| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| n/a |
Posted - 23/03/2010 : 16:26:05
Thought Id pop in and say Hi
Only just got my corn snake so this site is going to be really helpfull.
Just by reading the posts ive learnt some new things (ie bedding and branches) which being a newbie was much needed |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| n/a |
Posted - 25/03/2010 : 17:26:52
Hi & welcome |
| gingerpony |
Posted - 24/03/2010 : 14:29:38
heya and welcome  |
| crazy JJ |
Posted - 24/03/2010 : 13:34:14
heya n welcome to the forum :) |
| n/a |
Posted - 24/03/2010 : 10:50:20
quote:
Originally posted by Kellog
Sorry to start like this Nick but....Jase, enough with the 'kellog will be along shortly with the official ultimate welcome post'  .
sowwy i was just building up what i think is one of the best and carefully thought out welcome post i've ever seen. no offence ment....i'll stop  |
| n/a |
Posted - 24/03/2010 : 07:56:58
welcome to the madhouse good to have you aboard |
| Kellog |
Posted - 24/03/2010 : 04:18:12
Sorry to start like this Nick but....Jase, enough with the 'kellog will be along shortly with the official ultimate welcome post' .
Having got that out of my system..... *breathes in deeply and relaxes* 
Welcome to the forum Nick and Sid, it is great that you have joined us! This is a great forum with lots of experienced owners happy to give their advice and support. You also get lots of fun and friendship . I am not sure how much information you already know about corn snake keeping, so sorry if I am repeating information you already know...but it is better heard twice than not at all.
Am sure you have already browsed the TCS site and forum, and found that it provides great information. The best place to look is http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/corn_snake_care_sheet.htm, it has lots of information for new snake owners. Also read this topic on 'Your 1st Snake' http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4133
I am so glad you are giving Sid a chance to settle in. We always suggest following the one-week rule (ok, it is more of a guide than a rule ). You are rarely advised this in a lot of pet shops  but it is an important way of getting your snake to de-stress and feel safe with you. It is a hard week, very frustrating, but worth it for the snake's sake.
You will find that there is a large amount of conflicting information out there about corn keeping – on the internet, in books, etc. Even on here you will find that people have different opinions.....but at least you have a place to ask what you need to know and get the answers from experienced owners. Then you can decide what to do with what you are told.
(Am going to call Sid a he, hope you dont mind but cant call him an 'it'  or keep putting he/she !)
It is great to hear that when you start handling Sid you are planning on doing it little and often. When you do start to handle him it is a case of quality not quantity. He will be very timid as he is in new surroundings and having to get used to the new smells and you.
When I go to handle my snakes, even now despite having had them for a while, I go in slowly, and fiddle with the substrate a bit because that way I am getting their scent on my hands, which I think must help in keeping them calm. It also warns them that you are in their viv so they are not surprised.
Neither of my corns come onto my hand...wanting to be picked up. It is a case of me choosing to pick them up from wherever they are in the viv. When you do pick Sid up try not to come at him from above, but rather scoop him up from the sides....that will scare him less.
Very calmly and confidently scoop him up, using both hands and being careful to support it so he isnt dangling. Hold him firmly and gently as he WILL try to escape from your grip - but that is a natural reaction and you must not react to it but continue as you are. Hold Sid fairly firmly but gently to bring him out of the viv. Once you have Sid out sit with him (covering your lap with a towel is a good idea in case Sid decides to poo on you) and just let him run through your hands, moving one to the other to the other and so on. Sid will seem flighty and scared to begin with...but again, you have to realise it is natural and something both he and you have to get used to. You must just be very calm and steady with your movements. Dont have Sid out for more than 5 minutes, and return him gently and calmly to the viv if he is showing signs of stress. Repeat again and again and again....(except for 48hrs after eating of course!)....and you will begin to notice a difference in his behaviour as he gets used to being handled and will begin to tolerate it. As he gets used to it so will you and your confidence will grow. You can then lengthen the amount of time you have him out and allow him to begin to explore your body and then around you...but that is a long way off.
He will be able to tell you are not confident and that will make him more stressed. It is a case of you needing to 'fake it until you feel it'...behave calmly and gently, with no sudden movements, and he will respond positively to that. His reaction when you go to pick him up will be a fear response...but that will lessen with time.
It really is a case of time and patience and quality of handling rather than quantity. Take it slow and trust yourself...only when you do that will he trust you.
Unfortunately many pet shops cannot be trusted with what they are telling you  . I know that I double check anything I am told on here. Remember that no question is regarded as a silly question .....it is much better asked and answered, you will probably find others who want the info too! First place to look is in the top right hand corner of the screen where there is a search button....type in what you are worried about and see if you can find an answer. I know you can get swamped with different topics including what you are searching for, so it is a bit daunting but worth a look. If you cant find the answer you are looking for then dont hesitate to ask!
