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Some beginner questions

C

Cyntax

New member
Hello,

I've been doing some research on owning snakes and the corn snake has peaked my interest due to it being easy to take care of and seems to be a good beginner snake.

I have a couple questions though and would greatly appreciate any responses.

1. How much will corn snakes tollerate being handled? Will it put up with being coiled around my arm while I watch tv? As I understand it, snakes 1+ years old are more patient then the younger ones, is this true?

2. a 20 gallon tank, secure mesh top, and under-tank heater seems to be standard equipment and I will go with that. Is there a good way to control the heat so that if the room gets too hot it will shut off the heater? Whats a good way to controll the heat? any specific products I can look for?

3. I'm a bit confused as to why people don't feed thier snakes while its in its tank. What do you guys put it into durring feeding and why is this done?

Thanks!!

Great site btw.
 
well from what ive heard and read on here the reason people dont feed their snakes in their tank is that if they do they get used to it and the snake might mistake your hand for food and ya will get bitten and from what ive seen people use large plastic bowls or card board boxes to feed em in and what i understand is they know its feedin time when they see the container you have been feeding them in (im stil newbie at this ):)
 
brian86 said:
well from what ive heard and read on here the reason people dont feed their snakes in their tank is that if they do they get used to it and the snake might mistake your hand for food and ya will get bitten and from what ive seen people use large plastic bowls or card board boxes to feed em in and what i understand is they know its feedin time when they see the container you have been feeding them in (im stil newbie at this ):)
Click to expand...

Ohhh..ok :) that makes sense. Thanks for the quick reply.
 
Cornsnakes are ideal for first time snake owners because of their docile temperment. You might want to invest in the Cornsnake Manual by Kathy Love. It has most questions you might have, answered. The 20 gl. set-up sounds good. Have multiple hides in different temperature gradients. You can hook your UTH to a rheostat that will shut it off if it gets too warm. My snake is sitting on my lap right now while I type, and I'm sure a snake that's used to handling like she is will hang out on your arm half the night. She's not even a year old. The other reason people don't feed in the tank, is that if you have substrate other than paper towels, or newspaper, the snake can ingest the bedding with the mouse and it can cause impaction.
 
MegF. said:
Cornsnakes are ideal for first time snake owners because of their docile temperment. You might want to invest in the Cornsnake Manual by Kathy Love. It has most questions you might have, answered. The 20 gl. set-up sounds good. Have multiple hides in different temperature gradients. You can hook your UTH to a rheostat that will shut it off if it gets too warm. My snake is sitting on my lap right now while I type, and I'm sure a snake that's used to handling like she is will hang out on your arm half the night. She's not even a year old. The other reason people don't feed in the tank, is that if you have substrate other than paper towels, or newspaper, the snake can ingest the bedding with the mouse and it can cause impaction.
Click to expand...

What kind of substrate would you recommend? I'm not too fond of paper towels or newspaper. But don't want something thats horrible to clean when its poop time.
 
BTW i bought that book from Bill and Kathy Love its GREAT learned LOTS from it going to reread it a few more times i would recomend the book to ! i got it at petsmart(i just went there for the book lol)cost me bout 11 bucks
 
Shredded Aspen, or something like the Habi-chips are suitable. I've used coconut husk but it was hard to see the poop in it. The lighter substrate seems to be the best. Stay away from sand.
 
Maybe this is an exception to the rule, but I have a 3 year old boa, fed in tank, that has no problem with me reaching in to pick him up, as long as I don't do it right after feeding. He is not agressive at all. I feed him in tank because I use a newspaper substrate. I'm thinking that the substrate thing may be an urban legend as well. Logically, in the wild they eat off the ground right? Anyway, just some thoughts the other way, to give ya something to think about. :) Oh, and IMHO a thermostat to control your heat source is a must.
 
I'm sure they do get all sorts of things in their gut when they feed in the wild, but as I understand it, snakes (and most species for that matter) live longer in captivity because we don't let them create problems that they would have in the wild. I'm sure many snakes die early due to ingesting material that they can't digest.
 
I also feed in the cage, but I use paper towel substrate. I agree with Darin that a thermostat is best for controlling the heat. A rheostat simply lets a person adjust the amount of heat, but does not cut off if it gets too hot (at least none of the ones I have or have seen). You can get either a helix thermostat, or something like an ESU reptile temperature controller.

I don't think anyone has answered your question about handling. I personally think it depends on the snake. I have some that would tolerate sitting on me, being coilled around my arm, etc. for a long time. I also have some that move ALL the time. They are kind of hard to hold while I am watching TV because I am always watching the snake. A new snake should not be held much, if any, until it is adjusted to its new home.
 
Thanks for all the replies guys.

One last question.

I've got my tank setup right now (no snake yet). Its a 15 gallon tank, I got an 8x8 heat pad and put about an inch of aspen shavings.

I left the heating pad on over night. The glass that the heat pad is attached too got VERY hot, but the actual surface of the aspen is just barely warm. I could cut down the amount of bedding but then i'd be worried the snake would burn himself on the glass if he got that far down.

How do you guys handle this problem?
 
I'd put a strip of carpet or astroturf down against the glass so your snake can't burrow down through the aspen. The Zoo Med UTH I have says specifically in the manual to put something over the glass where the UTH is. It should raise the ambient temperature in a couple hours.
 
answers

I have a heating pad and my snake has never been harmed - he never lied on the grass there. I had a reptile substrate (some kind of redish wood), and my snake got mites and it was hard to make sure they were gone, plus he kept pooing under the top layer so it was hard to fine - i switch to a few layers of papertowel and it works just as well, is easy to clean, and easy to see if anything is wrong.

About the whole eating thing, my snake never thinks I am food unless I have handled the mouse and smell like it - I have fed him in his cage, on my hand (he is small still) and in a tupperware, and see no difference. If your snake is a little more aggressive, I would suggest the tupperware. I handle him and he usually moves a lot at first and then begins to settle down. Once your snake gets used to their new home I would try and handle them a lot except for after they eat, so that they get used to it and do not become upset when u try and handle them when they are older.
 
As far as feeding goes...While my ghost is out being held I put his food in a repetative spot in his cage. When I put him back he finds his food on his own. He always checks to see if he has any food for his belly every time I put him back. I've never heard of anybody doing it this way...Anyone ever try it?
 
I do it, i have a piece of slate in my tank, its close to his cave, i usually pop the mouse on there, but he is still young and doesnt really "know" that it will be there each time, like yours does.
 
I have a box I feed mine in, and she knows the minute she goes in there, that a mouse is coming. She's looking up, waiting for the food from heaven to appear!
 
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