and personally if I was going to bury under something, I would like it to be something comfortable. I don't think there is anything wrong with him hidding that much, my male ghost hides all the time. As long as your temps are fine, and he is eating and drinking, you really don't have anything to worry about! Good luck, hope that helped!

You should feed him every 5-7 days. How often is up to you. He looks like an amel (albino) to me. The food item should be about as large around as he is at his largest point. I would try to leave him be for a little while. Try to not handle him for about a week so he can get acclimated to his new home. Snakes love to hide. Burrowing is fine. And just keep his water bowl full, and he'll make sure to drink it when he needs it.

Oh, and welcome to the addiction of corn snakes.

In the past I have used: paper towel, newspaper, astroturf, repti bark, and yesterdays news cat litter... all worked well but I find that aspen works a LOT better and the snakes seem to like it better. As for feeding, the general rule is no larger than 1.5 times the widest part of your snake, you'd be amazed how wide they can open their little mouths! Heres some pics of my boys and my vivs (they need some plants, I know)

Treasure's viv (with yesterdays news cat litter... all have aspen now):


Hunter's temporary viv:



Treasure eating a squeaker (I feed f/t only):


Hunter eating a small squeaker (small for his size):


From the picture, its hard to tell what he is.. I'll agree with Lefty that he's probably an amel tho =) Beautiful little snake =)

Pictures like these following ones can help us to identify what your snake is a little easier =)

Close up of back (this is my normal):


Close up of belly can help too (normal again):


And if you want to know the sex.. sometimes folks on here can tell you by looking at vent pictures like this one (normal again, and hes a male):


Hope you find some of that helpful =) Welcome to the boards.. and the addiction!!

What a beautiful young snake!

I'd say 4 months is pretty right for that size but their growth has a lot to do with their feeding schedule.

If your amel (name for red albinos) has no white markings on its back, or perhaps just the tiniest of flecks, then you can call it a 'sunglow' which is the name given to amels that have been selectively bred to eliminate white on the back.

The belly will of course still have white.

Good luck with your new snake and welcome to the addiction!

Adèle

Just another possibility but it looks alot like my creamsicle.

He's a beautiful snake. He looks just like my Sunset (see my avatar). She is an amel.

Thanks for the help so far....but my biggest question is how often should I feed him at this age. I've got a dozen or so pinkies in the freezer, all 1 1/2 times the size of the largest part of him, but I've heard every three to five days, as well as every 7 days, but I've also seen people that recommend every 10 days. I'm so confused on this issue.

Also, I see that a lot of people are using the Aspen for bedding, and I can switch the next time I clean the viv....but it seems that he buries himself, and doesn't come out at all. He's usually very cold to the touch whenever I take him out to see if he's okay. I've been putting him near his water, and he'll drink, then go right back to bury himself. Does this seem normal as well?

Thanks in advance.

Very normal. You're doing fine. Feed it every 7 days. If it goes longer without eating, it's not a problem (they can go a couple of months without eating before it's a concern). It IS a problem if you feed it too much and it gets fat or grows too fast.

Also, I use paper towels and newspaper and two of them find the edges and hide under there as well. Also, handle it frequently, except after you feed it, you need to wait 2 days before you handle it.

Good luck, and you ARE a worrier!

Walt

Baby corns love to hide, and burrowing under the substrate is normal. It will help him feel secure in his cage also. It's like having a huge extra hide.

Some folks feed every 5 days, some 7, some 10. With a young snake like yours, every 5-7 days is good. When they get older you can cut back the frequency in which you feed him.

When I put my corns back I try to hold them over their waterbowl; invariably about half the time they'll take a big drink of water. It's like they forget to drink.

It sounds like your corn is doing great :*)

If he likes to burrow, I'd go with aspen =) Treasure never burrows anymore, but Hunter is ALWAYS under the aspen. I've tried everything under the sun (the safe suff anyhow) for substrate... and I find the aspen is the best =) Yesterdays news and newspaper were okie, but they stink like paper ink, and the newsprint always rubbed off the paper onto my snake ~,~ It sucked.. Mom had to wash his belly before I could hold him, cause I'm allergic to paper ink (the kind found on newspapers). I just recently switched to aspen and will never switch back hehe.. its wonderful, smells better than newspaper.. and in the long run is cheaper than paper towels (Only by $0.35 a month.. but hey... its $0.35!) also the snakes seem to enjoy it more =)

I forgot to mention that they get a lot of their fluid needs from their food.

Walt