How Did You Acquire Your First Corn Snake?

[Nitelion94]

Im rly worried about zira (thats what im thinking about nameing her). she just sits there allll the time. well she moves at like 3 in the morning

 

[Coma]

My corns are most active at night. That is normal for them. Especially since yours is still settling into her new surroundings. I wouldn't worry too much yet.

 

[Nitelion94]

Shes moveing around now. all tho it is 11.

 

[lesleym]

My story: When I was 5 (1963) (yes, I'm that old!), my Dad, who was in the British navy (I'm originally from England), was stationed in Singapore. We had a snake charmer come down our street, and my parents and the neighbors had him come to our yard to do a show. I got to hold a black and yellow banded snake, I have no idea what it was! No other contact with snakes until my senior year in high school (1974), when one of the freshman boys brought in a garter snake he had caught to try and scare a couple of the girls. I took it away from him and put it in my purse, took it home and let it loose in our garden. Again, no more contact with snakes until about 3 years ago. My next door neighbor came over to ask if we had lost a snake! I went over there, and there was a fairly large red snake in his screened-in porch. His wife was terrified, so I said I'd remove it for him. I had no idea what it was, but was sure it wasn't poisonous (yes, I know, venomous!). Got a broom to try and do the Steve Irwin thing to catch this guy, with the predictable hilarious results - the neighbor laughing uncontrollably and saying he's not sure who's got who - anyway, eventually got said snake into the container I had brought for the purpose. Found out he was an amel cornsnake, never did find out where he came from. My step-daughter Rachel named him Bob, I found this forum, and the rest is history! I now have 4 2-year-olds, 22 yearlings, 4 adults (including Bob), and 3 hatchlings. 3 of my snakes are on loan to schools, 1 is a library snake at Rachel's middle school, 1 (Bob) is at my local elementary school in the SBS unit (kids with behavioral issues), and another is a kindergarten class pet at that same school. The kids all love him! So I agree with others on this thread that they appear to be addicting! I'm hoping to do some more breeding, especially when the current yearlings turn 3.

 

[dajeti2]

I have always wanted a snake. My mom rules our house and she was not a pet person so a snake was out of the question. I loved them in secret and from afar. Flash forward and I was married. Husbadn then was dead set against a snake. My sister also married at this point ended up getting a Ball Python and a Boa. I was at hre house so muvh I probably should have moved in. I think I handled the snakes more than she did. Two years later she had to sell them because she was moving and couldn't keep the. We both cried for months.

Years later I found myself divorced. Working 12-16 hour day and raising a child didn't leave a lot of time for much of anything. I had considered getting my snake then but decided I couldn't honestly spend the time with it so t wouldn't be fair to the animal.

Flash forward a few years and I found myself dating and actually marrying again. Sadly he was dead set against getting a snake, in fact hated them. He slowly came around and actually will move a snake out of harms way.

Two weeks ago we went to Petco. I went with the intention of getting treats for the chickens. Of couse I felt that tug as I always have when I wandered over to the reptiles and saw the snakes. As I was looking at the various snakes I hear these words,"I wouldn't mind a snake as long as it didn't get to big". As I replayed those words again and again in my head it finally sunk in whet he was really saying. As I tried to downplay my enthusiasm-yea right. I started gushing facts about cornsnakes and all their virtues.

I came home and read everything I could find about cornsnakes and their care. I found this site and began reading and learning even more. After some searching and a few disappointments, I ordered my snake from VMS, yesterday. He's a Hypo Motley and he'll be here next week. I can't wait.

 

[Karoni]

dajeti2, I am so happy for you!

 

[VioletS16]

I have always wanted a snake. My mom rules our house and she was not a pet person so a snake was out of the question. I loved them in secret and from afar. Flash forward and I was married. Husbadn then was dead set against a snake. My sister also married at this point ended up getting a Ball Python and a Boa. I was at hre house so muvh I probably should have moved in. I think I handled the snakes more than she did. Two years later she had to sell them because she was moving and couldn't keep the. We both cried for months.

Years later I found myself divorced. Working 12-16 hour day and raising a child didn't leave a lot of time for much of anything. I had considered getting my snake then but decided I couldn't honestly spend the time with it so t wouldn't be fair to the animal.

Flash forward a few years and I found myself dating and actually marrying again. Sadly he was dead set against getting a snake, in fact hated them. He slowly came around and actually will move a snake out of harms way.

