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Getting first corn :D

T

thugz

New member
So i've decided to get my first corn snake. Annnd i'm going to be buying it from a pet store (SuperPet now bought out by like petsmart or something..) I'm going tomorrow to get the stuff to set up my aquarium (30gal) is there anything that I should get in particular? I was reading and saw Aspen is highly recommended but anything else? that it should climb on etc etc.

ALSO is there anything that i should look at when selecting the snake or any information i should ask regarding it :p

thanks
 
First of all, congrats on deciding to get a corn snake! But watch out, you'll probably catch the snake bug end up with five more by next year :grin01:

Second, I'd suggest doing a ton of research. There are some great care guides online and lots of good stuff in the FAQs on this site (definetly pay a visit to the Husbandry/Basic Care FAQ). I would also suggest buying Kathy Love's corn snake book.

Third, a baby corn is not gonna need a 30gal tank (I'm assuming you're getting a hatchling as that's what most people do. If not, 30gal is perfect for an adult). If you are getting a hatchling, a 10gal would work great. Just make sure you get one with a locking lid as snakes are master escape artists.

Fourth, as far as stuff to put in the cage, anything goes really. Once you have the basics in there (two hides, waterbowl, UTH, aspen bedding is great :)) you can add as many decoration things as you want. I just got some of the climbling logs at Petco and Zeebo seems to enjoy those.

Last, I would suggest buying your snake from a breeder. The cost may be a little more expensive, but by doing this you'll ensure a good feeder and you'll know the hets and sex of the snake-not to mention the much wider variety in colors. If you do get one from the pet store, however, be sure to ask the store employees when the snake was last fed, if it eats f/t or live, how often they feed, and if they know what sex it is. That's about all I can think of. Enjoy your new corn snake :)
 
thanks for ur reply. i've been reading up on how to take care of the snake etc. but nothing really ever mentions what u shud put in a tank so that's why i was curious :D
as for the tank size... could i just add more/bigger hides and keep it in the 30gal and just change it according to it's growth or should i stick to getting a smaller aquarium.
i was planning on getting one from a breeder but not that many aroudn here:p
 
Well sure you could make due with the 30 gallon.
The only reason most of us suggest starting out smaller is because there is the possibility of stressing out the snake, so you mentioned putting in more hides. Well yes this is a good solution, but bigger hides would not be better, the corns like to be secure and snug, if the hide leaves them flapping in the breeze its a waste of your time and possibly money.
Then think of this, everytime you want to get the snake out you'll have to find something 12 inches long, most likely curled up into a 3 inch ball. Not very easy to find in a tank of that size and also very likely to cause stress trying to root through everything to find the snake.
In addition keep in mind, that everything you add to that tank is just more you have to clean. I suggest dividing the tank in half while the snake is young and then when the snake hits 2ft it should probally be more acclimated by then and pulling the divider out.
 
Try using the search engine on this site for pictures of people's enclosures. You should get a lot of ideas that way. Get some faux foliage from a craft/hobby shop or Wal-Mart, etc. It will spruce up your enclosure and create create hiding spots for your new snake.

Welcome to the site!
 
Hey thugz,
Congrats on the corn. I got my first snake a few months ago and been loving it ever since. lol I started off with a 40 gal tank with my hatchling. Just gave him 4 diff hides and few branches and a vine and he loves it. Dont' stress him out all all. He is out and about every single nite.... Trying to escape. HAHAHA. But anyways, I went with the bigger tank from the start instead of having to upgrade later. But thats just me. And I lucked out with a awesome snake who is very calm and relaxed. So... Hope this helps.
 
ok thanks for the help guys :D heading to the pet store to buy the stuff to set up it's enclosure.. i think i'm gonna split it in half as Corny Noob suggested and wait until it grows for it to use the full tank. thanks for all your input/suggestions:D
 
I thought I'd cut corners by skipping the smaller viv and buying a 20L for my hatchling and filling it up with logs, hides, plants, etc. Except on the rare occasions when she's on top of the leaves, I never see her. I can't wait until she's a ginormous mass.
 
well i went to the store today and i saw that their corns were on a different substrate than aspen.. soo naturally i asked about it and they told me that it was ReptiBark or something along those lines and he HIGHLY recommended i bought it for a cornsnake. so i did figuring that since i'm getting my snake from there anyways it may make for a more comfortable move for the snake. Is this stuff O.K?

BTW i picked out a Hypo that i'm going to get. once i have everything set up i am going to go and buy him (probably by thursday :))

One more question though. do i NEED to get a heating pad or can i use a heat lamp and i read something that cornsnakes should have UV lights of no more than 2% is that correct?
 
Hello and Welcome!!!

Well the reptibark might be fine. Make sure it is not too rough and if it is soft enough then you can go ahead and get it.

I would reccomend getting the UTH other than a heat lamp. I personally have both but all you really need it a good UTH and a thermometer and make sure it is about 80 or so on the warm side.

Good luck and post picks when you get your baby!
 
Dave123 said:
Hello and Welcome!!!

Well the reptibark might be fine. Make sure it is not too rough and if it is soft enough then you can go ahead and get it.

I would reccomend getting the UTH other than a heat lamp. I personally have both but all you really need it a good UTH and a thermometer and make sure it is about 80 or so on the warm side.

