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New Snake Keeper!

shadowshearth

Shadow S Hearth
Hello everyone, I found this forum because I finally got my first corn snake recently. I've been wanting a snake for many years and have studied their care and maintenance for awhile, but couldn't have one until I'd moved out (my mother specifically stated NO SNAKES ALLOWED). After living by myself for about a year, I finally took the plunge and bought my first snakes.

My first purchase was a female, baby Ball Python, whom I quickly grew attached to over the 5 weeks that I've now had her... And on a trip to the shop to pick up some frozen mice two weeks ago, I saw an adorable Albino Corn Snake that I decided I had to have.

Unfortunately, the baby that I bought winded up being very sick. I started noticing that she was getting very lethargic in her terrarium, and despite my regular schedule for feeding and an obvious interest in food, she wouldn't take a meal. I discussed this with the shop that I got her at as well as a vet, but she ended up passing away just after the two week mark. I was devastated at this turn of events, but I took her back and decided not to be put off...

At the shop, they helped me pick out a new baby, a little Oakeetee Corn with a lot of energy. As I was holding the new baby for the first time, he/she was climbing all over me and even tried to climb down into my shirt (I wonder if that's a sign for a male? :grin01: )

I just brought him home yesterday and I'm proud to say that he is adjusting at a much faster rate and acting much more healthy than the Albino baby ever did. Thursday is the regular feeding schedule at the shop (I'm very happy to have a knowledgeable breeder in the area to take my questions and concerns to) and this little guy is such a live-wire, that I offered his first pinkie here at home today. He ate like a champ!

I'm still really devastated that I lost the first one, but the breeder apologized profusely, covered the medical costs, and answered all the questions that I had and my concerns to make sure I had done everything right.

But it gave me more reason to seek out more people of like-minds so I can do even more research than I have as well as have people to go to if I have more questions. So, I'm really looking forward to getting to know all of you!

This is an interesting first step into snake keeping for me!
 
Welcome to the forum! I'm glad your new little guy is doing well. Feel free to post pictures!
 
Here is the first picture I took of Talutah just after he got home. He almost looks albino in this picture, but he's definitely a very beautiful red! I'll post more pictures after he's adjusted to being home for awhile:

Talu.jpg
 
Talutah is an amel motley (and a pretty one from what little I can see), based on that photo, not an okeetee. An okeetee is a normal with thick black bands around the saddles. As babies, they are quite drab and gain their vibrant reds and oranges at maturity.
 
Oh, is that the case? Sorry, I'm not very familiar with the morphs just yet. I had a feeling that I was probably incorrect on what type he was, but Oakeetee was the closest thing that I could find to his coloration.

I looked up a picture and I think you're right! Thank you for correcting me, Shiari! I fell in love with him because he was just such a gorgeous blood red coloration! The flash on my camera really doesn't do him justice! I took another photo just so you could see it better!

Talutah.jpg
 
Welcome! He IS a beautiful motley, and I am glad he is doing well for you. I'm glad you have a good breeder to answer questions, and you will find that this is the best site for anything you have questions or concerns about. The only stupid question is the one not asked.
 
Thank you very much for the welcome, smigon! I got very lucky in this area!

You and me both. I have browsed other forums which are bitch-fests, or really have no clue about what a corn snake needs to be comfortable. We have three amazing authors on this site, Kathy Love and her husband Bill (amazing photographer) , Don Soderberg and Nanci who wrote a care sheet that the newest of the new owners can get everything right on the first try.

Kathy Love's book

Don Soderberg's book

Nanci's caresheet

There is lots of good reading on the "stickies" at the top of every subject, they really will answer a lot of your questions!
 
Thank you, Smigon. I've gone through quite a few of the stickies, but it's a lot of information to take in. I actually have a couple books still that I bought when I was younger about their care, but I know that within any community, information changes and grows so quickly!

I'm glad to say that Talutah is doing very well so far. He/she is exploring all the time and I'm starting to catch him more and more sitting out where I can see him, flicking his tongue to see what's going on.

Thank you all for such a warm welcome and already answering some of the questions that I have. I'm sure there will be a lot more as time goes on - depending on the situations that I come across.
 
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