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Western Ma Breeders

J

JellOh

New member
Hey guys, I'm new to corn snakes, and I'm looking for a breeder. Does anyone know about someone in or near Western Ma that breeds corn snakes? Or any reputable pet stores that stocks corns? They can be in NY or other border states, as long as they aren't outrageously far. Anywhere in or near Albany would be superb. I'd really rather not ship a snake, and my only other option is PetCo/Smart (ugh). Thanks for any help guys :D
 
Thank you so much, I'm not sure how I missed that! I'll definitely look through that list; hopefully there will be someone near me! In regards to shipping, it's just a bit too expensive for me at this time and I couldn't justify paying $50-65 to ship a $25 snake.
 
JellOh said:
In regards to shipping, it's just a bit too expensive for me at this time and I couldn't justify paying $50-65 to ship a $25 snake.
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PetSmart and I believe PetCo, sell their "fancy" corns around the same price you just listed with shipping factored into the total price! Many (Most?) of these corns (PetSmart), fancy or not, come from Mark & Kim Bell of Reptile Industries, who at times is supplied by a few of the larger breeders on here!

The blunt question at this point, is if you can't afford shipping, can you afford proper housing?

  • secure, safe caging
  • a heat pad
  • a thermostat to properly and safely control the heat pad's temp
  • digital thermometer
  • digital hygrometer (optional)
  • multiple hides, one to include a moist or humid hide
  • food (6 pack of pinkies at PetSmart, last I checked was $13.99, I believe $9.99 at PetCo)

This in mind, some of the larger breeders here are able to negotiate lower shipping costs. The only one I can name off the top of my head on this is Don Soderberg, with his $35 flat rate fedex shipping.

You might pay more from a breeder, but if they are reputable the animal(s) you purchase should be readily eating. This is something that is supposed to be guaranteed by at least PetSmart via feeding chart, but the only stores I knew of that actively utilized theirs were my former Albuquerque, NM stores.

If you want to stay local (=not shipping) and can't find a breeder, you can still opt to do the PetSmart thing. If you have a few locations nearby, walk them and inspect the cages. Find a store with setups that don't look like a 5 y.o. put it together. This isn't always a good indicator, but also walk the small animals and fish. Look at how the cages are maintained. Everything should be clean or clean within reason. 7 months ago, policy was to fully clean birds on Mondays, small animals on Tuesday and Friday, reptiles on Wednesday. Off days (non-fully clean days) caging is to be thoroughly spot cleaned.

If a store passes the above, then and only then would I begin to inquire with an associate about a given snake (or animal). First thing I'd ask is can I see one of your corn snakes? 2nd thing I'd ask, before you pull out any of the snakes, can I please see their feed charts? No feed charts, no purchase. That simple.
 
I don't mind you asking at all, Herp'sOfNM! Everyone on this forum really seems to work their hardest to make sure all the new members keep their snakes in the best setup possible and have the best care possible. One of the reasons I'm leery to ship is because I spent a ton of money on the setup and want to keep a some of my dough on the side in case of emergencies. I got the tank and lid from Petco ($40), four secure lid clips ($8), the uth and thermostat from Amazon ($50), some hides from my local pet store ($25), pinkies from a local pet store ($.99x6=~$6), and I already have a prob thermometer from my sisters Bearded Dragon (she has a new temp gun). I still have over $100 left, but I'd like to put around $50 aside in case my new snake needed to go to the vet, or if I hadn't worked in awhil then I'd have money for food and bedding for an extended period of time. Both the PetCo and PetSmart near me are on the high end of the scale when it comes to animal care and maintenance, and that's the only reason I would ever consider them, but I was able to get in touch with a Mass breeder I found using the list above, so hopefully I won't have to go down the PetSmart route. Thank you for the concern, but I can assure you that I always try my hardest to provide for my pets, and if I couldn't purchase the best set up possible for them then I wouldn't be getting them.
 
