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just got the snake, burried himself?

Z

Zollowhex

New member
So I just got my snake, and I bought everything needed. One side has the lamp, and the other doesn't. He was moving around fine for a couple hours, but just recently he burried half of his body under the shavings and is laying still.
The temp's seem completely fine to what the book says, is something wrong with him or what I am doing? Or do they do this naturally?
It is 9:08 pm here, incase time has anything to do with it.

So is something wrong or will he go under the shaving and lay still normally?

Should I change something?

(sorry if this is wrong forum, I am new and was concerned by this).
 
Do you have a hide on the warm side and one on the cool side, a water dish. Do you use a UTH, is the light on the inside or outside. Lights are not necessary, dangerous if kept inside. A red light can be used over warm side helps for heat, plus the advantage of being able to see your snake move around, they can't see you.
Snakes hide most of the time, but you are most often going to see them in the evevning abd early morning. susan
 
Corn snakes, being reclusive by nature, tend to like to be hidden from view. It's normal for them to want to burrow into the substrate. As long as the temps are fine, and one side is heated and the other cool to give a gradient, then there shouldn't be a problem. Do you have at least two hides available to your corn?
 
Welcome to the forums, I wouldnt worry about this really. I only ever see my corn when day goes to night or if its feeding time.
 
I agree with those who do not feel overly concerned over this.
Cornsnakes like to burrow, on occasion, and I find all of mine doing it at one point or another.:)
No worries, it is natural behavior.
Also, aside from the occasional burrowing (once well established in a new place), it occurs rather often when a snake is new (or in a new environment) and hasn't learned its surroundings/hides yet (finding it the quickest way to hide and feel a little more secure. ;) ).
 
Ok, this makes me feel slightly better.

But he is staying on the cool side of the tank, and has been there for hours, I mean almost half a day. He hasn't moved, and I am very afraid he might be dead. I want to check, but I don't want to make things worse.

All of the temp's seem completely fine, the hot side is at 85-87, and the cool is between 75-78.

Can I gently poke him (not in the head or anything hard, just lightly on the back to be sure he is alive).

I mean I am a bit worried, he hasn't moved at all. And I know not to feed the snake for atleast 2 days in a new enviroment so he can get used to it.


Please help.
 
Ok, I am unsure of the double post rule here, and I hate to break it but I got to say.

I gently touched the snake, and he is alive. But he didn't move much at all, he is coiled up on one edge of the tank lying very still.
I am extremely nervous right now, if he is just taking a long nap and I am pissing him off, or if he is very ill.
What should I do? I am attempting to contact any vet's in the area.
 
The snake is probably just nervous because he is in a new environment. Your temps seem a bit high, warm end should only be around 83-85, no higher. That might be part of why he's on the cool side.

In my experience a happy snake doesn't really move around a whole lot. They pretty much hide in one spot until dusk and then mine come out and explore a little bit.

Lower your temps a tad, and give him a few more days to settle in. He's probably just nervous.
 
Shade said:
The snake is probably just nervous because he is in a new environment. Your temps seem a bit high, warm end should only be around 83-85, no higher. That might be part of why he's on the cool side.

In my experience a happy snake doesn't really move around a whole lot. They pretty much hide in one spot until dusk and then mine come out and explore a little bit.

Lower your temps a tad, and give him a few more days to settle in. He's probably just nervous.
Click to expand...
Alright, I am going to use the dimer on the lamp.

But he has been on the cold side for quite a while, not moving, and it is neutral temp in the house. Isn't that dangerous because he is cold blooded? I have everything for him, and plan to feed him tommorow or the day after.

i did alot of research, but this didn't come up.

How would I know if he is in serious condition? i mean he is coiled, and not moving. He was moving around in there when I first put him in there, all night. Then I woke up and he just layed their, and still is.
 
It could just be that thing of ... "If I lie real still, he/she won't see me or know I am here" (when you poked). Sometimes they just don't bolt.
However, If you are overly concerned... pick him up and see if he will move around &/or seems alert (flicking tongue, etc.).
If he does seem alert (despite a bit of tension/insecurity he may show), then just put him right back into his enclosure, leave him be for awhile (a few days), and don't worry yourself into an early grave.;)

Also, snakes do not need to remain on the warm side. They will choose the temp, that they need, when they need it. Many times, snakes may spend most of their time on the cool/er side. If he hasn't eaten, within the last couple days or so, there is even less to worry about (with his being on the cool/er side).
One question though ... are you taking the viv temps at the substrate level?
Okay, another question ... how old is this snake?

