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First-timer's anxiety

Hypancistrus

Hypancistrus

New member
Okay. I just mailed my check to Susan Willis today for my first ever Corn Snake. She will be a female anerythristic, and is absolutely beautiful, if her pics are anything to go by. I anticipate that I have about a week or two before the little one arrives and I am SOOO nervous.

I set up her tank- it's a 20 long (30" x 12" x 12") made by All Glass Aquariums- locking top, called a "Critter Cage." Manufacturer's Page HERE

I put aspen into it for now, with two medium-large pieces of grape vine. Also have two log shelters- one a half log, the other kind of a hollowed out and angeled piece. I have them on either end of the tank, and a large (6" or 7") waterbowl offset in the center.

I purchased a T-Rex Cobra Heat Mat. It does not attach to the bottom of the tank... so do I just sit it underneat it? I have the tank elevated slightly, about 3/4" with bottle caps all along the base. Can I just sit the Cobra under it, directly on the table? Should I not elevate the tank? It's so confusing! I am going to use a "lamp dimmer" from the hardware store to turn down the heat to ~85 degrees F. Is that good? How should I measure that? (I know the dial thermos are no good).

I've surfed this forum, bugged my breeder with more questions than I can count, read Cathy Love's book and any and all other material I can get my hands on and I am STILL incredibly nervous. Are there any thoughts or tips you more experience snake keepers could give me to calm my nerves??
 
Sounds like you have everything dialed in. As far as the heat mat, I would think it sticks to the bottom of the tank. However, if it does not, I would find a way to keep it secure underneath the tank or make it stick to the bottom. Raising the tank is a good idea with UTH's because if the heat cannot escape, you can damage your furniture or your UTH. Otherwise, it sounds like you've done your research.
 
Thanks... can I use electrical tape on the edges? That's "heat resistant" right? I kinda like that it's not a permanent fix because once she is larger I'd like to get a slightly larger size tank.
 
I duck tape my on the bottom of the Viv and have Viv elevated off the shelf too. If that helps???
I didn't catch if you plan on using a thermometer with a probe. It's a indoor/outdoor type which you can buy at hardware store or most anywhere,also pet store have them. You place the problem in the Viv above the UTH to get proper temps readings.
 
You can use electrical tape. That might look good as well... Sorry Lenny, but it might look better than duct tape. But then again it is on the bottom.
 
It sounds like you've done a ton of research...good job!

Besides the posts above, everything sounds great. Thermometer with the probe is a must.

Don't be so nervous. Corns are relatively easy to care. You'll be great! Sooner than you think you'll have two... then five... then twenty. ;)

Good luck and congrats.

Amy
 
I've surfed this forum, bugged my breeder with more questions than I can count, read Cathy Love's book and any and all other material I can get my hands on and I am STILL incredibly nervous. Are there any thoughts or tips you more experience snake keepers could give me to calm my nerves
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Nope, becuase unlike most people who just impulse buy a pet, and deal with the consequences, you did your homework :). You read the material you should have, lurked here to learn more AND picked a breeder you just can't go wrong with. Kudo's, you gonna do just fine!
 
Yeah, I am trying to chill but it's just not working. I keep coming up with scary scenarios in my head, like the snake refusing to eat, and all culminating with me having to ship her back to the breeder because I am incompetent as a corn snake caregiver. :eek1:
 
Hypancistrus said:
Yeah, I am trying to chill but it's just not working. I keep coming up with scary scenarios in my head, like the snake refusing to eat, and all culminating with me having to ship her back to the breeder because I am incompetent as a corn snake caregiver. :eek1:
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I'm still new to snakes myself, however I would say judging by the time you have put in to researching this, (makes the few hours I put in the day I bough mine seem paltry even if I have learned what I needed to do it right) you most definitely will NOT be incompetent as a caregiver.

As for feeding, it is my understanding that corns are normally good eaters, however if you have a bad feeder there are plenty of those here who can help.
Bottom line if the snake goes back to the breeder it will not be because you didn't do your job!
 
Hypancistrus said:
Yeah, I am trying to chill but it's just not working. I keep coming up with scary scenarios in my head, like the snake refusing to eat, and all culminating with me having to ship her back to the breeder because I am incompetent as a corn snake caregiver. :eek1:
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LOL! Oh my goodness... you'll do just fine. You are already way ahead of the game with all the research and information you have absorbed before getting your lil' one.

