Soon to be CS owner...

[mminx]

I recently caught my first "stray" snake at work as an ACO and once he is past the hold period and health check, he will be coming home with me. He was found in a yard here in Winnipeg, Manitoba and so far is surprisingly willing to be held. He's only just a baby, and I can't imagine him surviving in the wild for long.

I've been reading all I can trying to figure out the best possible setup for him, but have found tons of conflicting information. I will be picking up a 15 gallon tank tonight with a wire lid, but don't think I will be able to use it right away, his head is likely to fit between the bars. In the meantime, do corns prefer tall or wide enclosures? I would like to make the tank as natural looking as possible, but still remain practical.

He will be my first snake, I've held off so far because of the diet requirements and don't like feeding things to things. I have managed to wrap my head around feeding frozen (for the most part). I just won't watch. It's funny, I am a dedicated meat eater as are the rest of my pets, but watching something eat a meal still wrapped in it's original packaging still bugs me.

Are morph types determined by lineage or is it simply by the colour of the snake? If it is based solely on colour, what would this guy be? I'm only assuming it's a male and have named him Genghis Corn, but Larry to his friends.

Off to go peruse the forums now...

 

[susang]

I bet someone lost a snake near you good find, cool snake

 

[mminx]

He was called in by the home owner who had noticed him for a few days in a row. We happened to get there soon enough that he hadn't gone back under the concrete steps for the night. He has to stay at the pound for ten days in case someone is looking, but then he is up for adoption. It's a good thing I fell for the snake and not the 120 pound pig that was wandering around down town last week!

 

[susang]

He was called in by the home owner who had noticed him for a few days in a row. We happened to get there soon enough that he hadn't gone back under the concrete steps for the night. He has to stay at the pound for ten days in case someone is looking, but then he is up for adoption. It's a good thing I fell for the snake and not the 120 pound pig that was wandering around down town last week!

Yes I'm sure the snake will be so much nicer, although pigs are fun. That is a very pretty snake, I hope you get him.

 

[Pugsley]

Welcome to the world of corns snakes. It is a nice snake you found there. Looks like it should at least be eating fuzzies if not hoppers. The 15 gallon tank should be fine for a year or so, I'd think. A screened lid is needed, like window screen. You can usually find them in a pet store. You'll need an Under Tank Heater (UTH) and a thermostat or a dimmer, and I digital thermometer. You won't need a heat lamp.

Best of luck and ask questions if you're not sure.

 

[BooBoo18]

Welcome to the forum it looks like Pugsley covered everything other than corns like long tanks more than high. They are not snakes that like to climb but having said that I have a couple that do like to hang out in their fake plants on occasion. Feel free to ask all the questions you like there are some very informed people here that really know their way around corn snakes. As to the morph of corn snake you have the best place to find the answer other than here of course is http://iansvivarium.com/morphs/species/elaphe_guttata/?sid= .

 

[Shiari]

Morph-wise, I'm going to go with ultra or ultramel. He's much paler than is typical for Hypo A.

 

[mminx]

Thanks all. I've been looking at the various morphs, and while the types confuse me I can see why they become addictive. I'm only keeping one... I'm only keeping one... okay maybe in 6 months to year if all goes well I'll consider a second, but then only two!

I have the tank set up now, and have a 40 long available for when he grows. So far I have the hot side in the hide at 87 degrees with the UTH, and a cool side with cork round hides at 76 degrees.

I will be adding a light as the room he is is receives minimal natural light, is there any harm in using a UV light as I already have one, or is a regular incandescent better?

I've gone to go check on him at work and will wait until he has eaten there before I disrupt him and have to wait for him to settle in the new environment. So far he is hanging out on the top shelf, front and center watching the world go by. He hasn't been interested in any of the hides or shrubbery provided. He isn't at all shy.

Here is his tank so far, the rocks are a hollow hide on the hot side of the tank. Any suggestions or changes to make before he moves in?

 

[bitsy]

There's some anecdotal vidence that using UV with lighter Corn morphs can cause blindness, but no actual studies that I know of. I think it's enough to make me avoid it though. They don't need UV in the same way that some other reptiles do.

As long as there's some natural light in the room, that should be fine. In the wild, they're most active at times of low or no light (dawn, dusk, overnight) so you might find that yours hides away if you use a light. It might actually prefer slightly lower light levels. Another downside is that most bulbs - especially incandescents - give off a lot of heat and can mess with the heating equipment setup.