BTW If you do pick him up (or take him out of the viv), to do a one time quick check on him, ... when you put him back into his viv, show him where his water is (which is best located along the sides, of his viv, and not in the center ... especially if the snake is a hatchling.).
 
Ugh, thanks for the help. I will probably keep you all up to date.

I just got him yesterday, and he is 1-1 1/2 years old. He still has about another 12 inches to grow.

Excuse me for being a idiot, but substrate? I put the ther. at the bottom of the tank, on the filler or whatever you call it. I do both ends.
The dish is infact near the middle by his log, I will move it.


If I do infact pull him out, for a momment just to be sure he will stick out his tongue, etc it won't cause any major damage?
 
Zollowhex said:
i mean he is coiled, and not moving. He was moving around in there when I first put him in there, all night. Then I woke up and he just layed their, and still is.
Click to expand...


Snakes are not "on the move" all the time. They spend a lot of time just resting/sleeping/hiding.

Does he have a couple/few hides? If not, he needs a minimum of one hide on the cool side ~and~ one hide on the warm side.
 
Pasodama said:
Snakes are not "on the move" all the time. They spend a lot of time just resting/sleeping/hiding.

Does he have a couple/few hides? If not, he needs a minimum of one hide on the cool side ~and~ one hide on the warm side.
Click to expand...
I got one hide, the half log. It is a good size. It is genrally in the midle, its a 20-gallon tank, which the man said would be fine.

The log is pretty large, what stuff around the house could I use for a second if possible?
 
Zollowhex said:
Excuse me for being a idiot, but substrate? I put the ther. at the bottom of the tank, on the filler or whatever you call it. I do both ends.
Click to expand...

Substrate = aspen shavings, bark, other (at bottom of tank;) ).
It is good that you measure the temp at the bottom of the tank (on the filler).
BTW With your snake being 1 - 1 1/2 years, you could have the warm end, &/or basking, temp. at 85 degrees (as the highest temp).

Zollowhex said:
If I do infact pull him out, for a momment just to be sure he will stick out his tongue, etc it won't cause any major damage?
Click to expand...

Shouldn't cause any major problems. Especially if it is "short & sweet". Then, if all seems well, he should be left alone for a few days.:)
 
Pasodama said:
Substrate = aspen shavings, bark, other (at bottom of tank;) ).
It is good that you measure the temp at the bottom of the tank (on the filler).
BTW With your snake being 1 - 1 1/2 years, you could have the warm end, &/or basking, temp. at 85 degrees (as the highest temp).



Shouldn't cause any major problems. Especially if it is "short & sweet". Then, if all seems well, he should be left alone for a few days.:)
Click to expand...
Ys there is substrate, and that is what I get the temp from. I know that you should not use a sticker on the side or something like that.

it is at 84 currently on the warm end, and that isn't the highest setting either. i will measure the cool end again, although last time it was stable.
 
First of all, relax. He is probably just fine. My snakes will sometimes sit in the same spot for days if left undisturbed. As for the water, just simply put him near it, I wouldn't put him in it. That might freak him out a bit. When you do pick him up, try and stay calm, they can feel your anxiety and it will make him nervous too. Just pick him up,and gently support him. He may try to squirm away, but don't worry that is pretty normal. He may just curl up and let you hold him too, if he is a calm laid back little guy. Don't worry so much, he knows what he is doing, even if you feel like you don't. :)
 
Zollowhex said:
I got one hide, the half log. It is a good size. It is genrally in the midle, its a 20-gallon tank, which the man said would be fine.
The log is pretty large, what stuff around the house could I use for a second if possible?
Click to expand...

Okay, you have to get at least another hide in there. Anything can be used as a hide ... even a shoe box or other small box ... endless possibilities with a bit of imagination. The snake does not care what it looks like as long as it is something that it can hide in/under.
Then, make sure you have one hide on each side of the tank... if a third hide, you can place it in the middle of the tank.
 
2manysnakes said:
First of all, relax. He is probably just fine. My snakes will sometimes sit in the same spot for days if left undisturbed. As for the water, just simply put him near it, I wouldn't put him in it. That might freak him out a bit. When you do pick him up, try and stay calm, they can feel your anxiety and it will make him nervous too. Just pick him up,and gently support him. He may try to squirm away, but don't worry that is pretty normal. He may just curl up and let you hold him too, if he is a calm laid back little guy. Don't worry so much, he knows what he is doing, even if you feel like you don't. :)
Click to expand...
It isn't like that. I am not running around in a panic, even if it seems like that. I've handled the snakes before, I know how to hold them, etc. So I am fine, don't worry about that., it isn't the problem.

As I said I just wanted to be 100% sure on everything before I do anything else. So I don't make it worse rather than better.
 
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