• Hello!

    Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.

    Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....

    Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.

    Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.

Newbie Questions

D

daddylurve

New member
Hi all, first time poster!

I bought a snow corn yesterday - my first snake, he's 1yr old. I've put in fresh water, and the thermomiter (which is on the centre of the back wall of the tank) shows slightly above 70 degrees. He's apparently ready for a feed tomorrow. Is there anything else I should be doing? I keep going over to check if he's okay - I'm just getting nervous about getting it wrong.

Also, he's constantly hiding in the shelter, especially when I'm up and about. He only seems to come out when there's no-one about. When he has been out and I've gone over to have a look, he's gone straight back inside. Is this normal?
 
Thankyou

Nice to know I'm not doing anything disastrous. I've moved the thermometer closer to the bedding, near his favourite hide.

The pet store said to wait two weeks before handling - you don't think this is necessary?
 
daddylurve said:
Nice to know I'm not doing anything disastrous. I've moved the thermometer closer to the bedding, near his favourite hide.

The pet store said to wait two weeks before handling - you don't think this is necessary?
Click to expand...

You should get a thermometer with a probe. A indoor/outdoor type this way you place the probe in the substrate (bedding) above the uth (under tank heater). Your "hide" should be place here too. This will be the warm side. You should place another hide on the cool side.

Two weeks is a bit much I think.
You will get different answer here. But try to follow the "general" rules first, and as you get more experience and learn more you can "sway" one way or another.
One example is...You have breeder here and pet owners (me). So topics on how to decorate you Viv will differ.
But just read as much here as you can, you can also scroll down this page to the bottom right and click on the archives to read some old threads too.

Good Luck. :cheers:
 
When you go to get that digital thermometer, get one that also measures humidity. It'll be a great help when shedding time rolls around.

I agree that leaving the snake alone for two weeks is not necessary. I think three to four days is adequate. The constant hiding is normal too. He will come out more when he feels more comfortable in his tank. Also, corns are mostly nocturnal, so he'll most likely be out and about while you are sleeping. Unless you're nocturnal as well. :)
 
Yay, another newbie. I'm not alone... :D

This forum is pretty awesome. Stick around, you'll be glad you found it!
 
daddylurve said:
Hi all, first time poster!

I bought a snow corn yesterday - my first snake, he's 1yr old. I've put in fresh water, and the thermomiter (which is on the centre of the back wall of the tank) shows slightly above 70 degrees. He's apparently ready for a feed tomorrow. Is there anything else I should be doing? I keep going over to check if he's okay - I'm just getting nervous about getting it wrong.

Also, he's constantly hiding in the shelter, especially when I'm up and about. He only seems to come out when there's no-one about. When he has been out and I've gone over to have a look, he's gone straight back inside. Is this normal?
Click to expand...

snake like to hide this is normal. you may want to think about a thermometer on each side of you tank temps should stay 86 or above for digestion i would also suggest a probe for most accurate temps. give him a couple days befor handling.
 
To add to what's been posted..

You should have a minimum of 2 hides, one on the cool side and one on the warm side of the vivarium. That's another reason a probe would be handy, so you can check both sides are the correct temperature.

Did you not read up on corns before you bought one? You can download/view quite detailed care sheets if you don't want to buy a book.

What are you using for substrate? Be aware if you use something the snake can (will) burrow in, the temperature will be hotter further down :)
 
reptileman34 said:
temps should stay 86 or above for digestion i would also suggest a probe for most accurate temps. QUOTE]


Temps of 86 or above are a little too warm for corns. They should be in the low 80s.
Click to expand...
 
BeckyG said:
reptileman34 said:
temps should stay 86 or above for digestion i would also suggest a probe for most accurate temps. QUOTE]


Temps of 86 or above are a little too warm for corns. They should be in the low 80s.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the input, were did you get the info on temps i have had snakes for about 20 years, all info i have read has indicated that 86f. is the proper temps. please let me know mor so i can check into this thank you.
Click to expand...
 
reptileman34 said:
Thanks for the input, were did you get the info on temps i have had snakes for about 20 years, all info i have read has indicated that 86f. is the proper temps. please let me know mor so i can check into this thank you.
Click to expand...

Mostly from this site.
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28341
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28342

I think that with the membership growing, that a FAQ was set up with good general guileline to help the new owners. But with experience over the years, owners can stray from them a tad.
 
reptileman34 said:
Thanks for the input, were did you get the info on temps i have had snakes for about 20 years, all info i have read has indicated that 86f. is the proper temps. please let me know mor so i can check into this thank you.
Click to expand...
86, that's very precise!

Low to mid 70s on the cool side and low to mid 80s on the warm side is a good guide, but a few degrees F higher won't harm.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top