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Wanting to get a corn snake but have a big question

I

illini12day

New member
So I went to the local pet store last week(yea I know pet store not a good idea, but it's my only option as far as getting a snake being I live in a town where there aren't any nearby breeders and I can't have any snakes mailed to me. But it isn't a big chain store like Petsmart or Petco and the snake looked alright as far as everything went so I think it'll be ok) and they had a corn snake I am looking to get. This would be the first snake I'll ever own, but have done a lot of research into caring for the snake.

I plan to get 20gal long tank since that is the size of tank an adult snake would need. I don't have extra money to go and start off with a 10gal and then move to a 20gal. However I do have enough to keep snake alive to feed it and everything. I just need to make sure I have money to take it to the vet if needed. And I know everything that needs to go into the tank for the snake(water dish, log for it to climb on, hideout type of thing, etc.)

But anyways on to my question, I am currently a college student going to school. And so obviously over holidays like thanksgiving, christmas, spring break, and summer I would have to bring the snake home with me. I have been told this would stress the snake out moving between 2 locations. However it is only a 45 minute drive between my college and my house. I could keep the sanke warm in the car in his cage. And the climate wouldn't change much if at all. Still smell corn fields all around. So would this be a thing to say that I should wait till after college to get a snake or would the snake be alright enough for me to get it? I really want a snake because at least to me their a lot more fun than fish. So basically I am asking if moving it around 4 times out fo the year basically would be enough to say that I should wait on getting a snake?

Thanks all!
 
also just wanted to say that as much as I have looked online I cannot find one source that says moving snakes around a lot liek this would be bad. I made a lot of googled searches so I don't know...
 
illini12day said:
So basically I am asking if moving it around 4 times out fo the year basically would be enough to say that I should wait on getting a snake?
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Um, I've taken my snake to TN so my mom could see it! So maybe I'm not the best person to ask!

Welcome to the forum. I'm sure someone more knowledgable will be along to answer your question!
 
I travel with my snakes constantly. Just this year I have driven from IL to TX to AZ to CO and back to IL with all my snakes. They do great and seem to readjust quickly. So 45 minutes is nothing. When I travel, I put all my snakes either in snake bags or gladware plastic containers, and put them in a box to keep things dark. After a trip, I usually wait a week or so before feeding.
 
The only problem I can see is if you lose interest in the snake, or move somewhere you can't have the snake, or have some other sort of life change that makes you not able/willing to keep the snake.
 
that's a relief to hear! I am so happy that you had good experiences movigna round with snakes because I really want one so now I think I will get one and not wait if you had good expereince!
 
So basically I am asking if moving it around 4 times out fo the year basically would be enough to say that I should wait on getting a snake?
Click to expand...
Well a Corn Snake lives 15+ years, so you do need to think a little further ahead than college.

It might be worth waiting until you finish school and you know where (or if!) you'll be settled. At your stage of life, all the juggling balls are still up in the air - it might not be the best time to take on such a long-lived pet.

On the other hand, there are plenty of folks here who are in your position and manage to deal with all the potential issues associated with college life and a Corn Snake, so I don't think your immediate situation should be a problem in itself.
 
When I kept my snakes in the dorms I toted them back and forth all the time. They never had any issues. Just keep them warm on the trips over winter :) I used a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel and put them in a pillowcase, in a cooler with it.
 
I'm a college student and I moved around with my corns all the time. For shorter breaks, a week to 10 days, I actually prefer to leave them where they are, they just get a big water dish and a feed the day before I leave. When I lived in the dorms, I kept my corns in plastic sterilite containers. No one checking the rooms ever looked for pets in storage boxes, and when I left for breaks, I just put them on a shelf or covered them with a sheet. Keeping them in plastic containers is an extremely economical way of doing it, and since your dorm probably doesn't allow pets, you can hide them. You can also have a few different sized because you'll be spending $8 on a tub instead of $140 on a tank. I have all my snakes in 41qt Sterilite Underbed boxes.

Since I don't feed within five days of moving in either direction, a short trip meant they might go 3 weeks without eating and when KC was younger more than two weeks without food created a tail rattling, striking monster. When I did take him with me, I just stuck him in a pillowcase and put that in a soft pack cooler/lunchbox.

My biggest problem was always getting temperatures right in the new place in good time. Corns are pretty tolerant, but I now have a ball python and have to be a lot more careful. A thermostat will fix that problem though (I used rheostat/lamp dimmers).
 
I had really been wondering about travelling with snakes- mostly if the vibrations from a car would overly disturb/stress them out. I'm glad to see it's been done with no problems. This thread has been helpful for me, thanks for the comments everyone :)
 
Although buying from a breeder is nice, pet stores aren't neccessarily evil. Don't feel guilty about it.

Moving a snake around should be no problem. Just remember to schedule feedings appropriately.

Let us know when you get the little guy.
 
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