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Squeaking corn!

Mia#

New member
Hello everyone. I have recently acquired a 3 year old corn who is healthy in every way except he is very nervous. He shakes his tail when i try to pick him up and he also makes a sqeaking noise. You may say its probably a hiss but it really sounds more like a mouse squeaking than a hiss! Does anyone know if this is normal as i didn't know that corns made any kind of noise? Do you think he is just a bit highly strung or it is more serious and what can i do to make him less stressed? He lives in the same tank as a python and they seem to get on well but could this be anything to do with it? I feed them separately by the way. Also, i know this sounds very dumb but can snakes of different breeds mate with one another? I don't think they can but i just want to make sure as i don't know the sex of either of my snakes. Sorry for my lack of knowledge but i am just starting to get into snakes after a reluctant start. Hope you can all help!
 
First: SEPERATE THOSE SNAKES. Keeping two of the same species together is bad enough, but it is beyond insane to do it with two different species.

Second, are you sure it's not a wheezing sound? He may have a respiratory infection. If that is the case he will need a quiet viv with raised temperature and quite possibly a vet visit. Is he gaping his mouth at all, or have you seen bubbles or mucous?

Finally, yes, being housed with a snake of another species that could quite likely EAT him would stress the poor snake out enough to make him constantly nervous. Stress in snakes is bad and can easily kill them. Get them seperated right away. Go to Wal-Mart and get a sterilite tub and a human heating pad for the time being if you're unable to go out at this moment to get a whole new setup for him. Just get them apart as soon as possible. Whoever said they're fine together is an idiot and needs to never, ever own a pet again.

Oh, and yes, corn snakes can mate with other snakes like kings or milks, but you won't find corn snake/python hybrids. :)
 
Please Please PLEASE Separate your snakes!!!! There's enough of a debate about whether or not it is OK to house two corns together but it is definately not ok to house a corn and a python together! First of all the python might just decide your corn would make a tasty snack, and second they most likely have different temperature and humidity requirements. What are your temps etc like now?

check out this link:
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31192&highlight=cohabitation
 
...and Wilder is right, the added stress of living with a python could cause your corn to be much more nervous, and could potentially cause health problems. If the wheezing/squeaking sound persists after you have separated them, or if your corn starts to seem lethargic, refuses meals etc, you probably want to get him to a vet.

PS, I hope I didn't come off sounding rude, I don't mean it that way :rolleyes:
 
He lives in the same tank as a python and they seem to get on well but could this be anything to do with it?

That could have a LOT to do with it. I agree with everyone else who said to separate them as soon as possible.

Snakes don't "get on well." The presence of another snake in such close quarters is very stressful to them, especially if it is a different species. And, as has been mentioned, corns and pythons have different housing requirements. If you keep them together (and they survive) you will have to shortchange the husbandry of one or the other.

That said, once you've gotten them separated, give your new corn a week or two to calm down. Then you can begin to handle him for about 10 minutes a day. Gradually work your way up until you are holding him as much as you want to. If he rattles and strikes, be gentle but persistent. He will soon calm down.

Good luck.
 
Thanks for the advice everyone. I just want to say that my python is only 6 months old and a lot smaller than the corn in case you think I'm totally crazy keeping him in the same tank as a massive fully grown python!! I know this may not technically make much difference but at least it means he won't get eaten any time soon. The bloke in the reptile shop i bought him from told me they'd be fine in the same viv but now i've heard your views i am thinking twice about keeping them together. Although they have separate hides they both curl up together in the same one so until now i didn't realise there may be a problem keeping them together. As for the squeaking i don't think its a respiratory problem as he only does it when i go to pick him up.
 
Mia# said:
Although they have separate hides they both curl up together in the same one so until now i didn't realise there may be a problem keeping them together. As for the squeaking i don't think its a respiratory problem as he only does it when i go to pick him up.

This isn't because they 'like' each other, but more due to the fact that the spot they are curled up in is the most favourable -- if it's warm, and they both want to cool down, they will both want to be in the optimum spot for that. Same for the warm side.

Snakes are solitary creatures and don't require the companionship of another snake. Especially not of another species when in the wild the outcome of their meeting would not necessarily be favourable to one of them!

Again, seperate the snakes. Keeping them together is just asking for trouble.
 
I'm also concerned if you're keeping a python in the same type of husbandry as a corn. They are pretty different from each other. Pythons have a much higher temperature and humidity requirement in order to stay healthy. Sounds like a little more homework needed to be done in order to keep both your animals safe and healthy. If nothing else, proper quarantine procedures should always be followed with new animals. 3-6 months seperated (preferably in seperate rooms) is really the best bet to make sure there are no issues with parasites, RI, mites, or other communicable diseases...especially with a python that could have been imported.
 
He lives in the same tank as a python and they seem to get on well but could this be anything to do with it?


:nope:

Pet store people are really stupid!



I would seperate them today! Before something bad happens.
:eats02:

This isn't because they 'like' each other,

Good point. I am not sure why people think thier snakes need a "friend" It can beconfusing since many stores will keep a lot of corns in one tank together. I can see where new people would think it is ok.
 
When will we all be free of the idiocy pet store employees perpetuate upon the animals they sell?

Needless and incoherent mutterings; the babble of profit-laden retail capitolistic stupidity.

My input is a question; do you really feel comfortable taking advice about cohabitation from someone who expects to see you 3 more times in the following calendar year for accessory add-ons with absoloutely no consideration of their reputation or relationship with you?

Pet Store [95%of them] = The Devil.

Seperate the snakes, end the stress on them both [and US!] and then start over with husbandry issues.
 
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