| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Amberino |
Posted - 18/11/2014 : 13:11:38
I have two corns, one at my mums (just round the corner) which I visit every day for a good hour or so, and one at my flat. Ideally I want to move my corn at my mums into the flat, but cant really fit in another viv. He was a rescue and is a fair bit smaller than she is. Im planning on introducing them out of the tank tonight to see how it goes, any advice? Has anyone successfully housed two corns together with a fair size difference?
Dont know exact measurements but to give you a vague idea... he eats two rat fluffs and shes on a large mouse... thanks in advance. |
| 13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Amberino |
Posted - 20/11/2014 : 13:20:52
Ah thanks :) she wasn't hostile at all bar this movement so I did think it was a bit odd! Glad it's more friendly than irritated lol. And I don't know how he was sexed as he was a rescue, I just got told by the owners that the pet shop told them he was male |
| SilverWings |
Posted - 20/11/2014 : 10:53:35
Do you know if they popped him or probed him? I'f he's a little'un then I'm guessing they popped him, which means they put pressure on the tail to force their private parts out. If they saw hemipenes then no, there's not much chance they were wrong about him being male. Probing involves putting a small probe in their vent and seeing how far down the tail it goes, but it can go wrong and isn't always accurate, so if they probed then yes there's a chance they were wrong.
I'll be honest, the jerking motions you describe sound to me like the movements my adult pair made when they were courting, the female more than the male. My juveniles have just started doing the same sort of thing if I stroke them down the back. At 2-2.5 feet long I assume they are starting to reach maturity and it's a response to what feels like another snake prodding them. I found if they are stressed and do not want you touching they respond with a very definite 'shrug' thats hard to mistake for anything but 'get off me'. |
| Amberino |
Posted - 20/11/2014 : 10:14:39
It won't be for a while yet anyway so have plenty of time to seek advice and read up before I decide for definite :)
As my little 'guy' is growing up (sexed by a pet shop) he is starting to look suspiciously female at the tail end?? I know that this method isn't fool proof but is there any way they could have been wrong? |
| Kellog |
Posted - 20/11/2014 : 08:14:45
Female corn snakes can retain sperm for quite a long time. I can't remember how long but I know I was surprised. If you search 'retain sperm' or 'sperm plug' on here I'm sure you'll find some information on it.
I do understand the desire to experience breeding but when the time comes make sure you're aware of the risks, the time needed, the money, the heartache if you get non-feeders etc. I just want you to be sure it's really worth it.
Xxx |
| Amberino |
Posted - 19/11/2014 : 17:29:12
That is a fair point, I would just love to have some babies of my own - even if its just the once! One thing I am curious about though; when I got her, she was housed in with one other female and two males (one rat one corn). The guy in the shop said she had laid some eggs before so is fertile... Because im not planning on breeding them yet I havent even looked into it.. is there any chance that because she was housed with males that she could lay fertile eggs soon (ive only had her just over a week but have visited her in the shop frequently prior to this as I really loved her!). I dont know how long it would take her to do so after mating? |
| Kellog |
Posted - 19/11/2014 : 16:58:49
My reaction would be that she was showing stress. It's what Kellog does sometimes if I handle him too soon after he's shed. At the moment she was something new and interesting for him to explore but my worry and she tolerated until she'd had enough. My worry would be that you'd have this situation in a shared viv, they do almost become institutionalised and tolerate each other but you never know if and when they might decide they've had enough.
The point Wheels has made about breeding is a fair one. You need to be aware that instances of the female being egg-bound are probably increased if they share a viv because it can be brought on by stress. I know you have time before you think about breeding but it is a big thing to take on, both financially and time-wise. And there is the risk to your snakes. There are so many corns in rescue centres desperate for a good home. I'm sure your family members, if they're serious about having a snake of their own, I'm sure they'd find a corn to love  .
Xxx
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| Amberino |
Posted - 19/11/2014 : 15:43:34
I had thought about breeding them eventually as there are now many family members who - since meeting my little fella - have decided they would like one too :) (she is a newer addition so they arent as familiar with her). To my knowledge (the guy at the shop was a little vague) she is over 3.. and I would say she definitely is based on size.. but this wouldnt be an issue with breeding as he needs to almost double in size to stand a chance.. so she has a while yet to get older!
