First time snake owner. Lots of questions.

[Tavia]

I'd like to see them! It's okay to post a few random pictures in your intro thread, of nearly anything you want. Otherwise all non corns go in either the All Others Photo Gallery subsection or in the General Chit Chat section.

 

[albertagirl]

Yes please! I don't know anything about snails, but curious and interested about all kinds of stuff.

 

[Karl_Mcknight]

Hell to all!

I have a couple things to address and I would really love some input from real corn snake owners. This little snakey is about 23" long and I am just so thrilled to have him/her in our family.

1. So 4 days ago I purchased a corn snake. It was labled "albino corn" unsexed. I was looking at photos of different morphs and I actually think it is an Amelanistic Motley. Would anyone agree with me. (It's belly is completely white.)

2. Is my snake underweight?

3. The store I got my snake from only fed live food. I had a successful feed with a live fuzzy, but I hear that you should ONLY feed frozen. Can someone tell me why?

4. Sexing- I havent had this snake probed yet, but I've counted the ventral scales twice and I got 138 counting individual scales and I counted 70 pairs. Also I think the tail looks like a male but I would really like some input from those familiar to sexing without probes.

Any information you might have to share please do.

-Firefly

2. How would we know if your snake is underweight. You've not even told us what it weighs yet.

3. A dead mouse won't bite your snake. A live one will, and yes, snakes have been killed by mice before.

4. Unless you plan to breed your snake knowing the sex isn't necessary. Your snake won't be breeding age for 2 to 3 years, so you have plenty of time to learn its sex. Neither you or your snake will benefit from knowing right now. Probing should only be done by a professional that knows how. Otherwise you can hurt, even kill the snake.

 

[axis1]

My only thing with the whole "humane" aspect is that pre killed are usually co2 killed and that's dying from axphyxia, which is the same way a snake kills. So to each his own on that. But yes NEVER leave a live mouse with your snake unsupervised. I've seen and heard of some absolute horror stories from someone doing this. If you keep feeding live as I do, just keep a close eye, when your snake strikes and wraps around, if you notice or hear the rodent biting use some tongs to grab it's teeth until it's done. Hope this helps!

Asphyxiation by co2 and by constriction are actually very different. I'm not a forensic pathologist, but if I was gonna be executed and given a choice between the two, I think I would opt for the co2!


(Then again, did ya ever notice that most of the folks who would even engage in a discussion such as this are usually folks who have never worried about circling the drain, even slowly?). oke:

 

[Dragonling]

Snakes actually kill not just by asphyxiation but by severely restricting blood flow, causing organ failure and rapidly inducing unconsciousness. It would be over pretty fast, but still probably very unpleasant.

 

[axis1]

Snakes actually kill not just by asphyxiation but by severely restricting blood flow, causing organ failure and rapidly inducing unconsciousness. It would be over pretty fast, but still probably very unpleasant.

As always, appreciate the details! I was just trying to be concrete, as folks who feed live and don't have to, might understand. There are, of course, certain snakes who won't take frozen but I always try it first, even with them! I'm an avid meat eater, so to judge should be totally hypocritical! I deplore hypocrites!!! Steaks, chops & everything else that crawls, walks, swims, or flies, that I prefer to dine on don't get on my plate by voluntarily laying there!

Just sayin'.

 

[Firefly151]

I'd like to see them! It's okay to post a few random pictures in your intro thread, of nearly anything you want. Otherwise all non corns go in either the All Others Photo Gallery subsection or in the General Chit Chat section.

So here are some pics of my mystery snails

This is one laying eggs, one is her on my hand and the other is an egg sac at different stages of incubation with a hatched baby snail on my fingertip.

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[Firefly151]

2. How would we know if your snake is underweight. You've not even told us what it weighs yet.





Unless you plan to breed your snake knowing the sex isn't necessary. Your snake won't be breeding age for 2 to 3 years, so you have plenty of time to learn its sex. Neither you or your snake will benefit from knowing right now. Probing should only be done by a professional that knows how. Otherwise you can hurt, even kill the snake.

The length is about 23" and weight is 1.2oz

I do not plan on breeding it but I would like to know the gender to help me choose a name, and so I can use the correct pronoun when talking about him/her.



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[DollysMom]

That naming thing is always difficult. For now pick your best guess at sex based off the tail and run with it. You see, even snakes that have been popped or probed, well sometimes the result is wrong. Laying eggs is definitive and I understand if a presumed male locks with a presumed female, it's a pretty good bet, but even breeders have sexed snakes and tried to pair them only to find oops, it's renaming time. Same thing when a presumed male lays eggs.

I hope this helps. At least your chances of being right are about 50-50, so it could be worse.

 

[sdavis2]

As always, appreciate the details! I was just trying to be concrete, as folks who feed live and don't have to, might understand. There are, of course, certain snakes who won't take frozen but I always try it first, even with them! I'm an avid meat eater, so to judge should be totally hypocritical! I deplore hypocrites!!! Steaks, chops & everything else that crawls, walks, swims, or flies, that I prefer to dine on don't get on my plate by voluntarily laying there!

