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Snake keeping newbie...

iameveryman

New member
My name is Eric, and I got a corn snake about a week ago as an anniversary present from my wife. It is my first snake ever and to be honest the first snake I've ever held... so I'm pretty new to this. I have to admit I have become absolutely fascinated by this little guy who I am calling Cornelius. I would love any information anyone can give me about Corn snake husbandry and herpetology in general. I have learned a lot about Corn snakes in the last few days and most of it from this website so I decided to join. I'm looking forward to learning much more and having a long life filled with snakes... (my wife said tonight she wants one of her own...)

-Eric
 
Well reading the F&Q area is always a great start to learn the basics of caring for you new family member...Just never use pine as a substrate...Pine has a residue on it that is not good for any kind of snake..best choice in most opinion here is to use a UTH (under tank heater) to heat your tank (well one side of it)..lights have been known to make corns go blind due to the excessive UV rays..and heat rocks aren't suggested at all since they can burn your snake..The UTH should be monitered using a thermostat or rheostat..without one to control the temps the UTH can go up to past 100 degrees and that can hurt your snake..for the warm side..temps anywhere from 80-85 is good, for the cool side mid to low 70's..Have a hide on each side (one on the cool and one on the warm side)..give your snake at least 3-4 days to adjust to it's new home before handling...after feeding it don't handle it for about 48 hours..During a shed period spray the tank with water or place moist moss or paper towl into one of the hides..(this helps with the shed)..Corns aren't big on climbing but at least give them a little branch or vines or something so they can stretch out, explore, and get some exercise....

Well that is my advice on starting care for a snake..now for questions...hehe..What colors is it?? Do you know the morph? do ya know if it's a boy or girl?? When can we see pics?? hehehe...love new snake owner questions..hehe.. :grin01:
 
Well, for now I have him (i just learned how to sex it by using the 'popping' method) in a 10 gal. glass tank with a screen lid. I am using an aspen mulch-like substrate that I got from the local reptile shop. I have a small UTH that i have stuck under one side of the tank... it actually covers about half of the bottom of the tank. I use a digital thermometer with a probe to check the temp gradient and overall temps stay between 78-86 with the higher temps towards the warm side. ( this is the temp at the surface of the substrate not the glass bottom of the tank of air temp.) I live in sunny Florida and have no home air conditioning so I'm thinking I might not need the UTH but I'll keep it for now.

As far a what color morph it is I'm not entirely positive, but I'm going with Skeeter. As soon as I can I will post a pic, and I can get member input on that subject...

-Eric
 
Well I'm sure the 10 gallon is alright for now...But you might want to be looking at something bigger in the future..a 20 gallon long can usually home an adult corn throughout it's life..though many members here go bigger..I know some members that have their corns in 30 or 40 gallon tanks..but for a small hatchling..a 10 gallon should be alright...Check the substrate and make sure pine is not included in there..a lot of members here use T-Rex substrate or Snake Aspen bedding..also there is Repti-Bark which is a good holder for humidity..though humidity never needs to be to high..only high during shedding and even then it only needs to be 50 percent or so..Also..place the probe of the thermometer on the bottom of the substrate right over the UTH to see what the glass is reading..snakes love to burrow under the substrate so that is where you need to be measuring...Since you live in FL (I lived there for a year myself) I know how hot it can get..In order to keep your temp gradiants on both sides at good levels..maybe you could put a fan in that room..or turn on a ceiling fan..something to get air running to keep the cool side at a lower temp then the warm side...well good luck to ya :0)
 
Great advice so far, I would add very secure lid. Corns are escape artists. congrats one snake, remember they are like Lay's, you can never have just one. :eek1: susan
 
hehehe...I'm proof of that...I come here announcing my first snake and that she would be my only one..then 2 months later..I announce my second..lol.. :grin01: :grin01:

But yes a secure lid is also very important to have..and also don't forget to change the water regularly..I change mine every feeding day..
 
Hello and Welcome to the Forums!!! Sounds like you are doing great so far. I will add to the others...Make sure when you are feeding him you put him in a separate container so he doesn't accidentally swallow any substrate.
 
Hey- you live in Reptile Show Mecca!! (In August- the Daytona show!!)

I'd add- take the temp directly on the glass, where your snake can burrow down to, and make sure it isn't too hot. If it is- no big deal, you just put a thermostat or rheostat on the UTH to keep the temp down.

Hey- you mention maybe not needing the UTH because you live in Florida- If you put a thermostat on it- the UTH won't run when it doesn't need to.

Watch the General Chit Chat Section for Florida people get-togethers.

Nanci
 
I'm also a newbie to snake keeping (only had Flakes for about a month or so) so I cant offer you much advice I'm afraid just wanted to say hi and welcome.
 
Thanks for all the great advice. I have a couple of clips holding the screen top down, and its pretty secure. I fed him for the first time today and he ate voraciously... two pinkies. I had read on here to feed him in a seperate container so I commandeered one of my wife's shoeboxes for the job. I have been in Daytona Beach all my life and never knew that there was a reptile show here. I will definately be attending. Also, I checked the temp at the glass and it is not too hot at all. The UTH i bought is pretty weak... I've had therma care heat wraps that get hotter.

-Eric
 
I haven't posted this in awhile so I hope most of it is still good!
And you did ask for information!!


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