Good luck and post picks when you get your baby!
Click to expand...
ok thanks :) if that is the case should i invest in a thermo stat as well??
 
ok i don't know how to edit a post so i'm just going to double post (sorry) For the UTH does it actually go UNDER my aquarium or can it be placed INSIDE of it (i've seen pictures and some people have it inside and some under so i'm not sure.. hahahaha)

BTW here is a picture of my aquarium. i've decided to just put some more hides instead of seperating it since i couldn't find any practical way of doing it.
I still have to add more hides and am going to buy them tomorrow :p is this ok?

0731072342na1.jpg
 
Hi! Welcome! Congrats!

It looks like both hides are on one side of the tank. You need a hide on the cooler side and a hide on the warm side. Also, place your water dish at the edge of the tank so the snake finds it. Some report snakes having trouble finding a water dish located in the middle because snakes cruise the perimeter of an enclosure. Down the road, some rocks and things that can provide different levels to explore might be nice too : )

Fake Foliage will help your buddy snake feel secure, encourage him to explore, and also display a wider range of behaviours. Having the back of the tank covered with a solid paper or paint also adds to security.

Get a digital thermometer to keep an eye on temperatures. This is very important and the cheap, (non-digital) ones just don't cut it. They can't be trusted to be accurate.

Research you head off and get a good book. I suggest the Corn Snake Manual By Kathy Love.

When he comes home, leave him alone for a week or so, and don't feed or handle him to allow him time to adjust. Just observe, change water every 2 days, and mist when needed. Otherwise you may have a stressed out snake who refuses to eat. It's hard, I know, to not pick them up as soon as you get them home. But, it really is good to let them settle and get used to all the new stuff. The move is so stressful for them. They have no idea what's happening to them, only that everything they knew has changed or dissapeared. That's scary for people even! Getting him used to your hand poking around inside the tank, as you change water and stuff will help him know you are not a threat.

Don't put his tank on a window ledge or in direct sunlight as a green house effect can take place and cause heat and other problems.

Keep researching! Your new little budding is counting on you to do so. The folks here are super, having answered all of my silly, panic-filled questions and have saved my sanity and calmed my nerves on several occasions. I think I must have asked, "Is this normal?" about a hundred times!

Keep us posted, and show us pictures! We LOVE pictures!

Congrats!
Tracy : )
 
thugz said:
ok i don't know how to edit a post so i'm just going to double post (sorry)
Click to expand...
Only contributing members can edit posts

For the UTH does it actually go UNDER my aquarium or can it be placed INSIDE of it (i've seen pictures and some people have it inside and some under so i'm not sure.. hahahaha)
Click to expand...
It goes under, hence the name under tank heater. And from your previous post, yes, a thermostat is a must with an UTH.

BTW here is a picture of my aquarium. i've decided to just put some more hides instead of seperating it since i couldn't find any practical way of doing it.
I still have to add more hides and am going to buy them tomorrow :p is this ok?
Click to expand...
More hides would be good, and like Tracy said, you need one on both the warm and the cool side of the tank. Other then that, the setup looks good. Congrats, post pics once you get the little guy! :)
 
Just to add, Corn Snakes don't need UV.

They're most active at dawn/dusk/overnight, when either the sun is weakest or there's no sunlight at all, so they've never evolved a dependency on UV like some other reptiles.
 
bitsy said:
Just to add, Corn Snakes don't need UV.

They're most active at dawn/dusk/overnight, when either the sun is weakest or there's no sunlight at all, so they've never evolved a dependency on UV like some other reptiles.
Click to expand...

As I will be a snake owner soon too...does natural light form outside along with light from a regual ceiling light provide enough?? I know snakes are more active at night...but I'm sure they need some light in their day.
 
does natural light form outside
Click to expand...

Be careful not to put the snake’s enclosure in the path of any direct sunlight as this will quickly raise the temperature inside the enclosure to potentially harmful levels.

What I have is a 9 Watt compact fluorescent light (40 Watt incandescent equivalent) hooked up to a timer, 12 hours on, 12 hours off. I don’t need it in the summer as the days are long enough, but in the winter when the days are much shortly, it seems to help maintain her appetite. Also by using a compact fluorescent I don’t have to worry about it raising the temperate of my enclosure like an incandescent would.

Regards,
Steve
 
The tank is going to be setup at least 6 feet from the nearest window...so no it wond be direct sunlight.

What exactly is a compact florescent???

ssmith_1187 said:
Be careful not to put the snake’s enclosure in the path of any direct sunlight as this will quickly raise the temperature inside the enclosure to potentially harmful levels.

What I have is a 9 Watt compact fluorescent light (40 Watt incandescent equivalent) hooked up to a timer, 12 hours on, 12 hours off. I don’t need it in the summer as the days are long enough, but in the winter when the days are much shortly, it seems to help maintain her appetite. Also by using a compact fluorescent I don’t have to worry about it raising the temperate of my enclosure like an incandescent would.

Regards,
Steve
Click to expand...
 
thank you all for your answers i'll be sure to post some pictures of it when i buy it :p just to make sure though Hypo's are corns that have reduced black pigment right? Is it still possible for them to be reeeaaallly dark? I always thought that they were light and more 'clean' looking. just want to make sure cause the snake at the store is labelled Hypo but it's pretty dark... they also have a motley normal that looks like a normal..(no motley pattern), if not then i'm probably going to go to a reptile store that is a little further.

again thanks for all your guys help. :p
 
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