Just sayin'.

The way I see it, would you rather be choked out by Brock Lesnar or led to a literal gas chamber? All personal choice I suppose

 

[albertagirl]

So here are some pics of my mystery snails

That is so fascinating, thanks for sharing the pics! But why do you call them "mystery" snails? Are they pets, or just a curiosity as part of a fish tank, or do you breed them for sale? My only experience with snails is catching them as a kid, and as algae control in a fish tank.

 

[axis1]

The way I see it, would you rather be choked out by Brock Lesnar or led to a literal gas chamber? All personal choice I suppose

Who's Brook Lensar? And what does she do? (Actually, have to think about it because if she's hot, that might be kinky!!).

But a gas chamber is like breathing in cyanide, so I don't know if you can compare that to co2. In addition to that, Dragonling had a good point, there's other comorbidities to consider with constriction, which just happens to be a more physically violent death. If it's necessary, I'm not against it. Like I said before, I am an avid carnivore myself, so to judge killing animals for food (or to wear them for that matter, since I also love leather!), I would be a hypocrite!!! (To delve into it even further, I LOVE my colognes & cosmetics, many of which come from whales and sea animals!! If I couldn't wear my Devin or Aramis or even my Armani colognes, that would be tantamount to having sand in my Motion Lotion!!! I would be slightly irritable to say the least!!)

Somewhat off-topic but interesting nonetheless!!!

 

[DollysMom]

Brock Lesnar is a pro wrestler. Kind of a burly guy. Not really into pro-wrestling, but have picked some up by osmosis. (Somehow, I think you really already know that, Axis, but just in case others don't)

Is death by snake more humane than the AVMA accepted method of CO2 euthanasia? It's kind of a moot point. Many of us don't want the inconvenience and just don't want to watch it is all, but many of us would feed live if there were no other way. Snakes have to eat, and they have to eat meat that has to come from somewhere.

Now back to Mystery/Apple snails. I love them. I love all the colors they come in now, too. I think it's great that you raise them, Firefly151! Thanks for the pics.

 

[Firefly151]

Who's Brook Lensar? And what does she do? (Actually, have to think about it because if she's hot, that might be kinky!!).

Haha! here is Brock Lesnar

Also, Co2 will just make them sleepy. They just fall asleep and never wake up.

I tried to feed frozen for the first time last night and he bit it's face for about 30 seconds, and then backed off and wanted nothing to do with it. We tried wiggling and dangling it but he would strike it and then drop it.

Any suggestions on switching from live to frozen? (Gonna start a thread in the feeding section, but you guys have all had good advice, I figure I'd ask here too)



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[axis1]

Brock Lesnar is a pro wrestler. Kind of a burly guy. Not really into pro-wrestling, but have picked some up by osmosis. (Somehow, I think you really already know that, Axis, but just in case others don't)

. . .

Wow!

As we said when got caught at something (or when admitting that, "the jig is up!"), you REALLY "peeped my hole card," Dollysmom!! There is NO WAY you could actually KNOW that and btw, I really didn't know who Brock Lesnar was till I googled him (btw, thanx for the visual there Firefly!!), but you have a keen sense of people that is pretty inspirational! You remind me of that teacher in third grade who was standing there with her hand out as if she just heard the entire conversation me and four friends just had in the lavatory as we conspired to light up and throw a pack of firecrackers out the window of the class at the end of a long recess!! She even KNEW I was the one with the fireworks in my POCKET!!! It's like that Mother's & Teacher's Radar that can only be possessed by certain women who had at least two kids and not more than eight!!!!

Scary stuff!

(As I sip from my first mug of coffee after a short run (it's just too MUGGY in Brooklyn this morning!) from two eyes that remain half-closed, like two pissholes in the snow, I just CAN'T shake the vision of SNAIL TRAILS!!! Now how did THAT happen?)

Well, as sdavis says, I guess it's a personal choice. uke01:

 

[axis1]

. . .

I tried to feed frozen for the first time last night and he bit it's face for about 30 seconds, and then backed off and wanted nothing to do with it. We tried wiggling and dangling it but he would strike it and then drop it.

. . .

Not trying to be facetious Firefly, but was the rodent fully-thawed? oke:

For snakes that you want to switch from live to f/t, I think the best way is to place the rodent in a ziplock (the REAL ones that are fairly watertight) and place the entire bag in a mug or bowl of hot tap water. Try to put a little weight on the ziplock so that the rodent is just about completely submerged in the hot water. In about 10 minutes, replace the now room-temperature water with hot water and submerge the rodent-in-the-ziplock once again. Repeat until the rodent is limp and soft all the way through to the touch. When you open that bag, the FIRST thing you should notice is the scent of the mouse. THIS is how you should present it to your snake, who should already have been in a feeding bin, btw, or if in its enclosure, ready to be given food. (In retrospect, prepare your snake 15 minutes or more PRIOR to warming the rodent so that if it gets excited by being handled, it would have calmed down by now!).

