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Help, I am new..

E

enjcapp

New member
Hi, My name is Ellie and my husband I just got a corn hatchling 2 days ago. I bought a lamp, an under the tank heaty thing, a branch with leaves climber 2 shelters one for each side, and a water dish. The lady said he should be good in a 10 gallon tank for a year or two, so that is what I got, also, I have him in Nature bark for his substrate.I bought a book about corn snakes, but I keep finding that it differs from other sites, and what the pet store lady told me. So my Questions are... Does it sound like I am doing everything right? My temp is at 86F with the light on, when I shut it off it drops down to 78F I am at about 57 for humidity. The book doesn't say how humid to keep the tank. Feeding, is a concern. They couldn't tell me the last time he ate. I ahve had some people say to feed him in a box, outside of the tank, and some say to feed him in the tank, but just to take out a shelter, and the tree climber. I tried to feed him in a box yesterday, thawed pinkie. He just stayed at one of the box for 3 hours, so I gave up, I'm not really sure what to expect. I have watched adult snakes feed, but never a hatchling. He is only about 6.5 inches long. The other concern is I am scared he may escape, I have a screen topper for the cage, but I found him in the groove of it this morning, is there anything I can do, or buy to keep the cage top more secure? I am sorry for all the Q's, but I want to do this right, so that he is a happy snake and I will be a happy snake owner. Please help.
-ellie
 
Hi Ellie, welcome to CS.com...First off, where are you measuring your temps? Make sure you measure at the substrate level over the UTH. Usually a heat lamp and a UTH will make the hot side really hot, especially right on the glass where the UTH is attached. The humidity sounds fine; a good indicator will be when he sheds. If it is a whole unbroken shed than you know your humidity is where it should be. Let him settle in for a few more days, and then try to feed. Young snakes are usually stressed by their new surroundings, and it may take a week for him settle down. Clamps on the screen lid will keep him from squeezing out; a lot of small corns just seem to love to squeeze up under those lid edges :*). Let him settle in, than around Wednesday or Thursday put your corn in a small deli cup (a rubbermaid sandwich container works great also) with a pinky, make sure the lid is on tight and put in a warm dark place. You may have to do it overnite, but thats a good way to get a new hatchling to feed; he won't be distracted by anything but the pinky.
 
A 10 gallon will do OK for the first year, but it will out grow it. The snake sounds on the small side to me, that could be a sign of problems. Another sign is that the lady didn't know when the last time the snake ate was. Reputable dealers, breeders and pet stores keep a feeding record. Your setup sounds OK for now. Try feeding it in a deli cup at night in the dark. You may have to get it a live pinkie. At 6 1/2 inches you may have a snake that has never eaten. You can purchase locking clips for some tops I'm not familiar with your type of top.
 
Thank you for the help. Should I poke holes for breathing in the container, when I feed? Where would I find live pinkies?

Thanks,
Ellie
 
Oh, and I must have measured him wrong, I just remeasured him and he is 8.5 inches long. Is that normal?

-ellie
 
he sounds really small to me and i'm a complete novice. either that, or mine is really long. mine is 2 weeks old today and i haven't measured him but going by his viv size, he is a least 12 inches long.possibly 14
 
enjcapp said:
Thank you for the help. Should I poke holes for breathing in the container, when I feed? Where would I find live pinkies?

Thanks,
Ellie
Click to expand...

Yes you need breathing holes. Live pinkies can usually be purchased at pet stores that sell reptiles. 8.5 is still small for a snake that's been fed several times. To me it's unethical to sell a snake that hasn't eaten atleast 2 times, unless you've told the buyer the snake hasn't eaten.
 
Thank you all for the help, I am going back to talk to the manager at the petco, where I purchased him. This size issue is bothering me. Thanks again for the help.
-Ellie
 
If you are worried about him escaping you might want to put a couple heavy books on top of the viv for now, until you can get some clamps.
 
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