Two weeks ago we went to Petco. I went with the intention of getting treats for the chickens. Of couse I felt that tug as I always have when I wandered over to the reptiles and saw the snakes. As I was looking at the various snakes I hear these words,"I wouldn't mind a snake as long as it didn't get to big". As I replayed those words again and again in my head it finally sunk in whet he was really saying. As I tried to downplay my enthusiasm-yea right. I started gushing facts about cornsnakes and all their virtues.

I came home and read everything I could find about cornsnakes and their care. I found this site and began reading and learning even more. After some searching and a few disappointments, I ordered my snake from VMS, yesterday. He's a Hypo Motley and he'll be here next week. I can't wait.

Awesome story!!!!!!!!!!! I've made it official that if someone wants to be my husband they have to put up with a house full of snakes hehe

 

[rob&spence331]

I have always loved all kinds of animals, but especially reptiles! As a kid I would go into the backyard and catch various lizards and try to convince my mom to let me keep them, the answer always being no. lol. I was a little older now and snakes had always been my favorite animal, but I had yet to see one in real life. One day in our backyard i see one hiding in a bush, I was like 60% sure it was a snake and was 100% sure it wasn't venomous as it didn't have a triangular head and I knew what all the venomous snakes in the area looked like, there were only three. lol. I looked and looked and saw the tail. I distracted it with a branch with one hand and grabbed its tail with the other and it turned and hissed at me. Startled I let go, now 100% sure it was a snake. Then, it ran on all four legs. lol. It was an alligator lizard. After that I did see quite a few snakes, but heard more of them than seen on camping trips as every single one was a rattler, so, I never dared touch one. lol. I always begged mom for a snake and always got a no in reply so I finally gave up for a few years. Now fast forward to last month. I am out of town in one of the bigger cities w/my fiance's family and her dad and I go into the reptile store. I had been in many and loved to just look and then just wish I could get a snake. lol. I convinced my fiance to come in and look with me after much coaxing and convincing that I would keep her safe. lol. I saw a few snakes that I absolutely fell in love with and the price was unbelievable!!! That made me determined to get one. I voiced this to my fiance who said "H*** NO!!!" later that night she said if it would make me happy i could get one. The next day I make a phone call to my mom and convince her to let me have one in her house (the f/t pinkies opposed to live ones and the size of the snake are what sold it). Then called dad to tell him and drove back to the store and gathered everything that I would need, as the guy there had helped me with knowing what all to get since this was my first snake. Then, I proceeded to pick out a small corn snake from the tank where there were a whole bunch of them crawling around when my fiance said "I don't like that one, he looks really scary!" So, I said "fine, what about the ones on the counter we never did look at those" and there was spencer, who was nameless at the time, we both had to have it. I told the guy helping us that spencer would be the one and he rang everything up and I was short about 8 bucks. So, I proceeded to tell him that I would have to settle on a different snake when he said, well, how much do you have and then lowered the price by 10 bucks and threw in two pinkies for free. I was so excited and named it on the spot and then called and told everyone I knew about it! lol. Now, spencer has really grown on everyone living here and I might end up with another one as I upgraded its tank and have its old one still and we are going to that very reptile store in a few days. lol.

 

[rob&spence331]

sorry my post was so long!

 

[Haarstad]

The first time i held a Corn Snake was when i was about 14... They had "the snake lady" come to a Ducks Unlimited banquet and i got to hold a 4 foot butter (i think it was a butter) I absolutely loved it and when i got home, the first thing i did was asked my mom for one and like every parent, she said no lol... then i just kind of gave up after a couple more no's.

About a year ago, when i was 18, it was my first year in college and i was away from the family and living on my own so i went to a small, nearby pet shop and told the owner that i've got a hundred dollars with his name on it if he can set me up and give me a corn. He said ok so i got a 10 gal aquarium with a cover, heat pad, bedding, hides, 5 pinkies, and this beautiful normal for $100... Best thing i've EVER spent 100 buck on!!!

Went i went home for summer vacation, my mom loved it my dad still doesn't like snakes but it doesn't bother him... he just says they're dirty and full of diseases, he's a lost soul lol, I mean look at what he's missing

 

[EsotericForest]

Pretty nice looking normal you have. He is missing out, but a lot of people are if you think about it. Corn snakes are extremely easy to keep for the most part.