You will do great, that will be one VERY well cared for Anery ;)

Now first things first... Female Anery.... Do you have a name for her? :cheers:
 
I'm waiting on my first snake, too, although I've got a longer wait (he's probably not pipped yet). I'm not nervous--I'm excited as all git-out. In fact, there's probably been too much build-up, and once I finally have him, it'll be anticlimatic. I'm not worried about feeding or anything because I know Don's a good breeder and isn't going to sell me a problem feeder. I mean, that's something right there--a good breeder isn't going to sell you a problematic snake without telling you. So I figure if you can trust your breeder, you can trust your snake. ;)
 
Her name will be "Sterling", as in the variety of silver. Here is her pic! That is directly from Susan's anery hatchling page.

And I know she would not sell me a problem eater- in fact, I really loved one of her males, but he skipped a meal and so she said she would not sell him at this point. I didn't want to wait for him to come around, and I liked the look of this little girl as well, so... here we are.
 
Anytime a breeder won't sell you a snake because it skipped one meal sez volumes about their business ethics. Susan has awesome snakes and takes amazing photo's (there's this tree in her yard.......). If any problems should arise you are definately on the right site to ask for help :*)
 
Only thing I would add is that if it's a hatchling going into a 20 long , you probably would want some more hides spread artound. TP tubes cut in half work well, and seem to be favorites of my hatchlings.
 
Don't worry, you'll be fine... I had my corn snake in a 20 gallon long tank with an unmonitored heat lamp and UTH since February '05... I had no problems, but since I started reading the posts on this forum, I have kept the heat lamp off, plugged the UTH into a lamp dimmer, and put in an indoor/outdoor combo. thermometer. The temperatures are where they should be!

P.S. Just to show how bad an unmonitored heat lamp, even with an UTH set at 85 degrees, can be: My mom turned on the heat lamp on my snake's cage two nights ago. The next night (last night :p), I was checking the temperatures, and I was shocked to see that the warm side was 90, the cool side 85, and the humidity was 42-43% (usually it's at 50ish). Since my heat lamp is infared, I didn't realize it was even on until I noticed my snake was in his cool side hide (unusual; he usually likes his warm side hide or being burrowed) and went over to check the temps. I immediately shut off the lamp and took my snake out of his cage until the temperatures cooled back down. Sorry for the long story, but it just goes to show how forgiving corn snakes are of husbandry mistakes.
 
Flagg said:
Only thing I would add is that if it's a hatchling going into a 20 long , you probably would want some more hides spread artound. TP tubes cut in half work well, and seem to be favorites of my hatchlings.
Click to expand...

I thought about this. When I stop by school Monday or Tuesday I will take a pic- I forgot to do this last week. I do have the two largeish grapevine pieces that she can burrow under, or curl up under... but was wondering if the two hides are enough.

I'm embarassed to ask this... but can someone tell me about what length she ought to be?? I haven't a clue how small a hatchling is!! I know she was hatched at the end of May of this year.
 
Hypancistrus said:
I've surfed this forum, bugged my breeder with more questions than I can count, read Cathy Love's book and any and all other material I can get my hands on and I am STILL incredibly nervous. Are there any thoughts or tips you more experience snake keepers could give me to calm my nerves
Click to expand...
cka said:
Nope, becuase unlike most people who just impulse buy a pet, and deal with the consequences, you did your homework :). You read the material you should have, lurked here to learn more AND picked a breeder you just can't go wrong with. Kudo's, you gonna do just fine!
Click to expand...
My only other tip: The Cuervo Gold. The Fine Columbian. (Sorry, I was at the Steely Dan concert last night.)

Conversely, if you prefer 80s music: Frankie Say Relax.

As Chris noted, you've done awesome prep work. You'll be fine.

regards,
jazz
 
From reading this thread I think you'll do a wonderful job of being a snake owner. And, Susan does have amazing animals. It's a good combo. :)



hana
 
I just got my first corn about 2 weeks ago and everything has gone fine for me. She's eaten twice, on schedule, and is very active. I'm not gonna tell you not to worry, I know I do, but even though youre freaking out about the temp being a few degrees off or 3% too low humidity your snake will be perfectly happy :)
 
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