I got a snow !

[hemolymph]

I just wrote a really long post but it got deleted somehow....
Anyway !!
To make a long story short, I got a SNOW cornsnake from petco. I was going to find a breeder around here, but.. I fell in love with a little snake I now named "Pearl" , who was eagerly slithering up against the glass calling my name.......
(no idea if it's male or female.. haven't learned about sexing snakes yet !)

I had a left over 5 gallon tank from one of my tarantulas who switched tanks.. and a left over small heat pad.
So.. i bought a sturdy large water dish.. a hide.. and a branch.

The hide , I think-- is placed so half of it is over the heat pad.. and the other half isn't. That way it can still hide and choose the colder or warmer side.
You can see my setup. It is 5 gallon.. It seems plenty big for her size. I know I'll have to switch to a bigger tank at some point.. but is this okay for now ?

Anything that looks like it could be changed.. or is harmful ? Tips ?
Is the newspaper an ok substrate ?
Now as far as feeding goes..
how long should I wait until I try and feed "her" ?

It was labeled a baby.. is there anyone that can give me a ballpark on how old she is by the pictures ?
Is she large enough to eat a thawed pinkie ? I can't imagine the leedle snake eating a pinkie... but I know snakes eat very large things for their size...

What does everyone put their snake in for feeding time ? Some kind of tupper ware container, maybe ?
Do you just drop the pinkie in there.. or does it need some kind of moving stimulation in order for the snake to eat it ?
How long do you leave the snake in it's feeding area before you put it back into it's tank ?

I am hoping it won't give me too much of a problem when I try and take her out for feeding and eventually handling...
i am assuming since it's young, I can still train it to be a docile friendly snake, right ?
I don't want it striking at me everytime I stick my hand in it's habitat !

Anyway.. all advice/tips/criticism are welcome !

- jeni

 

[Monica S]

Wow, what a little gem you have found! It looks as though you have a very nice set up going on. Nothing looks dangerous to me. Your hide looks fine, but from my experience, because your snake is still very small, it might like to hide under something smaller as well. I think they feel more secure when they are under something they can really scooch themselves under. Maybe try to find a little hide cave and put it in there as well to see wich one it likes.

As for feeding.. yours will be able to eat a mouse pinkie just fine. the smallest of hatchlings are able to get them down, so you don't have to worry about that. If you do a search on this site for best rodent suppliers, etc you will find the names of some really good ones. I use www.themousefactory.com you can buy in larger quantities and you save a great deal of money. I start my babies out in a tupperware container with some holes poked in it for air. Just make sure that your pinkie is completley defrosted (putting it in warm water does the trick), drop it in the container, rinse your hands and put your snake into the container. I say rinse your hands so that the snake will not smell the scent of pinkie on you and confuse your fingers for a tasty treat. I put the pinkie in the container first so that the snake doesn't associate my hand entering the container with food making it possibly want to strike or lunge at my hand for the food.

Your snakes age... hmmm, well considering that most people are still waiting for their 2004 eggs to be laid, your snake (judging on its size compared to your 5 gallon tank) was probably born last summer some time. Maybe 8-10 months old???

I hope all of this helps you out. Good luck with your new little pet!!

:cheers:

 

[hemolymph]

Wow, thanks for the great reply !
Yeah.. I was realising by the information I read that her hide is really big compared to her size.. I am sure she'd prefer something a little more secure.
I think I might add a toilet paper roll.. That is much smaller, and may work out better.. we'll see ! Thankyou for pointing that out.

The only dilema I am having right now, is that I keep tipping the waterdish when I moved the tank. I was fixing the heat pad and a bit of water dripped over the sides. I added more newspaper under the waterbowl to soak up the water I spilt.
I know that excess moisture is bad for the snakes and can lead to skin problems..
How dangerous is it for tipped water spills ?
It didn't spread too far.. it's just right around her waterdish.

Hopefully it will dry up by tomorow.. otherwise I'll have to change the newspaper..
the area under her hide where she is, is completely dry. *phew*

Thanks again! =)

- Jeni

 

[Monica S]

The tipped water is no problem at all. It would be the water getting old and mildewy or moldy in the tank that would be toxix for the snake. You do want your snake living in a nice dry tank though so just soak up whatever water gets spilled and it should be fine. Corns do need a bit of moisture/humidity so they can properly shed their skins, so you might occasionally see your snake swirling through the water- there is nothing wrong with this either. Mine do it after they eat and before they shed to loosen up all that dry dead skin they want to shed off. Some people (including myself) like to get a spray bottle and fill it with warm water and mist the snakes tanks every now and then, and especially just before they shed (like when you see their eyes get cloudy), it really seems to help them have a better shed! Hope this helps too!

 

[Monica S]

Something I think I forgot to mention from one of your first questions was that people usually like to give their new pet about 3 days of undisturbed rest time to get used to their new surroundings. After about 3 days you might want to try giving your snake a very small meal. Do you know when the petstore last fed it?? If they fed your snake just before you got it, the snake may not be as hungry, but if you do wait a few days, it should eat a pinkie no problem. After it gets a meal down no problem, and it's time for it's next feeding, I'd probably offer it 2 pinkies. Most of my corns that are that age/size are eating 2-3 pinks if not fuzzies right now. Just use your judgement.


Also I leave my snakes in their feeding containers until they have gotten the chance for the food to make its way into their bellies. As long as you can see that the lump of mouse in their throats has mad it's way down a bit and that the snake is no longer flexing around to push it down further, I'd say your safe to put her back.

Most cornsnakes are very docile to begin with. You most likely won't even have to "tame her down". There is the occasional "pissy" corn but overall they are very easy to handle. Just be sure to give your snake enough attention that it stays this way.

