first time owning a snake

[manson_midian]

today is the day that im sappose to feed my new corn. i went to get the pinky, and i saw how small it is and that it doesnt even have its eyes open. i felt really really bad doing this. i havnt fed it caz she doesnt want it, but when she does im going to feel really bad. did any one feel like this at first or still does. if it were an older i wouldnt feel as bad. also whats best live or dead mice?

 

[mbrown]

uhm, u DID know u had to feed the snake pinkies before u got it right? so u should have considered that first. but i know what u're saying. for a moment, i felt like "OMG< this poor lil baby mouse", but then i said , what the heck, everryone has to survive and feed on something. do you feel bad, when u eat chicken? or pork? dont feel bad. if you can't feed it mice, then you shouldn't have gotten one. but, keep yer head up, you'll get used to it

 

[manson_midian]

naw, i can feed it, and i knew that i had too lol. its just it looked all defensless. BTW after i posted that i went to try once more too see if she would take the mouse, and she did shes now trying to swallow it, it looks kool.

 

[mbrown]

yea ive only had mine for over a week now. you'll enjoy it, and there may be times where it refuses to eat. but u would have to look that up on other threads here, like i said i'm a beginner too. good luck and have fun with yer snake. what tyype do you have?

 

[CAV]

MM,

Did the store give you the snake in a plastic cup or a sack?

 

[manson_midian]

i have a normal, im going to get an Anery "A", but parents want to see how i do with this one first. i think ill do good. also if the snake wont take the mouse, should i leave it there or try later. and also whens the best time to feed?

 

[manson_midian]

they gave it to me in a bag, why? were they being cheep a$$es with the bag?

 

[CAV]

were they being cheep a$$es with the bag?

LOL, something like that. See if your Mom has a disposible food container like a Glad or Ziploc brand container. (The kind you put leftovers in and one that you can poke holes in).

1. Place the snake and the pinky inside and close the lid tightly.

2. Place this in a dark area, such as inside a cabinet or in a closet.

3. Leave the snake alone and in the dark overnight. Your house in Larado should be warm enough that heat isn't needed.

4. Check in the next morning.

This works most of the time. Also, reducing the amount of time you are handling your snake will reduce the stress of the animal and kick up its feeding response.

BTW, the pinky mouse will die after being seperated from the mother mouse for several hours. If it expires during the night, place it in a Ziploc and toss it in the freezer for your next feeding attemp in another 5-6 days.

 

[manson_midian]

yea, here in Laredo many ppl are cheepos, the only thing is that we try too keep it cool herer, i think its at like 77-76 around there. is that ok. and also as soon as she its it do i put her in the warm side? caz once shes in her hid she wont get out. i hope the heat from the warm side doesnt get to her. its not that hot it just feels warm, but when i pick up the paper the glass is really hot, is she smart enough to not go under or will she just go under and stay there. well thx for the advice, you are always really helpful CAV. hope im not bugging anyone w/ all the questions, its just ive been reading since june about snakes, and i dont want to kill it. plus it was freaking expensive here, it was 73 for just a normal.

 

[Flygning]

The other day, I fed my hatchlings little live pinkies because that's all the store had. I usually feed f/t, but you take what you can get. I have 4 hatchlings and bought 6 pinkies (just in case). I left the two extra ones in the bag, but they were still alive the next day. I held one...and my heart melted. I usually don't get too attached to my snakes' supper, but the little guy had survived the night, and he was going strong, looking for food or water or mama or whatever. I felt bad for leaving the poor guy alive all alone in the bag, so I fed him to my adult snake :-/

So, if feeding the snake a live pinkie bothers you a tad, you should buy them frozen. They're still cute, but it's easier to "let go"

 

[CAV]

i think its at like 77-76 around there. is that ok.

That will be fine. Try to place it on an upper shelf or in the top of your closet. Those spots will be a couple of degrees warmer.

as soon as she its it do i put her in the warm side? caz once shes in her hid she wont get out. i hope the heat from the warm side doesnt get to her. its not that hot it just feels warm, but when i pick up the paper the glass is really hot, is she smart enough to not go under or will she just go under and stay there.

1. Put a few more layers of paper in the bottom before adding the snake. If it feels warm or hot to you, it is too hot for the snake. The UTH will raise the temp 10-15 degrees above the room, so if your house is 76 then the enclosure is probably close to 90. Place the hide in the cool end.

2. As long as you are feeding in a seperate container, I'd recommend adding substrate to the aquarium in the future. That would be prefered to exposing the snake to the hot temps. I recommend Repti-bark for a hatchling if you can find it. This material will help diffuse the heat from the UTH and lower the risk of burns to your snake.

3. The snake will move about and fing the temperature that makes it comfortable. I think your snake is currently hiding so much because you are handling it too much. Avoiding contact for 7-10 days will give him time to get acclimated to his new home.

i dont want to kill it. plus it was freaking expensive here, it was 73 for just a normal.

Dang! You should have called me. I'd have driven a cool morph down to Larado and delivered it in person for just a few dollars more than that!