When you got Sid I hope you got as much info about him as possible....shedding history, feeding history etc. I keep my own 'Snake Diaries', noting things like weight, length, feeding dates and what you feed, shedding dates, health problems. I know it seems a bit over the top but it is actually really helpful keeping track of your snake's health - I even note when Kellog and Silvesta poo !!
It sounds as though you are definitely on the right track regarding the changes you want to make to Sid's viv. I know some forum members do heat their vivs with a lamp, and I used to but was unhappy with it as it really only heated the ambient temp, rather than the substrate which is where the corns absorb most of their heat. I would echo Danny about the need for a thermostat to control the heatmat - it is vital. There are a few different ones - an on-off type that is probably the cheapest and which I have tried, but I didnt like the amount it allowed the temp to drop in the viv before it turned back on. I now use a pulse stat and it works really well. You will also need a digital thermometer to keep track of the temp within the viv, stats are known to malfunction and it is reassuring being able to keep an eye on what the exact temp is at substrate level....positioning the probe for the thermometer in the same place you put the probe for the stat.
You have already complied with the unwritten forum rule - pics as soon as possible! He is gorgeous and you have got some great pics of him already. Look forward to seeing more once he has fully settled in.
A warning - corn snakes are addictive.....and yes, the majority of us have stood up, said "hello my name is ****, I am addicted to corns........! And I am proud of it!" You have just started down that corn path so be warned!!
Sorry if that is a bit of an information overload - got rather carried away....and no, it wasnt my official welcome (just part of it !!)
xxx
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| DannyBrown91 |
Posted - 23/03/2010 : 22:53:28
Hey welcome to the forum.
When you get your heatmat you will also want a thermostat to control it, if you havn't got one already that is. |
| newsnakekeeper |
Posted - 23/03/2010 : 22:34:47
Hi and welcome we all got to start some where with snakes lol am still learning and couldnt find a better site to get info from than this one. Plenty of people to help you out. |
| gmac |
Posted - 23/03/2010 : 22:14:11
hi and welcome to the forum Toggsy, nice looking corn you have |
| n/a |
Posted - 23/03/2010 : 21:26:35
hia and welcome |
| herriotfan |
Posted - 23/03/2010 : 21:04:18
I wouldn't worry about grammer or spelling.....nobody is too interested in that side of things! If they are then I'm sure most of us would be guilty at some stage :S
We're more interested in our snakes and all things linked.
Should have started with welcome to this forum.....hope you enjoy your time here. Everyone is very friendly.
My little boy (still a little snake) is Sid. The family christened him Hissin-Sid and he now gets called that plus Sidsox, Sidney or Sids. He is my first snake, and I waited a long time for him, so he's very special to me. There is certainly 'something' about snakes that captures us all once we have one :) |
| n/a |
Posted - 23/03/2010 : 20:28:56
Thankyou for such a warm welcome
I havent had Sid out of the viv yet as Im giving him chance to settle into the new surroundings after this I intend on handling little and often, although he has been handled on a regular basis which is great but at the moment he seems a little timid but I put this down to the new surroundings keeps coming out of his hide then darting back in hopefully this will settle down over the next week.
Ive been looking at the great viv set ups and my viv looks a bit sparce so my first intentions is to attend to this with decor, plants, branches etc to try to make the viv as natural as I can.
Also the ventilation needs looking at so I will put in some more ventilation.
I also intend to change the lamp for a heating mat and also install a night glow lamp inside which will be on a timer the lamp I have will be replace with a energy saving one.
Hopefully there are no grammar police on here as my spelling and grammer are terrible so appoligise's now for the poor grammer and spelling ;) |
| n/a |
Posted - 23/03/2010 : 18:41:47
what they said ^^ and kellog will be along shortly with the official ultimate welcome post
my work here is done enjoy the forum :) |
| mozacchio |
Posted - 23/03/2010 : 18:27:10
Welcome to the forum Nick and Sid..!
Feel free to ask anything!
Nice looking fellow you got there..! |
| n/a |
Posted - 23/03/2010 : 17:25:23
 |
| n/a |
Posted - 23/03/2010 : 17:01:36
Not sure what sex it is so ive stuck with the good old Sid which can both girls and boys name ;)
Speaking to the previous owner theve told me its 12mths old ive taken some photos and I will upload them in due co**** |
| KITTYCAT |
Posted - 23/03/2010 : 16:42:34
Hi here welcome to the forum |
| Kehhlyr |
Posted - 23/03/2010 : 16:37:35
Hello and welcome to the forum.
And what he /\ said. |
| kdlang |
Posted - 23/03/2010 : 16:37:13
Hi and welcome. I hope from reading around on here you have been able to learn all that is neccessary for a happy well settled snakie. Any questions, we are happy to answer |
| Taz Devil |
Posted - 23/03/2010 : 16:34:26
Hello and welcome to the forums. I'll get the first barrage of questions out of the way.
1.. What is it's name
2.. What sex is it, if the previous answer isn't obvious.
3.. What are you keeping it in.
4.. Do you have any pictures for us to see.
5.. How old is it. |