I already have my snakes in sealed tubs by the time I fetch the rodents from freezer, so when I present them their meals, it is coming fresh from the ziplock, as limp as the moment it was euthanized and its scent fresh and (unfortunately for a sensitive snout such as MINE!) somewhat pungent. This way, the snake will think its alive but either slow or sleeping, in which case it should strike.

However, that being said, all snakes are different. My Lilly will STRIKE like LIGHTNING and quickly wrap herself around the rodent as if it were fighting for dear life! She actually doesn't let go until she's totally satisfied that rodent isn't going ANYWHERE!! Sometimes she'll stay partially-wrapped around it, as she surveys her area totally as if when she does release the rodent, she wants to ensure it doesn't have anyplace to hide if it DOES try to get away!!! Chili-Pepper, on the other hand, almost NEVER strikes his food and oftentimes appears as if he's trying to wake it up as he nudges it about ten times prior to slowly opening his jaws somewhere near the rodent's head (when he was a hatchling, I NEVER thought he'd EVER learn WHERE to grab a rodent as he almost always grabbed it by its mid-section!! Cute but stupid!!). Bozo will strike if he's hungry or just lazily nudge and slowly grasp the rodent by its head and swallow it slowly.

Sometimes, especially in the beginning when you're first trying to make the switch from live to frozen/thawed, you just might have to drop the rodent and close the tub and walk away for like a half hour.

I think you MIGHT lose a few rodents as you attempt this (which is one of the main reasons having multiple snakes is a GOOD THING!), but it should eventually work!!!

Good luck!!!

 

[DollysMom]

Lol, Axis. I raised two sons and have been a professional instructor! You are as perceptive as you perceive me to be, in your own way.

 

[Firefly151]

Not trying to be facetious Firefly, but was the rodent fully-thawed? oke:



For snakes that you want to switch from live to f/t, I think the best way is to place the rodent in a ziplock (the REAL ones that are fairly watertight) and place the entire bag in a mug or bowl of hot tap water....

...When you open that bag, the FIRST thing you should notice is the scent of the mouse. THIS is how you should present it to your snake, who should already have been in a feeding bin, btw, or if in its enclosure, ready to be given food. (In retrospect, prepare your snake 15 minutes or more PRIOR to warming the rodent so that if it gets excited by being handled, it would have calmed down by now!).



...I already have my snakes in sealed tubs...



...Sometimes, especially in the beginning when you're first trying to make the switch from live to frozen/thawed, you just might have to drop the rodent and close the tub and walk away for like a half hour...



Good luck!!!

OMG! I am so dumb!

Ok, so.... I've deleted most of the original post in the quote and left the parts I need to address.

Axis1 don't worry about sounding/being facetious. I can take it. To long time snake owners that is probably an insulting question , but I am like 100% new to snakes. I know a lot about dogs, fish, snails, and parrots but before getting this guy I had ZERO experience with snakes. I couldn't even tell you the difference between a python and a corn snake! I did a lot of research before buying him and I am still constantly trying to learn more each day. So to anyone on here that is experienced, please feel free to share your knowledge with me. No matter how "common knowledge" it seems to you. It could be ground breaking for me and my snake. I just want to make sure I am doing everything correctly for him [emoji4]

With that being said, this post from Axis1 has helped me tremendously!!

First mistake. I was told to put the mouse in hot tap water for 10 min. That's it. So I did just that. No bag, no weight. just hot water and a mouse.

Second mistake. I waited until the mouse was completely thawed and out of the water for 3-4 min before I put him in a feeding bowl (with no lid)

Mistake 3... Watching him and waiting for him to eat We were just hovering around watching him. I was told never to leave him alone while feeding unless something went wrong. I guess that was just because they only fed live where I got him.

I am going to try again tonight, but this time I'll do it like you said.

BTW- Since you were so helpful before... I'm gonna pick your brain!!

I have his Viv set up with a warm and cool side, two hides, water and aspen shavings. He always feels fairly cold when I pick him up. Is that just because he's cold blooded or is the warm side not warm enough? It's a plastic enclosure and the heat mat instructions said to stick it on the side of the wall not under the bottom of the tank. (I am not sure why)

Also I have a 40gal Viv waiting to be set up and moved into but I am afraid he is still too small for a tank that size. When can I move him from the small plastic container to the big real Viv? (He is 23" and 34g)

Is there a good time and bad time to hold him. A time limit? A recommendation for frequency of handling? (I do know not to hold them after a feeding for 24-48 hours and not to hold during a shed) How can I tell if he's happy being held not?

If I can't hold him after he eats how can I get him back into his small enclosure if the feeding bin is too large to fit inside the Viv for him to crawl out on his own?

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share their infinite snake wisdom!



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[Firefly151]

So I prepared my snakes food correctly this time because he struck it within 30 seconds of putting it in the closed container. He didn't coil it at all but he did with live prey, but I'm fine with that! I'm just glad he ate!

Thanks Axis


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[Tavia]

So glad to hear!