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New Corn Snake Owner-Help Please!! Will Own Snake Soon!!
- Thread starter kyla_fire
- Start date
Xerneas
New member
Well, first off, be sure to do plenty of research before buying! Make sure to ask questions and have things down before you own your snake -- it will really take weight off your shoulders. 
I'm going to assume you know the basics, but you'll need the enclosure, substrate, a UTH, a thermometer, something to regulate the heat (like a thermostat) and plenty of hides for the little baby. Buy a water bowl that is big enough for them to soak in but heavy enough so they can't tip it over (I like ceramic cat/dog bowls).
You should expect to see a lot of hiding when you bring your baby home. Remember: he/she is not aggressive, just terrified! They are small and you are a big, big potential predator. Just be patient and slow.
And regarding cats, it shouldn't be a problem (I own three myself) as long as you secure the snake's enclosure very, very tightly. They are escape artists, and you need something to keep the lid down. I use locks that go on the lid, but others use things like velcro -- I'm sure someone else can chime in with a suggestion
I'm going to assume you know the basics, but you'll need the enclosure, substrate, a UTH, a thermometer, something to regulate the heat (like a thermostat) and plenty of hides for the little baby. Buy a water bowl that is big enough for them to soak in but heavy enough so they can't tip it over (I like ceramic cat/dog bowls).
You should expect to see a lot of hiding when you bring your baby home. Remember: he/she is not aggressive, just terrified! They are small and you are a big, big potential predator. Just be patient and slow.
And regarding cats, it shouldn't be a problem (I own three myself) as long as you secure the snake's enclosure very, very tightly. They are escape artists, and you need something to keep the lid down. I use locks that go on the lid, but others use things like velcro -- I'm sure someone else can chime in with a suggestion
Xerneas
New member
There are no stupid questions!
It's an under-tank heater. It's basically a pad that sticks underneath the enclosure and is then plugged into the wall.
Xerneas
New member
Correction: It can plug into the wall, but it should be plugging into the thermostat to regulate the heat as to not burn the snake!
Xerneas
New member
There are a lot of really mixed opinions about this, but I have to say that feeding in a separate enclosure isn't really necessary. There are people on this forum who have dozens of snakes and don't use separate enclosures and don't have a problem with aggressiveness. It can actually stress the snake out. I feed in the enclosure and they have never mistaken me for food. Use feeding tongs and wash your hands before handling and you will not get bit -- they are intelligent enough to know the difference between a mouse and your hand.
If you want to feed in a separate enclosure I think using a divider is kind of defeating the purpose. You can just use a small shoebox, really; it doesn't have to be a separate tank.
kyla_fire
New member
IM kinda nervous bout holding it. I held one today at Petco-where im going to get my snake any way to not be nervous about it? Im not scared of snakes just worried it might bite me out of no where if it bumps into my fingers. Its been a few years since ive held a snake without being worried bout that
Xerneas
New member
A baby corn snake bite literally feels like velcro. Their teeth are incredibly small and their jaws are weak -- even as an adult it doesn't hurt very much. If it happens, you will probably laugh because the anticipation is so much worse than the actual thing. They are not snakes known for aggressiveness and a baby will probably try to flee rather than snap at you. Just take a few deep breaths before handling and calm yourself down. The snake is way more scared of you!
Also, though the choice is your own, I would personally vouch for not buying from Petco. Often times pet stores don't take very good care of their reptiles and can cause a new owner a lot of stress when their snake turns out to be sick or won't take a meal. Like I said, the decision's your own, but there are a lot of awesome breeders on this forum to check out
smigon
Old enough to know better
When you get your baby home, put him/her in the pre-readied viv (make sure your temps are proper at each end by using a thermostat to set the warm side to 85°, you will learn that in the books by Kathy Love and Don Soderberg - MUST-reads for any new corn owner, please download them or buy them off of Amazon before you get your snake) and leave him be for a week. As tempting as it is, don't do anything except change the water every day or two, leave him be, but when you do go to handle him, wash your hands with unscented soap (I find regular Neutrogena to be be the best) as none of my kids like the smell and physically try to get away if I use a scented soap. Then open the viv, scoop your baby from underneath and use both hands to hold him, let him slither from hand to hand.
I have never had an aggressive or frightened bite, just two from the same guy, first time because my finger had just been touching a mouse, but he was still little so it was barely a bump and the second time because I reached over him to adjust the plate with the mouse on it (I feed in their vivs, I use a large plastic lid or a salad plate, depending how big the meals are) and he thought I was competition. He hit me and drew back immediately, it does feel like velcro, and he drew a drop of blood so small that you could barely see it. I just washed up and put a dab of Neosporin on it, good as new. Both times were my own dumb fault, but it did take the anxiety out of joining "The Bite Club"!
BTW, there are really strong lids made of metal instead of mesh, definitely get one of those because I guarantee that the cats will try to get on top! I have 6 cats, 5 corns, and all lids have held up perfectly, even with Tubby, the 18lb Ragdoll cat on it!
Good luck, and ask away. No questions are dumb or stupid, there are only stupid owners who don't ask questions!!!
I have never had an aggressive or frightened bite, just two from the same guy, first time because my finger had just been touching a mouse, but he was still little so it was barely a bump and the second time because I reached over him to adjust the plate with the mouse on it (I feed in their vivs, I use a large plastic lid or a salad plate, depending how big the meals are) and he thought I was competition. He hit me and drew back immediately, it does feel like velcro, and he drew a drop of blood so small that you could barely see it. I just washed up and put a dab of Neosporin on it, good as new. Both times were my own dumb fault, but it did take the anxiety out of joining "The Bite Club"!
BTW, there are really strong lids made of metal instead of mesh, definitely get one of those because I guarantee that the cats will try to get on top! I have 6 cats, 5 corns, and all lids have held up perfectly, even with Tubby, the 18lb Ragdoll cat on it!
Good luck, and ask away. No questions are dumb or stupid, there are only stupid owners who don't ask questions!!!
daddio207
THUG FROG !
The petco that I frequent does an excellent job in caring for their reptiles.
Hopefully, the corn snake you are considering at petco is at least a juvi to yearling.
The 1 reptile I personally would avoid with them is their hatchling corns especially as a first time snake owner.
They buy bulk hatchlings seemingly right out of the egg. They co-hab them so stress is heightened and they usually don't know who is eating for sure even though they tell you they all are eating.
For a first snake, I would try to locate a yearling or older snake.
Good luck and keep asking Q's
Hopefully, the corn snake you are considering at petco is at least a juvi to yearling.
The 1 reptile I personally would avoid with them is their hatchling corns especially as a first time snake owner.
They buy bulk hatchlings seemingly right out of the egg. They co-hab them so stress is heightened and they usually don't know who is eating for sure even though they tell you they all are eating.
For a first snake, I would try to locate a yearling or older snake.
Good luck and keep asking Q's
Xerneas
New member
You need a hot side, and a cold side.
The hot side needs some kind of external heat source, like an under-tank heater, that is hooked up to something to regulate the heat like a thermostat. The temp on the hot side should be about 80-85F and the cold side should be about 75-80F. It should be measured with a digital thermometer with a probe (no stick-on ones) or an infrared temp gun.
They don't really need any special humidity and do fine with just the average humidity. Too low of a humidity can cause shedding problems, though. It should be kept at about 40-50%; this can be measured with a hygrometer.
