| T O P I C R E V I E W |
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Posted - 08/01/2010 : 21:39:35
Hi All,
For my Son's 11th birthday my son wanted a corn snake. So we got the small plastic box (sorry can't remember the tech name for it) Heat mat and all the required gear.
Now for the bad news, after 4 day's the snake just died, one minute it was happy then a bit later it was dead ! We took it back to the specialist, who explained it can happen due to shock and replaced it free of change.
Now after the same amount of time this one has died too !
As far as I can tell he has done everything right, heat mat only covers 1/3 to 1/2 of box handles it regularly, didn't handle the new one it for 48 hours after it had eaten (feed by the shop).
At the moment he is crying and asking why they keep dieing, can you tell me if this is common with Hatchings or is he just unlucky or are we missing something else ?
I'll call the shop in the morning, but I need to put he's mind at rest.
Cheers
Baz
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| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
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Posted - 11/01/2010 : 04:46:26
I'd go with a pulse stat. Find them more reliable than the other type. Get a stat asap please!
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| Sammysnake |
Posted - 10/01/2010 : 15:42:53
Hi bazaboy.I'm so sorry your boy has been through such a terrible time with his snakes - hopefully now you're in contact with the excellent advice this forum gives you will have a better time with your current snake.
Please can you tell us what temperature the heatmat has been running at and, as Bleckecho asked, what are you measuring the temperature with? As well as being attached to a thermostat the maintain the correct temperature by turning the mat on and off, you also really really need to use a digital thermometer with a probe so you can accurately measure the temps at all times.
The digital thermometers I have only cost £2.50 from Ebay (here's the link http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230420653810) but they mean I can quickly glance at the temps every time I pass my snakes homes which ensures their safety. One day Twilight moved his thermostat probe off of his heatmat and the temp climbed up very quickly. Being able to spot the temp change meant I could rectify this immediately before he was harmed. Some guys on this forum have run experiments to see how hot a heatmat will get if not attached to a thermostat and it was incredibly high - definitely hot enough to cook a snake.
In the past when someone has had a faulty thermostat they have been told to turn off the heatmat as it is much safer for the snake to have no heat for a few days than an unregulated mat which could kill it. If you have no thermostat (and no digital thermometer too?) then I think you would be best doing this and just ensuring the snake's faun is in a room which has heating then get to a reptile shop asap to get the necessary kit.
Please correct me guys if this is wrong.
Good luck bazaboy |
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Posted - 10/01/2010 : 11:36:11
quote:
Originally posted by Blackecho
Well as long has he didn't think it was a disease I'm sure it can't have been....
If the heatmat was overheating a thermostat would have cut it out. Hence them being an essential piece of kit.
One of the shops I checked out told me I didn't need a stat, so I didn't buy from him, despite the fact he's been selling snakes for years. 
Hope things work out better this time round, how awful for you and your son. |
| Blackecho |
Posted - 10/01/2010 : 10:05:54
Well as long has he didn't think it was a disease I'm sure it can't have been....
If the heatmat was overheating a thermostat would have cut it out. Hence them being an essential piece of kit. |
| SexyBear77 |
Posted - 09/01/2010 : 23:31:39
You must get a stat as soon as possible, by not having one you are running the risk of cooking this new snake. I have 2 Habistat mat stats and a Microclimate ministat 100. Both work as well as the other, and cost around £20-£25. |
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Posted - 09/01/2010 : 22:33:07
quote:
Originally posted by Skorps
Oh how sad!
This link tells you how to post pics
http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14
Cheers for that, I'll try it tomorrow, need sleep now !! |
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Posted - 09/01/2010 : 21:52:59
Oh how sad!
This link tells you how to post pics
http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14 |
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Posted - 09/01/2010 : 21:20:14
Hi All,
Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions. It looks like it was a faulty heat mat, the specialist thinks the snake was dehydrated and it still had Sundays feed not even half way down. The new heat mat seems better and the tub or Faun as you call it :) has been moved well away from any other heat source.
I got my son to clean out it out and use new Aspen, and he is not going to handle the snake for 5-7 days.
The shop is a specialist and has been used by some of my sons friends with out issue, I just assume he didn't think it was disease that caused the deaths.
My son now has a new snake and fingers crossed it will be with him for sometime !
Can anyone suggest a thermostat to use with a heat mat? I forgot to sort one out at the shop !!
Cheers
Baz
P.S. any know how to post pictures ???? |
| Blackecho |
Posted - 09/01/2010 : 15:42:28
How are you measuring your temps, with a digital thermometer? |
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Posted - 09/01/2010 : 12:45:31
Really sorry to read about what happened.
The shop where you bought the snakes is NOT reliable, buy elsewhere. I'm saying this because they SHOULD have told you to disinfect the faun, and they SHOULD have told you that you need a thermostat. I wouldn't trust them at all now on anything.
If you still have the second snake, you can take it to a vet to find out why it died. It will put your mind at rest and if it's disease you can then claim a refund and possibly compensation from that shop.
No, it's not very common for something like this to happen, and I can't see how the mere fact of moving from the shop to your home could have killed it unless it was handled roughly on the way and was hurt somehow. But twice? Chances are too slim.
