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NEW and need help, just had a death

M

michelle25212

New member
HI:

I'm new to the forum, just found it today. I went searching for all kinds of snake info today when I found our baby corn dead this morning.

I purchased him 10 days ago for my daughter. I don't really care for snakes but she has been begging for one for a long time. So after doing some reading It seemed a corn was a good snake for a child and pretty easy to care for, which was important to me since I would have to care for it, and did I mention, I don't like snakes.
So I did some research, bought the book, and read it all and then purchased her the snake.
The guy at the pet shop said that they had had the snake, Corny, my daughter named him, for 2 months and that he was eating fine and eating about every two weeks, but I could feed him once a week if we wanted to promote faster growth. They sold us the container and dish that they had been keeping him in along with the snake, and also a under tank heating pad, they had been using lights in the store.
We brought him home and everything seemed fine. He was pretty active, and didn't seem to mind being handled. About 4 days after being home we offered him a pinki and he didn't eat it. We waited a couple of days and tried again, making sure his cage was warm enough and humid enough and then he ate it. that was 4 days ago. Last night he did not seem well. He was hardly moving.
This morning when we got up he was dead.
My daughter cried. She was so sad, I have never seen such a heartbroken little girl. In just a few days this snake became her best friend in the whole world.

:cry:

Now I'm looking at getting another corn, possibly a pair, I think they are growing on me, and before I do I want to make sure that I learn even more, and if possible try to figure out what went wrong. I don't want to lose any more.
Any suggestions?
 
Can you describe the environment (enclosure size, temperatures, bedding material, ect)? There could be literally dozens of possible causes.

Off the top of my head, it doesn't sound like the snake was healthy to begin with. Ten days isn't much time for a "good snake to just go bad". It wouldn’t likely have been from the feeding you described.
 
Thanks for the quick reply:

The cage was a large plastic cage, vented at the top. Very common you see them all over pet stores. This is what they were keeping him in and they told me I could keep him in the same thing till he got a little bigger. I am looking for a better cage right now though, before I get another one. The bedding was just paper towels. And I don't know what the exact temp was. The guy at the store told me as long as I had the heating pad under the cage I didn't have to worry about it. But now I don't really belive that. I'm online right now picking out a much better and more complete habitate before I get more. I don't mind spending the money in order to do it right. If it was anything I did I want to make sure I don't do it again.

Any thoughts on waterfalls or drip systems in the tank? Is this something a corn would like or are these items strikly for lizards?
 
The waterfalls are not a good idea for snakes IMO. I have one that I use in a tropical lizard cage for humidity. It is a real pain to clean and that is without a big pile of snake poo added to the mix. They tend to mess up water sources and I'd be concerned that it would quickly burn up the small pump.

Back to the issue at hand. I'd recommend a larger enclosure. Temperature control is important. The "heat pads" are designed to heat larger enclosures that those small "Kritter-Keeper" boxes. Did you have the heat mat under the entire container?? It is possible that the temperature was too hot.

Before you get another snake, I'd highly recommend getting a copy of The Cornsnake Manual by Kathy Love. It is an invaluable source of information and "what not to do"s.
 
I do have that book... I'm thinking right now that I'm going to get a 10 gal aquarim with a good lid and lid clips. (I read all you escape stories.) I've also looked at some screened in Reptile Habitat, but these just don't seem like they would hold the heat and humidity that the corn needs. I've already ordered the new heating pad, one with a thermostat and a good thermometer and a humidity gauge. I bought a heat lamp also, but don't think I'll really use it unless the temp isn't getting high enough. I figure it dosn't hurt to have one around in case. I'm also going with the aspen bedding that everyone suggested. I have two water dishes and two hiding areas. One is also for basking. I have f/t pinkies? Am I missing anything? I wish I had done this much research before we got corny but I listened to what the pet guy told me, and maybe it wouldn't have made a difference. But I want to try to make sure that everything is set up as best as possible this time. I cried myself this morning when we found him just because of how sad she was.


attached is a picture of my daughter and Corney the day after we got him.
 

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oh goodness that's cute!!!

I agree with CAV- I'm betting that heat pad under the plastic enclosure was too much for the little guy.

First thing's first, get one of those cheapy analogue thermometers, actually get two, and place (NOT STICK) one back-side down, directly on top of the substrate (paper-towel is excellent) to accurately measure belly heat at each end of the 10gal (should be a "cool" side and "warm" side). I typically place the water bowl on the cool side so if things heat up they can head for the bowl to cool off AND a housing unit on the warm side. Did Corny happen to spend a lot of time in his water bowl? I'm betting he did unless that water was too warm as well.

Good luck, keep us updated!
 
As Cav said did you have the heat pad under the whole tank. You only need to heat 50% of the enclosure so as you have a warm end and a cool end.
Hpoe you have much better luck next time.
 
Just to play the devil's advocate here...you said that picture was taken the day after you bought your snake? Most people agree that you should not handle a new snake for at least three days after you buy it, because the stress can kill it, too. I have a boy about the age of your girl and I know how he handled our first snake when we first got it....I'm still amazed it survived! He is much better now, of course.

When you get your next snake(s), buy from a reputable breeder, don't handle it for at LEAST three days, and follow the recommendations of the people that posted above as far as enclosures go.

And I hope if you buy more than one, that you house them seperately.

We bought our very first snake from Petco and I thought we were going to lose her. After two months, she finally seems to have stablized and is starting to get some strength and some girth. I bought our second from Kathy Love and he was 100 times healthier than the one from Petco.

Good luck, and welcome to the addiction.
 
Quite a dilemma

It is advisable to give a young snake a couple of weeks to settle in before handling, and while stress could have been a contributing factor I have my doubts that is was the sole cause of death. The fact that the snake ate only 4 days ago is indicative that the snake was not too stressed to eat. I still lean towards overheating, dehydration or illness as the likely culprit.

I think that you are on the right track with a temp control device and a larger enclosure that is better suited for housing a snake.
 
Well it sounds like you are learning a lot, and will be on the right track next time. I'm learning a lot here too.

Some places sell aquariums with lids that slide on, so it is next to imposible for a snake to escape. That is what I got at the pet store near me. They are slightly more expensive than a normal aquarium, but growing up we had garter snakes that managed to escape from it even with the clips locking the lid on.


I mostly responded because I wanted to say that it is awesome that your daughter is into snakes. If only more little girls were exposed to animals so they don't assume they're "slimy" and venemous. Plus that is a very cute picture!
 
I'm thinking right now that I'm going to get a 10 gal aquarim with a good lid and lid clip


Here's what I am thinking...
If you get a 10 gal tank for your next Corn, plan to up grade in the future. As they get bigger with age it is recommended that they have a 33 gal tank min. Keep in mind, that's for a full grown Corn.
My Corn is 11 months old, and I keep her in a 33 gal already, because I didn't want to coop her up in a 10 gal, and I also didn't want to have to up grade when she gets older. She's happy, active, eats like pig, sheds good. So IMO having them in a large tank, with all the essentials that make them comfortable even before they are adults is okay.
But their comfort is most important I think.
 
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