 

[Haarstad]

very true and they are not even close to dirty

 

[rexracer]

I've always loved reptiles. When I was growing up in California, I used to catch lizards (we called them blue bellies) and saw many snakes. As a teen I had a Garter, but he died after about 2 years. I was told to feed him goldfish only, so that might have contributed from what I've learned.
When I met my ex wife, she had 3 cats. I like cats, but they tore everything up, and caused a lot of stress. By the time we got married, the cats were gone, and I swore I wouldn't have another high maintanance pet. We tried fish, but again too much work. Then my daughter was born. She always wanted a puppy or kitten, but we didn't have time or space so I said no. I was always the bad guy.
One day about 3 years ago, my wife came home with a cute little Anery. Sarah (my daughter) was thrilled, and I didn't mind at all. We had some fish tanks, so I got to work setting up. That little guy was never very active, and though he ate and shed twice, we woke up one morning, and he was dead. I promised Sarah we could get another snake, so I went to Petco and picked the strongest looking and most active corn they had. Snakey II had arrived. He's always eaten well and been healthy, and when my wife found someone else, I kept the condo, and Snakey. Sarah loves to show him off to her friends, and though she has cats over at mom's, Snakey is cooler! He's almost 50" and 470 grams now, and as healthy and active as ever. I'd like another corn someday, but for now I'll just keep Snakey happy. Just wait 'till you guys see his new viv. I think I'll give it to him for Christmas if I can get it done by then.

 

[MegF.]

I kept lizards and such as a kid but no snakes. I always liked them, just hadn't had them as a pet. My husband and I were running a snake avoidance program for dogs involving teaching dogs to stay away from Rattlesnakes. The gentleman who brought the snakes and trained the dogs stayed with us each time we had the program and so we would have a house full of rattlesnakes. I loved to watch the snakes and go snake hunting with Bob when he visited. Sometime later, my husband saw an internet ad for the show in Pamona. We ended up going and saw the cornsnakes there. We ended up buying our first cornsnake there and from there it went all downhill :0) We're up to 30+ snakes and 7 different species. I enjoy the heck out of them and most likely will always keep some.

 

[Definitions]

I got a bearded dragon a couple months ago... and that perked my interest into snakes. So I was going back and forth on a ball python or a corn and I fell in love with a snow corn that Kevin from Ridgetop Reptiles had listed. So I contacted Kevin and I went from there. She arrived and I have had her for 3 days now.

 

[ekans]

Definitions: I've been thinking of getting a snow from Ridgetop. What do you think of them?

 

[Definitions]

I would recommend Kevin .. he is very helpful and knows his stuff. My female came packaged very well and very healthy. She eats F/T no problem at all. she is doing very well.

 

[ratsnakehaven]

I'm curious as how everybody here acquired their first corn snake, and what got them into the hobby in the first place? Was it your first reptile? First snake? Or where you already in the hobby, and somehow got turned onto corn snakes?

Josh

I love this thread, for several reasons, but one is that it lets me get to know some of you people better. I've been feeling bad because I'm a lot older than most here. Then I read a few posts from other guys that are about my age. I realize now that the love of corns spans many generations.

I've always considered myself a naturalist. I grew up in the Detroit (Michigan) area and kind of took after my father. He was the nature lover and would bring animals from his trips for me to see when I was a pre-schooler. By the time I was in school I was keeping all kinds of amphibians, turtles, and snakes; but Detroit didn't have much in the way of snakes, just the Butler's garter snake. So I grew up keeping these garters as pets.

When I was in High School, I started working at the Detroit Zoo, which was only 1.5 miles from our home, and I learned a lot about snakes. I found my first Eastern milksnake while we were on vacation one summer and kept it as a pet for awhile and learned more about constrictors. I visited pet stores in our area and some had very interesting snakes to look at. One day I went into a pet shop that had ratsnakes and I bought a corn and a yellow rat. It was after I had moved out and was living on my own. After that I really started getting interested in keeping a collection and started joining herp societies in MI and OH. I went through a bunch of girl friends, not being very adept at relationships apparently, and gradually grew to love my animals more and more. The collection grew. In 1988 I decided to start breeding ratsnakes and have been doing it ever since. It took me until 1992 to find a woman that could deal with me and my menagerie and we're still together.

:dancer:

 

[SharkyJ]

I got my mine from my Biology teacher because he/she was getting big enough to start scaring her students. She even gave me a habitat! I haven't figured out her morph but I think it's a Snow. My friend and I named him/her Chowdah

 

[MegF.]

I think there are more of us older people than you think Ratsnakehaven....us gals that are older like snakes too...fortunately I have a husband that tolerates my addiction..