Oddly enough, something similar happened here when a snake I bought for my 10 years old died within days of coming home. I then got another snake, identical in looks, only from a different breeder. My boy is now happy. I hope your son is still willing to give it yet another go, only this time from a different shop.
Please let us know what you decide to do and how your son is doing.
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| Kellog |
Posted - 09/01/2010 : 04:15:19
Barrie, I am so sorry for you and your son. To lose one snake is hard enough, but to then have the same thing happen again is awful and must be so hard to handle. I have a 12yr old son and can just imagine the state he would be in if he had suffered this.
I agree with what the others have said. Although you did handle within the usual one-week settling in period I cannot see how it can have caused the deaths in any way.
It does make me question the reptile shop you are using  , as does the other info you have been given by them. They should have told you not to handle them for a week, and they definitely should have told you to totally disinfect the faun you had the original snake in. They are not giving you vital information and it sounds as though they are not checking whether you know what you are doing before selling you the snake.
I am assuming that the 'specialist' you took the first dead snake to was from the reptile shop?
It would definitely be good to know your full set-up....all the 'required gear' that the shop sold you. Size of faun, substrate, heatmat, thermostat, hides etc. I know you have given some of this info but would be good to get full description.
I would certainly have some concerns about shop and getting another hatchling from there. Maybe a hatchling isnt the way to go after the traumatic experience you and your son have had. Have you thought about getting an older snake...one that is a proven feeder and shedder. Many people find an older snake a good place to start if they are new to corns...because there are less issues to deal with like feeding and teaching them to be handled. It is just a thought.
Once again, I am so sorry for you and your son. I do hope we are able to help you and I also hope that you both decide to get another corn, because you do get such joy from them.
xxx |
| devilsmistress |
Posted - 08/01/2010 : 23:09:34
The shop recomended not cleaning the faun out??? I would completly disinfct everything!!! Also you need a thermostat to controll the heat mat temps or you will end up with a crispy snake!!!
As for the sudden deths im really sorry to hear about that and I really cant help in that respect. The only thing I can think of is the shop has had a sick snake and its spred to the rest of the stock? Id try buying elsewhere! |
| n/a |
Posted - 08/01/2010 : 22:37:14
quote:
Originally posted by Yorkshire_Dan
So sorry to hear about your son's upset. Pic's would help so I hope you'll be able post them. Don't give up with corn's, he's had an upsetting start but when he gets a corn that is ok he will get so much pleasure from the hobby. If your set up is ok and you cannot account for the loses any other way then I would suggest maybe just asking for a refund from the shop and try buying elsewhere.
Where are you based, we may be able to recommend someone.
I'm in Leighton Buzzard Bedfordshire, we used somewhere that is well established and recommended by my son's friend , and I must admit I've been impressed with them, they even made my son answer questions before he could have one |
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Posted - 08/01/2010 : 22:34:16
OK it's late and I can't find how to add photos !!
Thanks for your help and kids words.
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Posted - 08/01/2010 : 22:33:13
So sorry to hear about your son's upset. Pic's would help so I hope you'll be able post them. Don't give up with corn's, he's had an upsetting start but when he gets a corn that is ok he will get so much pleasure from the hobby. If your set up is ok and you cannot account for the loses any other way then I would suggest maybe just asking for a refund from the shop and try buying elsewhere.
Where are you based, we may be able to recommend someone. |
| kdlang |
Posted - 08/01/2010 : 22:22:01
Hi bazaboy. Sorry to hear you are having such a rotten time of it. You and your son must be so upset and frustrated. I'm afraid I cannot help as I am new to snake keeping too but I have found the people on here to be extremely knowledgable and friendly. I'm sure they will help you to find out what has gone wrong and become successful in the future. Big hugs. |
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Posted - 08/01/2010 : 22:13:11
Substrate is aspen, I'll try ad get a photo, think my son took some photos |
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Posted - 08/01/2010 : 22:11:36
It was the same tub, the shop removed some of the old aspen, but didn't recommend that we clean it out, he was of the opipion that it was stress that killed the 1st one.
He has a heat mat at one end of the tub (no thermostat) the temp was about 27c
Not a sibling as far as I'm aware, both had differant names (don't ask me what they were !!) both were albino thou |
| HannahB |
Posted - 08/01/2010 : 22:09:16
what are the temps and what substrate are you using?
am really sorry you have had such a bad time with new hatchlings, the only thing i can think of is that something in the viv is affecting them such as substrate or similar.. dont give up on getting a new one - we will help you sort it as much as we can
if you have any pics of the setup at all then please post them - might be useful |
| Blackecho |
Posted - 08/01/2010 : 22:05:38
Was it a sibling of the first one that died? - Also, if they were ever in close proximity in the shop or you used the same tub without a good disinfect they may have passed disease from one to the other.
Yes I would recommend not touching for a week, then offer a feed and only 2 days after they feed, actually handle, but as above, it wouldn't have killed them.
What temperatures have you got in the tub, how are you measuring them and how are you controlling them? |
