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Post by yantzie on Aug 30, 2005 18:17:54 GMT -5
I am new to this forum and I'm also somewhat new to snake keeping. i know quite a bit about wild snakes but very little about keeping them as pets. what do i need to look out for in terms of housing and sickness? I'm getting a corn snake is this a good starter snake? any type of info is greatly appreciated
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Post by Denise on Aug 30, 2005 19:19:27 GMT -5
Hello and Welcome yantzie  I only know what I have read about snakes. Corn snakes are good for beginners is what I have read. Elizabeth or Steven on here may be able to help you more. But in the mean time you may want to check out this site. Thanks for joining and Good Luck.  www.kingsnake.com/
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Post by elizabeth on Aug 30, 2005 23:40:55 GMT -5
Corn snakes are a great starter snake... I started mine out with a 20 gallon tank and an undertank heater... (later received the suggestion of a human heating pad under there kept on warm haven't tried it yet but when I need a replacement will go that route) I put in a decrative little reptile fixture for the snake to be able to climb up down in out whatver as well as one extra spot to help remove sheds. Also include a water bowl. Their care is relative to the two kingsnakes I have. With my snakes I actually now have two water bowls as they are growing... My female snake has taken to soaking and drinking in the large dish and popping in or around the smaller one. Both placed in the mid point to cooler section of the tank... They thermoregulate so you need to have a warmer and cooler ends to the tank so they can be where they are most comfortable at the moment. Oh yeah the digital thermometer is what I have found to work best you can get relatively inexpensive ones at most pet or reptile stores.
My warm end ranges around 82 and the cooler end is in the mid 70's... You can use an over head light if you like for added warmth but I have found my undertank heater to be plenty. I did get a device to plug it into that helps to keep it from getting to warm, so to cut that cost you might just want to go with the above suggested human heating pad on low. It's a matter of what works for you and all the conditions need to be considered. Like your climate and if you run the a/c all day etc... They do not need high humidity like a lot of lizards so I don't mist their tanks or anything.
And then when feeding it is best to feed defrosted frozen prey as opossed to live, less potential for injuries to your snake. (I started mine on frozen pinkies) You want to be sure that as the snake grows you have an adequate tank size I have read about some getting respitory infections because of not being able to get stretched out... When I feed mine I remove them from their tanks and feed them in a feeding tank or box.
Snake care I find is less expensive than some other reptiles to care for in the way of lighting etc, but they are certainly just as much of a pleasure. We handle ours regularly and they are growing like champs...
Ok well that is some of the stuff I looked into right from the start... Good luck if you get a snake.... And WELCOME to the forum!!
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Post by ChamZilla on Aug 31, 2005 16:22:41 GMT -5
Hey there and welcome to the site. Elizabeth said everything wonderfully up there and Denise gave you a great website to check out. With snakes one thing to remember is that they can't feel themselfs getting burned by things that are too hot, so things for you to remember are if its too hot for you it is deffinatly too hot for them. SO if you get a heating pad try it out on your own first. Just to make sure its not getting too hot, to burn your snake or it could even crack the tank. Corns are beautiful snakes and I would want one if I got back into snakes. My brother started me out with a much bigger antisocial snake, that is deffinatly not the way to go. We had an 8.5ft albino burmese python. Who deffinatly wasn't friendly! SO wishing you luck and don't forget to post pictures when you do finally get your snake  And tell us how your caring for it and feeding it. Hope to see what you pick soon Stephanie |
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Post by Marie on Aug 31, 2005 17:02:09 GMT -5
I don't have anything to add except to extend my Welcome as well. We are a friendly bunch here and love pictures and stories while helping each other out sharing our knowledge. If we don't know we will find where the information can be had. Hope you enjoy the forum.
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Post by loulou on Sept 12, 2005 12:27:41 GMT -5
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Post by yantzie on Sept 12, 2005 20:50:34 GMT -5
hey I just got an amel corn snake and he/she is doing great. thanks for all the informaion i am still deciding on the name but i think i will see what sex it is first. any suggestions for good names are welcome
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Post by Patrick Kubeja on Sept 13, 2005 5:35:39 GMT -5
Hey Yantzie That is Great can not want to see some pictures of your Corn Snake I bet He/She is very cute! |
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And tell us how your caring for it and feeding it. Hope to see what you pick soon 
