Whoa! Not dumb, but undereducated - more questions

[Amah]

Thank you, Traci, and I will opt for no cohabitation. Apparently most snakes are loners. I had no idea they eat each other. Does anyone know why they do that? As you can see, I am new to the snake world - but I am fascinated. How does one meet the needs of a life that operates (from what I have read) on instinct alone?

I'm feeling pretty dumb - but I have a snake so I'll just have to look dumb (I hate that). I have read the Corn Snake Manual by the Loves and I don't remember mention of cohabitation, cannibalism or these other behaviors that are so
different from mammal behavior. I guess I'll read it again - and definitely keep reading here.

Feeding: It seems that it would be healthier to feed live than frozen. If live is not available, will a snake take what is offered or starve itself waiting for what it prefers? What was that about a snake eating itself????? That is too weird. I was told that all corn snakes eat is mice. Are there other things I should feed for nutrition?

Hardiness: Are people really putting on gloves and aprons to care for their pets? I understand keeping things clean, not using harmful chemicals, looking for signs of illness, providing proper housing, temp. and humidity etc. - but are these snakes THAT fragile? If there are no mites to begin with, are they something that just show up? Are snakes prone to disease, or are they like any other being that get's sick once in a while if exposed to something or not cared for? I have 4 dogs - but dogs aren't snakes. Am I in over my head?

Housing: What is the best litter? I am presently using white fir/eucalyptus reptile litter. My friend, who has a python (for a long time), said that she uses a small gravel because it helps her snake in shedding.

Thank you all for sharing your experience.

 

[ultimuttone]

I'm feeling pretty dumb - but I have a snake so I'll just have to look dumb (I hate that). I have read the Corn Snake Manual by the Loves and I don't remember mention of cohabitation, cannibalism or these other behaviors that are so
different from mammal behavior. I guess I'll read it again - and definitely keep reading here.[/QUOTE ]

Feeding: It seems that it would be healthier to feed live than frozen. If live is not available, will a snake take what is offered or starve itself waiting for what it prefers? What was that about a snake eating itself????? That is too weird. I was told that all corn snakes eat is mice. Are there other things I should feed for nutrition?

Try this link
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17308&highlight=housing

And this one http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26763&highlight=Frozen+live+mice make sure you read related threads at bottom of the page

As for hardiness, there is a difference between being careful, using quarantines and cleanliness, and being necessarily fragile. Do a search on Quarantines and you will come up with some good reasons to be careful .

Housing: What is the best litter? I am presently using white fir/eucalyptus reptile litter. My friend, who has a python (for a long time), said that she uses a small gravel because it helps her snake in shedding.

Most people here will say they prefer Aspen bedding. A search for substrate will help on that issue as well.
You will find the search feature to be your best friend here. You can find the information you are looking for and a whole lot more. Welcome to the wonderful world of cornsnakes and just enjoy it.

 

[sbourget]

Most reptiles will eat smaller reptiles of the same species, it's not just snakes.
Feeding frozen is safer for the snake, feeding live brings the possibility of disease from the feeder, mites, and the very real danger of the mouse attacking the snake and causing serious injury or even killing the snake. Snakes can get all the nutrition they need from the mice they eat, provided the mice are realitively healthy. Snakes eating themselves is a very rare occurance, usually a case of the snake not figuiring out that it's own tail isn't food.
The reason for gloves and aprons is for dealing with either a snake that is rather agressive and the owner doesn't feel like getting 'tagged', or if you are dealing with a snake that is sick or in quarintine. You don't want to spread disease to the rest of your snakes, so you wear gloves and an apron when dealing with the sick or potentially sick animals and remove them and wash before handling your healthy animals.
Mites are introduced by another animal usually. either a new corn snake, or a mouse that has mites, etc. When properly maintained corn snakes aren't especially susceptiable to disease.
Aspen is the most recommended substrate. Pine, and some other woods have aromatic oils that cause respiratory problems in reptiles, corn cob bedding can very easily cause impactions, as can gravel and sand. a dry reptile litter should be alright.
Humidity should preferably be between 40 an 60 % a wet hide during shed is reccommended to allow the snake to soak and have an easier shed.

 

[ultimuttone]

:laugh01: Yeah, that is what I was trying to say! I am going to bed now :sidestep:

 

[psyhodad]

I'm feeling pretty dumb - but I have a snake so I'll just have to look dumb (I hate that).

Maybe that's how you are feeling but that is not how you are perceived. As Ultimuttone suggested, try using the search button. There is a wealth of information at the push of that button. If you still have questions don't be afraid to post them, after all the whole purpose of this forum is to educate.

Lee

 

[MegF.]

There's also a wonder FAQ section that Joe set up. Go to it and read away. It answers most of the questions you've posed. I would remove the litter with euculyptus right away. There are strong oils in it. If you don't have something else for now, you can use newspaper or paper towel.

 

[cornsnakekid92]

yea, donut worrier about feeling dumb, you don't, u actually look smart for asking the question and not just assuming things like some do.

 

[cka]

but are these snakes THAT fragile?

One of the nicer things with corn snakes is how hardy and tolerant they are, especially in regards to how they are kept. Many folks will obsess over getting the temp just right, or the humidity just so; with corns it just isn't necessary. Many species are really "husbandry specific", and do not tolerate conditions that a corn just laughs at, and thrives in. There have been many threads over the years by people who've kept their snakes in unheated aquariums, or have bred cohabitated pairs without brumation, etc. While these examples are not generally accepted husbandry practices with corn snakes, it does go to show their tolerance towards "keeper error". :*)

In regards to cohabitation, a bit :-offtopic . A few of us who've been online for a few years remember a keeper on the old corn forum at Kingsnakes.com, who went by the name "NoMorphs". He was a diehard "antimorpher", who's preference were towards Okeetee's, Miami's, any normal corn, and would argue long and hard against amels, lavenders, etc. as "unnatural"...but...He kept them together, in a large (looked like) homemade cage. His favorite was "Kinky", a kinked okeetee that someone had given him. I can still remember the title of the thread he posted..."Kinky is dead :*("...He had been eaten of course. One adult Okeetee eaten by a slightly larger female Okeetee... :eek1: