Corn care info reccomendations

[DutchGuy]

Hi all,

I am waiting for my first cornsnake.

I could use some reccomendations for websites that offer a comprehensive care guide for dummies.
I don't want my snake to suffer from my ignorance.

Also, if you would think with me if I am on the right path here I would appreciate it.

I thought I would start with a hatchling female from my herpstore.
That way I can purchase a male next year and breed the year after that if I would want to do so.
Does that sound like a good plan?

The store suggested I get a smaller cage first so the hatchling doesn't dissappear in the larger ones they carry and that I buy a larger one after approximately a year.
Is that the way to go or is bigger better when it comes to cages?
The smaller cage is approximately 15 gallons..the bigger one is about 30.

What can I do to make my snake feel comfortable so he hides as little as possible? Obviously I want to enjoy looking at it.
One lady said that supplying a hide is not neccesary but someone else said that having a hide makes for a happier snake that will be more active than one that is stressed for not being able to hide.

Has anyone any experience with the use of live plants in the cage? I would like to set up a display that looks as natural as possible but also it needs to be practical for cleaning the cage right so there are no health issues for lack of hygiene.

For your perusal..here's the link for the herpstore I go to
www.animalattraction.nl

Thanks in advance,

Martijn

 

[QuickSilver]

During daylight hours your corn snake will most likely hide, that's normal behavior. If you don't provide both a warm and cool hide, they will burrow into their substrate to hide. You can set your hides up so that you can see into them and thus see your cornsnake, that's what we do. At night they are usually more active. That's usually when they eat and drink and cruise.

I also was curious about live plants so I did a search, this first reference isn't for corn snakes specifically (it's for water dragons) but is pretty comprehensive with regard to what plants should not be used with animals http://www.reference.org/dragons/data_sheets/plants_list.htm

while this is more specific for corn snakes http://www.geocities.com/the18_angel/dansweirdweb_snakes_plants.html

I believe that the plants should be in their own pots and be pretty hearty so a larger snake won't be able to knock them over, but of course they'll grow with your snake.

 

[canadianjoe]

U want a guide for dummies..... the corn snake manual by the loves. definatly a must for new corn snake owner. answers all the questions u will ever have about the corn. It is not a website however it is a reliable source, that you can't go wrong in. Most big booksstores carry it and i have even seen them in some pet shops.

 

[DutchGuy]

Thanks for your replies.
I will definately get that book.

Any feedback on the rest?


One more question. The store I went to is a good one..it is reccomended on the web by people I trust to know about this. Also I spoke to the owner when I was there and he said and acted like herps are his hobby as well as his business.
But..from what he said and the information on the site I gather they sort of assume people take two hatchlings to live in one cage.

This makes me think because I have read about possible problems with keeping corns together.
I tend to give animals the company of a mate but I realise that that is a mammal thing and doesn't apply to reptiles.

Without trying to stir up the controversy..what are the reasons people do keep corns together? All I hear about is why you shouldn't and I understand that but if there are benefits to keeping them together I would like to hear about those as well.

Also, is there a minimum age hatchlings should be before you move them?

Thanks again,.

Martijn

 

[canadianjoe]

i think the major benefit from housing corns together is that you don't have to purchase an extra cage, heat source, substate etc.
the other major benefit is that some people don't have the extra space or don't want to give that spae up for another cage, even though they don't have to be HUGE.

 

[kenalotia]

You're right, wanting company is a mammal thing. Some people can house two corns together successfully, but that doesn't always work. Some corns will be stressed out by the other snake's presence, and will not thrive as well as the other. If you are going to house them together, remember that you will need a larger enclosure than you would for just one and you need lots of hides. You will need at least two hides on the warm side and two hides on the cool side, so that they can each have one for themselves. Also, very important is to feed them separately. Cannibalism isn't very common in corns, but it can happen. Feed your corns in separate enclosures, and wait a few hours after they've finished eating to put them back in their home. This will ensure that the snakes are out of feeding mode when they come back together.

And, if one of the snakes doesn't seem to be doing well, be prepared to buy another enclosure and set-up. Sometimes that makes all the difference.

The other problems of housing snakes together are that if one gets sick, the other will too. You can't tell who pooped or who regurged, if that were to happen. By feeding them on a different schedule you can minimize this problem. Also, do not house two corns of different sizes together. They should be approximately the same if they are to live together.

 

[DutchGuy]

Thank you for you input.
I don't really see the bebefit of keepng them together. Maybe if you have lots and lots of snakes but I am more than able to put up seperate cages.

Bachelor pads it is!

 

[cusoon]

Hi Martijn,
Another dutch corn owner, cool. I read your questions and Hereby I try to give you some information on my experience:
1) Read a lot of books before starting up keeping snake even though corn is very easy going,
2) "The corn snake manual"by Bill and Kathy Love is great information, you can buy it through internet Amazon.com
3) this forum is also one of the best information centre, read all the topic and answers from members
4) To start with a small tank then bigger is better for the baby snake, for they will feel more sucure and also do not provide a big hide, corn like their hide to be small and tight. Baby corn hide most of the time and a hide is a must, they need a place to settle down to digest the food without disturbing.
5) There are no problem to cage more corn together they are social snake just to be sure seperate feeding and enough hides,
6) Baby corn hide most of the time, especially if you provide a tank with real plants and beautiful landscape, I did that and find that you will never saw them at all, so I now switch to more simple caging, at least I know where he is and always can take him out whenever I want to feed or handle.
7) When you buy in the pet shop most baby should had their first shedding and feeling should be ok, be sure you ask them and most shop should have a garant for at least 1 month.
8) when your snake grow bigger, say after a year, you need a bigger tank. I shopped around in Holland and the best I found in price and quality is from http://www.rainforest-frogs.nl. their tank is from germany and they have a very good ventilation system. only thing you have to pick it up yourself at the agent home and they do not have a pin payment, for their shop is in Germany and the agent is hier in Holland. But trust me, they have beautiful tank and very good price.
Good luck with your corn.