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T O P I C R E V I E W
gingerpony
Posted - 20/06/2009 : 22:00:26 Congratulations on your new purchase. Your new cornsnake is a long-term commitment and could provide you with over 20 years of fun!
When you get your snake home :
Allow him to settle in for a week without interacting with him (yes, a whole week!) regardless of when he is due his next feed, just change the water daily. This gives your snake time to get to know his new environment and get used to you being around and realise you're not a threat and not going to eat him!
The shop or breeder will hopefully have provided you with a record of your snake's feeding. If not, ask how often your snake is fed and on what size mouse, and when they are next due a feed. If, for example, you're unsure how big a 'small' mouse is, ask the vendor to show you, or if it's a shop you can purchase some of the right size at the same time as buying your snake.
Ideally your new cornsnake's vivarium or faunarium will already be set up and warm, running at an established temperature. However, if this isn't the case (and it quite often isn't) you need to get your snake's home set up as soon as possible, make sure you have the following.......................
Basic shopping list of equipment: * vivarium/faunarium of a suitable size * substrate - see http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1876 * 2 hides - one for each end of the viv * water bowl - large enough for your snake to have a dip * heat source, commonly a heatmat - this should cover one half to one third of the enclosure's floorspace * thermostat - for controlling the heat source thus preventing injury to your new cornsnake * thermometer - at least one for the hot end of the viv, ideally 2 (1 for each end) or one that that can measure the temperature in 2 places. digital ones are much more accurate.
ALL the above equipment is ESSENTIAL. Optional extras include bark, foliage, lighting and extra hides.
In the first week : Corns usually behave in one of two ways during their initial settling-in period. Some snakes will be particularly active, exploring their whole enclosure, often testing for weak points to escape and go exploring elsewhere! Other snakes will be quite secretive, staying in one of their hides and only briefly coming out to drink when nobody is around. Both types of behaviour are normal so please don't be alarmed.
