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Newbie- Couple questions......

W

wholovessnakes

New member
Hi All,

I'm a new cornsnake owner and very in love with our little creamsicle snake named Spike. I've had him now for 8 days and I just had a couple of questions.....

We are using aspen bedding and he seems to like burrowing underneath it. Is this normal? He comes comes out quite often, likes to lay under his hollow tree (you can see him in under it), or tangled up in his tree. Last night, for about an hour or so I watched him crawl all over his viv, over and over, through his water, up the sides of the glass peeking around, etc.....What does this mean? Is he hungry? Just curious? Comfortable? Etc?

I did not see this website before I got him and yes, realized after the fact that we weren't supposed to handle him until we had him a week. So, it's too late now, we started handling him 1x per day after the 2nd day for about 5-10 minutes, should I stop now or is it too late and I might has well continue handlling him? I don't think he is stressed at all. Of course, I am not a snake and not an expert, so he might be.

We did feed him last week, 1 pinky, which I put him in a separate feeding container, left him alone an hour, and when I came back an hour later he had eaten it. This was last Thursday- he has kept it down, and we did not handle him for 48 hours (more like 60) after that meal.

He is quite an active little fellow- always peeking around and if I sit in the chair next to him, you can bet he'll be out and about, do you think he wants me to hold him more?

He does not seem to have a preference toward the heated side vs cool side of the viv. I have the heater that sticks to the side of the viv away from the water dish (which he slithers in and out of). Is it normal not to have a preference?

Thanks in advance for the help!
 
Welcome to the forum! As far as handling him now, since you've already started, I would recommend not handling him everyday right now, maybe every other day. There's not a real way to tell if he's stressed, unless he starts not eating or shedding right, etc. But it's not like he's gonna have a frown if he's a bit stressed. It's better to be on the safe side and stress him out the least amount possible.

As far as him moving around the cage, he's probably just exploring his surroundings, if you feed him about once a week, he shouldn't be too hungry. Over feeding is usually worse than under feeding.

Snakes aren't social creatures like a cat or dog, so even if you think he's enjoying handling and wants more, you're probably anthropomorphizing. Snakes and reptiles in general don't usually enjoy handling, mostly tolerate it. There are some exceptions though.

Since snakes need to regulate their own body temp, it's normal that they move from hot to cold often. Sorry this is so long, but I hope it helps!
 
MY snakes loves to be held. Whenever my hand is in the tank she climbs on it. And whenever I walk in the room she is watching whatever I do.

As for your snake, I had aspen bedding and my snake did the same thing. I didn't like her being under there though so I removed the aspen and added ECOEARTH shredded coconut. I love it! I see alot more of Erricca out and about, instead of under her substrate.

Also, I never had an issue with handling Erricca after I got her. I handled her the day after I brought her home, and she loves being handled (apparently) or at least tolerates it. She never stopped eating or anything. It didn't seem to bother her.


And as for him crawling in the water, your tank may be a little hot. But as long as there is water in there its okay :)
 
The week long waiting period, I think, is more important for snakes that have been shipped, or the drive home with them was very long, especially if the altitude changed a number of times on the way. That can be very stressful for the snake. Losing it's old familiar home & getting used to it's new home is also stressful, but probably not as much. So 3 or 4 days in that case would be an okay waiting period. However it's also usually better safe than sorry, so even then you might go ahead & do the full week. Since you didn't know & didn't do it, it probably won't hurt your snake though. I have two snakes that really seem to enjoy being held, my Classic corn & a BP I'm snake sitting. The BP likes being held by everyone though & the corn prefers me.
 
It sounds like you're doing great with Spike and you're lucky to see him so much too - sounds just like my creamsicle was when I first brought him home!

The only small thing I would mention is that belly heat is preferable for digestion, in case you're able to move your heat source, and if you aren't already measuring the temps, please do so. I'm afraid being too hot is not ok as long as there's water!! But I'm sure you knew that already. Mid-high 80s in the hottest place is what you're aiming for.

And just because I don't think anyone else has mentioned yet, yes, burrowing is very normal behaviour, as well as cruising and climbing the glass.

Keep an eye on your temps and you'll have a very happy Spike! Enjoy :)
 
I wasn't saying that being to hot was okay all the time, but it won't hurt the snake if it is to hot for a short amount of time :)

Just to clear things up :)
 
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