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New baby Cornsnake!

T

Tanya20

New member
Got my new baby Corn snake �� Had the snake since Monday morning, so 6days. From the Tuesday it has been hiding in different spots just watching me most of the time so I started running my finger on the glass tank and it followed me, but when I go to open the tank doors its backs off. How can I get it to come to me naturally instead of me having to try and get it out for its first time? Twice its come out to smell my head nearby but still backs off a little. Help would be grateful!
 
Hello and welcome.

It takes time, how old is he? First give him a week to settle in, just leave him be for now. He will never LOVE you but he will grow to tolerate you. I have always approached mine from behind rather than from in front. Babies are a bit skittish but they will get used to you.
 
They said he was around 2/3months, they weren't to sure. They also told me to feed it in a container they gave me instead of feeding in the tank, so it doesn't think I'm giving food every time I go into the tank and its feeding day tomorrow.
 
HAH, good luck!

No, I kid :p Congrats though! It's nice that s/he is even coming out for you at all - very lucky! And smelling your hand and following your finger, too. Some snakes are more curious than others and over time may come to an open hand in their tank. I would think that a lot, or even most, do not. That's okay though. Snakes aren't naturally social and won't act as such, like a dog or cat or other small furry animal.

Best of luck with everything! I encourage you to check out the corn snake care guide (sticky) on the home page :)
 
I have a nice care sheet and a guide to settling in, down in my personal forum, here. Generally, you let the snake settle in for a week, then feed, then wait for it to digest 2-3 days, THEN handle. Your snake sounds pretty unafraid if he is following your finger. When you want to get him out, just scoop him up. Later, when he is bigger and knows you better, he may crawl onto you when invited. Lots of mine do.
 
Hey Tanya20 I just got a baby corn too. They're awesome. They will be quite scared by shadows and new smells and environment, give them awhile. Mine still shies away and I've had it for a few months. Let them smell you, then scoop them up. Don't wiggle your fingers or anything. They're so scared because well, in nature, what wants to eat a baby snake? Everything. They get less shy when they're bigger. If the snake is REALLY scared, it will strike, not with the teeth first just bump you fast with the nose. If it does that leave it alone for awhile.
 
kestreltheonly said:
If the snake is REALLY scared, it will strike, not with the teeth first just bump you fast with the nose. If it does that leave it alone for awhile.
Click to expand...

I've never had mine do this! She always struck with her teeth...
I know that hognoses bump sometimes, rather than biting. :p That seems so nicer!
 
Yeah with the nose bumping thing... My snake did that to me once, when I tried to pick her out of her good container. So now I always have the food in first rather than what comes to her is food in her mind. She's never bitten me.
 
yeah I also don't know about the 'nose bumping' with corns, I have only ever been struck at and biten 2 times by my corn, both my fault. both never drew blood. just startled me! lol but they were also both my fault.. once in the feeding bin, and the second time was after he had just been moved into his new tank and he was still unsure I guess, but I choose too like an idiot try and feed him about an hour or two after.. and I of course got a little snap from out of the vines! lol :laugh: I actually laughed! I could tell that I had scared the poor guy cause he's never one to bite!

but yeah both times were open mouth. not a bump.
 
�� I feel bad for you! When my corn snake struck she scared me so bad... She had gone into strike position plenty before but never struck. She really isn't one to bite either. I certainly hope to pass on that experience, though my chances are slim on that.��
 
Thanks for all the advice and i will check out the care sheets, and well last night it came to the doors and came on to me whilst he was smelling me, even when i tried putting him back in the tank he didnt want to go back. But, yesterday night he lied down on a leave vine near to the top of the tank and still hasnt moved? He keeps poking his head in and out from underneth his body. Is this normal? I always panic overlittle things. Thanks
 
Well if he just ate then that's normal my snake is always quite dormant especially for a large meal. It's actually mouse night tonight for me! Um, it could be a small case of lethargy (staying still) and just type the symptoms into the net. If he like, NEVER moves within like, 2 days, (make sure he's not dead) take him out see if he'll crawl around. Check for other signs of disease--foam in the moth or nose or eyes, open mouth,(like, halfway dislodged,) misshapen lumps on the body, other than the lump the mouse might make in the belly) if you feel a rock-like lump near the vent (rather larg-ish--if you can't notice it by just looking don't worry about it---it may be constipated. If this is so, bathe him in shallow water for half an hour (watch him the whole time) as soon as he poops take him out. If he doesn't get him to crawl around on your hand a bit more, then put him back in his tank and leave him. You'll probably see poop soon. If the symptoms are extreme and he resists moving at all, take him to the vet ASAP. But be prepared to pay $150 dollars or more. For just a check up for me it was $120 bucks. She had said 80-90 bucks, but THAT flew out the window.
 
Oh and if he's moving just always staying on the hot side then your cold side is too cold. If he's always on the cold side then your hot sides too hot. For the cold side don't put a heat mat under, just turn up the temp in your house or put a heater in your room. I have a small plug in heater. (If your cold sides way too cold, she'll end up avoiding her water dish!)
 
Thank you, he seems to go to sleep on the cold side and when i wake up he moves to the hot side. Also i got a infrared light just hanging over the vivarium, when i switch that on he automatically moves up towards the top of the tank and sort of sunbathes even thought i cant feel any heat.
 
Well do you have heat mats? Is the temperature warm enough? Don't let the hot side drop below 75 degrees ferinheit (I have no clue how to spell that) and don't let ur cold side go over 67 degrees.
Your snake may think by instinct that the red light is the sun and therefore is seeking basking heat. Maybe try the infra red and get a basking light. (I don't know if you can get 'basking' lights- I think you can- if not then just heat lamp.) with the lamp though make sure there is no possible way for any of your snake to touch the bulb. (tongue, tail)
 
But if you have a heat lamp don't worry about a heat mat unless the lamp isn't warm enough. You need to pay attention to temperature greatly. It doesn't have to be perfect-a few degrees is fine, but stay above/below my guidelines.
 
Oh in my first message I meant an infra red AND a basking light. Infra red on cold side, basking on hot side. If he always goes to the red anyway, he probably just likes the red and it's no use using up electricity money especially of the basking light is making the hot side too hot. For the basking light, make sure he has a flattish surface that he can lay on under the light that is slightly raised.
 
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