That is SO great to hear how ready you are before you even have your new kiddo. I am assuming you have read all the books too and the stickies at the top of each topic and Nanci's caresheet since you are so knowledgeable. Thank you for that.

I really think you should consider shipping if you have no breeders near you, you will KNOW you are getting the best snake in health and also the records of all it has done in its life. There is almost always a guarantee with each purchase, and the $50 spent on shipping might be the $50 you save in vet bills.
 
smigon said:
There is almost always a guarantee with each purchase, and the $50 spent on shipping might be the $50 you save in vet bills.
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Aww, thank you. I'm just trying to make sure that my new pet has the best care possible. This is a really good point, and I'm going to start seriously looking into shipping a snake.

cornsnakeforsale_com said:
And some of us only charge $40 ;)
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Sounds like a steal! I've checked out your website, and all of your snakes are gorgeous! When do you think you will be offering your 2014 hatchlings? I kind of want to watch my new snake go from a tiny worm to a 5 foot fiend.
 
JellOh said:
Aww, thank you. I'm just trying to make sure that my new pet has the best care possible. This is a really good point, and I'm going to start seriously looking into shipping a snake.
Click to expand...

When I first discovered corns and got one, I got the fever and had to have more. I was like you, shipping is $50??? But, with that, you KNOW and most likely have a guarantee that your snake (baby or yearling or full grown) will have come from a great source.

JellOh said:
Sounds like a steal! I've checked out your website, and all of your snakes are gorgeous! When do you think you will be offering your 2014 hatchlings? I kind of want to watch my new snake go from a tiny worm to a 5 foot fiend.
Click to expand...

Damon is actually my "pusher"! I was looking on Craigslist for something (definitely NOT a snake!) and saw an ad for a Fire corn. One look at it and I called him, I pestered him day and night (he is lucky I live just far enough away or I may have stalking charges against me!) with questions about corns.

I finally pulled the trigger and, fortunately for me, we both live in Phoenix so I was able to go to his house and meet him and choose Scarlett, the Fire Corn I so fell in love with on the web. That was 1.5 years ago, now I do rescues for people who didn't do their homework, kid pesters mom for a snake, mom gives in, a few months later the kid isn't interested anymore and the mom can't believe it is getting big and NO one wants to feed it. One of my friend's sisters was going to toss her baby out in the desert because she didn't want it, her brother told her to wait, he called me and I came and got little Seymour. Seymour was 1.5 years old and weighed 25g. Scarlett (from Damon) was the same age and weighed over 100g. It was pure animal cruelty and unfortunately I got him too late and he died his first night in a clean viv with water (his viv had never been cleaned) and it was just sad.

There are so many awesome breeders out there, and I first have to give props to Damon for his knowledge and husbandry, and his ability not to go ballistic on people who ask so many questions! I HIGHLY recommend Damon http://www.arizonareptile.com/ for your first baby. He recommended a yearling for me because I was totally new to snakes, and he was right. A baby would have been too flighty (I just held a newborn last week!!!) and the yearlings are well established in eating and their temperaments.

Best of luck in your search, and don't hesitate to ask questions!!!
 
Hey, thanks!

I don't really recommend shipping an inexpensive snake for economic reasons like you say, but for those that are a little more expensive it's definitely worth it.
 
smigon- I 100% understand the sentiment of once you get one you never stop! I started out with a betta and some plastic plants, now my fish addiction has cost me more time, money, and space than I would willingly admit. I'd imagine taking in rescues must be pretty hard, but ultimately very rewarding. I foster dogs and I wish there was a reptile rescue near me that I could volunteer with, after my sister got a Beardie I can't get enough of these guys!

cornsnakesforsale- Do you know when you're going to put your hatchlings up for sale, and are you willing to ship them? My heart is pretty set on a hatchling, and after smigon's wonderful review if love to take a look at some of your babies :D
 
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