Oh! And I can't believe I forgot to mention to you... you should really check out The Cornsnake Manual by Bill and Kathy Love. It will have pretty much all the information you need to get started and maintain a healthy happy snake. You can find it all over the web- Amazon, Ebay, and various other snake breeders websites including her Kathy's own. I think there is supposed to be a new edition coming out soon too, so keep your eyes out for that too.

:cheers:

 

[Celestine8]

You have a beautiful snake!! How long is it? I'm just asking because my snake's supposedl 4 months old but two feet and slightly thicker than your snake and I'm wondering if it actually is only 4 months considering I was supposed to get a ruby-eyed ghost from the breeder and well... Eden's eyes are blue, not red. I wish I had been able to be there in person to buy Eden, but I couldn't be there.:angry01:

 

[MegF.]

C.S. will be a year in June, and she's 28" long and about as thick around as my thumb. Maya is 8 months old and is 22". If you have a 24" 4 month old, that's a pretty big baby!

 

[Celestine8]

It makes me so mad that I was cheated and I'm still not sure whether to call the breeder up and bitch or what....

 

[hemolymph]

I have no idea how long mine is.. It hasn't come out yet !! I have yet to handle it, because it still needs another day of "baby rest" in it's new tank.

Is it normal for baby corn snakes to be this shy when put in a new tank ? I hope so.
I don't think she came out much last night. She come out enough for me to take this picture..

but I don't think she really explored her tank last night. Before long she was back under her hide all curled up.

I know at the petstore she was really active, that's why I chose her... hopefully she just needs some time !!

- Jeni

 

[MegF.]

Yes, it's normal. She'll be out and around in no time. I've had my Aztec for about 2 weeks, and she's just starting to come out briefly where I can see her.

 

[hemolymph]

Good !! Thanks <3

Is it okay if i try and feed her tonight, or is it too early ? It will be 3 days tonight since I got her.

- Jeni

 

[charcoal_mots]

Complaints

poke some holes in a tupperware container........ drop it in then wash your hands.............thaw in water.......


ok i hope i catchg you befo4re you feed
First of all 'poke some holes in the container........'!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
ITS NOT LIKE YOUR GONNA CLOSE IT IN WITH A LID JUST PUT IT IN A BIG ENOUGH ONE SO IT DOESN"T CRAWL OUT........
secondly, 'drop it in then wash your hans afterwerds....!!!!?!?!??!??YOU shouldn't even touch the rodent or your snake won't eat it, or as the other guy thought attack you as a snack..... ummm its more likely to just see you as a largggggggggeeeee mouse it should be afraid of. Snakes are quite timid...someyhing you should remember often when you have friends over though they can't hear.... the vibrations from you and your friends wrestling will most likely casue stress.Snakes are timid.Third and last complaint 'thaw in water?!?!?!?! don 't forget to put it in an airtight baggy. nobody likes a soggy mouse. Your snake being a hatchling and very hungry by its wait period will not care if their is some human smell on it,but when it gets older be more careful because snakes can get picky. with my adives the only upgrade you need with your tank is move it to a 20gal either when you get the money, or it out grows the 5 and you need to scramble for the moolah. Get the upgrade soon as you can. Congrats your snow is beautiful...my only wory is PETCO!!!!!!!! it is the most evil word ever to be uttered on this sight. Really you needed to do a lot of research before you bought that snake.Your carelessness could have lost that snake its life..though PETCO might have killed it through stupidity if you hadn't. The stories on this sight are quite horific. Once again your snake is beautiful. back to keeping sent off of the pinkie and other mice.... use a napkin. It's that simple. Newspaper is fine and ya smaller hides would help it alot. Though i have a queastion do you have the heating pad in the tank or out of it?!?! If you have it inside get it out now!!!!!!!!! the dangers it can give to a snake are immense!! What type of water dish is that is it hollow or what??? if it isn't hollow go out and buy a hollow dog dish about 5in in diameter that is hollow..though it is easy to knock over your snake can hide under there keep cool and moist and hide with you able to see..possibly
Truly Concerned
charcoal_mots

 

[hemolymph]

Thanks for your long concerned post.
I did do quite a bit of research, but what I have learned with most pets, is that.. you can read and read and read.. but until you actually have that animal in your care, that knowlege is kind of useless until you put it at "work".
I am a tarantula hobbiest, and to be honest a lot of the same rules apply to both creatures, so I am not totally "clueless" as for the care of these animals. However.. I am still researching and doing my best to get the knowlege i need to give this animal a long healthy life =)

The undertank heater is on the right side of the tank, underneath.. not inside, and has a few layers extra of newspaper so it isn't too hot touch.

I have a pinkie out to thaw right now. I grabbed with with a napkin, and have not touched it.
As for the tank, I will upgrade to a 20 gallon tank soon. I realise they grow fast, and am prepared for her to grow out of the 5 gallon.

Thanks again for the information, I appreciate it !

- jeni

 

[MegF.]

Actually, I thaw my mice directly in hot water and both my snakes readily eat them. You want to definitely wash your hands after handling the mouse, and before picking up the snake to avoid getting bitten in a feed response. I just make sure the mouse is quite warm so that it mimics the temperature of a live mouse 100-101 degrees body temp. I handle the mice directly too, and the snakes don't seem to care. I do handle it in a paper towel after I pull it from the water, but mostly to dry it off. I check with my fingers to see if it's good and warm. I guess some snakes might react to human scent, but my snakes don't. Even my new snake ate the first day I got her on a f/t that was warmed in water. I guess it depends on the snake.