Anyway, really still curious about the jerky movement! I know some reptiles do similar things when actually trying to attract attention of a mate.. but im guessing in snakes its hostile? Anyone confirm this? :) |
| Wheels |
Posted - 19/11/2014 : 15:29:37
I have only ever had one corn, but I have seen so much evidence to convince me that - were I to get another - a separate viv would be a requirement. I'm glad you have decided to stretch a little bit rather than risking any stress or injury to your snakes 
Were you thinking of breeding them? I only ask because you speak of one as a boy and one as a girl - and nature will take its course . Egg bearing can be an additional stress, on the girl especially, and then you have to be able to sell the offspring, or keep them, or be quite, quite brutal...another point that is worth some serious consideration. |
| Freddiesmum |
Posted - 19/11/2014 : 15:22:02
Glad you decided to get another viv and keep them separately 
I wouldn't risk housing them together in the future if you have them in separate vivs at the moment. Like you say, the female sounds like she wasn't too happy after 30mins of being around him. Living together would probably not be such a good idea, especially as you can't keep an eye on them 24/7. I wouldn't have thought they would 'get used to each other', as corns are solitary animals. |
| Amberino |
Posted - 19/11/2014 : 14:59:14
Have seriously taken in everyones advice and have decided against even trying to house them together until the size difference is evened out; as I dont want my little guy getting bullied about. I did however introduce them out of the vivs last night; and after perhaps a second or two of interest she happily ignored him for a good half hour while he climbed about all over her... perhaps it is more for her sake that they have to be kept apart! Did notice one thing though, towards the end she starting moving around with a series of short sharp darting and almost jumpy movements rather than her usual slow slither (if this is making any sense). Im thinking this is hostile because she was getting wound up from him climbing over her? Anyone had the same? Either way, I separated and they are in stacked vivs now... its just a little bit of a stretch to reach his! Thinking if I make this a regular thing he might get used to her company and be less irritating! I know shes used to company because she was one of four in a viv (mixed corns and rats) when I got her. |
| Kellog |
Posted - 19/11/2014 : 09:32:07
People can and do keep corns together, seemingly without issue. But is it without risk? No. I can't talk from experience because it's something I've chosen not to do after a lot of research. I don't want this turning into a major cohabiting argument so suggest you look at the pros and cons for the SNAKES of keeping them together.
Personally I can list the cons -
Cannibalism/fighting. No, I'm not scaremongering, it does happen. I know of owners who have cohabited snakes 'happily' for years and then one snake has attacked the other and they've had to be separated.
Stress caused by making snakes that are solitary in the wild live together. This can result in non-feeding and other health issues.
If you find a regurge or poo that looks wrong how do you know which snake did it? If one gets ill the other is likely to as well, meaning increased vet bills.
Sexing is never 100%, I have a snake that was probed as male and then laid infertile eggs a couple of months later. You know, as much as you can, that you've got a male and a female. Males mature faster and even though he's smaller there is the likelihood of him constantly harassing the female and the female becoming gravid, maybe before she's old enough to lay eggs. Then you have the risks of egg-binding.
Another set-up is needed in case one gets sick or they do start fighting and need to be separated.
As for the pros, I still have to find any that relate to the snakes' quality of life. I think the question that always needs to be asked is 'Is it worth the risk?'. I know what my answer is. Could you stack the vivs?
Xxx
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| scottishbluebird |
Posted - 18/11/2014 : 21:23:07
Just please read link above. |
| Freddiesmum |
Posted - 18/11/2014 : 13:28:49
I personally wouldn't risk it, especially with the size difference. Also, what happens when they mate and produce eggs? Of course, it's totally your choice, everyone has different opinions, and I know some do successfully house corns together.
Here's a link to a sticky I found about housing corns together - http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1070 - hope this helps! Sure someone with more knowledge on this subject will reply shortly
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