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105 Posts |
 Posted - 30/03/2009 : 18:55:50
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Ok, so if anyone read my intro they will know I am currently researching corn snakes because I am hoping to get one over the summer!
As I have been rummaging around this site, and looking at bits and bobs from internetland a few questions have popped into my head (I have attempted the search function, but I can't fathom it out), so I thought I'd ask on here - be warned there are LOTS 
A) Who sells corn snakes - ok.. more like who is the best person to buy a corn snake from? If you want a well looked after, well bred, happy young snake?
B) What questions should you be asking said snake seller?
C)What are the price ranges? I have seen tons of variation (I presume for rarer morphs?).
D) Vivs - what is the basic set up, and how much does it cost? What is the luxury set up and how much does it cost? 1st hand or 2nd hand?
E) How much does your snake cost you per month (including vets, food, suppliements, heat supply - ALL of it).
F) Is there anything you know now, owning a snake, that you wish you'd known BEFORE you got one?
G) Do different snakes have different 'personalities'?
I think that's all for now - I'll add more as I think of them, and I think other Q's are covered in threads I have seen 
Thanks!!!!
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Mutt, Mog and mmmm...Snake! |
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119 Posts |
Posted - 30/03/2009 : 19:30:43
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A) www.exotic-pets.co.uk or 888reptiles
B) Age/sex of the snake? Is it eating weekly? What size food is it on? Hows its sheds been?(if it comes off all in one or bits are still one the snake after shed), Can i have it cheaper? lol
C) Depending on the morph you can pay more, you can get a caroliner/normal for as cheap as £20, from the link above i got my Butter het Motley for around £60 which i don't think is too bad.
D) For a basic set up you would need a Heatmat(£15-£25) a Thermostat(Cheapest £20) A Digital Probe Thermometer(£10) Some hides(around £5 each, but you can make your own) substrate(50p for a news paper or a couple of Pound for Aspen bedding) A water bowl(£3?) & Then for extras(luxery setup) You can buy Vines, Logs, Some of that cool looking wall paper that looks like a jungle/desert :)
E) Not sure exactly havn't been to the vets but i estimate around £15 a visit, food is from 25-50p per pinkie & they only need 1 on week depending on size so £1-£2, not sure what suppliements are, they heatmat i don't think cost a lot as its only on very low 30°C so propaly only a few pound a month. Very cheap pets to keep.
F) Nope i think i did my research pretty well before i bought mine, this site was(&still is) a lot of help.
G) Every snake is different in its own way, but different morphs don't mean different personalities.
Welcome to the forum & hope you have a beautiful, happy snakie =)
P.s. get pictures up when you decide to buy. |
1.0 Bearded Dragon - Loki
0.1 Corn Snake - Smoo
1.1 Mexican Black King Snakes - Nameless |
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matty18714
The Count of Corniness
United Kingdom
4428 Posts |
Posted - 30/03/2009 : 19:38:22
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A) You can either buy from a shop or privatly from a breeder. The breeder will be the cheaper of the two and compared to alot of shops they will feed and house the snake better.
B)
- When did it last eat?
- What is it eating? (mouse size)
- How many mice?
- When did it last shed?
- How old it is?
- Is it captive bred? (as aposed to wild cought, which is very unlikely anyway)
- What sex is it?
- Its good to see the parents if possible.
C) £15 for a hatchling carolina to about £100 for a common morph adult. There are many nice common morphs so you can choose what you like without paying too much.
D) A basic set-up:
- RUB
- Heat mat
- Thermostat
- Thermometer
- Waterbowl
- news paper as substrate
- Hide (can be anything from a peice of cardboard to a plastic moulded specilist hide)
About £60 for a really simple set-up. I have calculated that for an adult, if you were getting a hatchling you could do it for about £40
A top notch set up with all reptile brand products could exceed £200 for an adult. Luckily with snakes a cardboard box is as interesting to them as a £20 super nice looking hide, so its purely down to your tastes as to how much you spend.
E) Um..My adult costs be about £3-4 per Month (not week) to feed (great isnt it  ). They dont need any supplements. Im not sure on electricity because I dont pay for it . Also you will need to change the substrate every 1-2 months. If your using newspaper you can change it more regularly for almost nothing. If you are going to use something like aspen, it will cost you about £4 for a bag to cover 4-5 square feet.
F) Snakes are very addictive! After about 4 months of getting yours you will want another one. You will also want to see pictures of snakes all the time, they're just that cool
G) They have differant characters sort of, but as their faces show no expression I wouldnt say they have differant personalities.
Edit - Wording |
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Edited by - matty18714 on 30/03/2009 20:18:45 |
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105 Posts |
Posted - 30/03/2009 : 20:10:18
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Thank you!!! Very useful answers.
I'm going to have to sit this out till the summer, which is HARD!! I have too many things to think about before then, and wouldn't have the time or energy to give to a new member of my mini-menagerie (very mini).
But, come then, I should have everything in hand and just have to do the whole buying bit.
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Mutt, Mog and mmmm...Snake! |
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hillzi
The Lost boy.
United Kingdom
3984 Posts |
Posted - 30/03/2009 : 21:19:44
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Yup toally agree with matty and markus's replies.
something to add to personality wise;
My carolina is a vicious little monkey. lol just thought you'd know that there exceptions  |
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gingerpony
Queen Bee
United Kingdom
10455 Posts |
Posted - 30/03/2009 : 21:26:02
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A) Reputable pet shops, usually ones that specialise in exotics rather than an general small furries petshop with a reptiles section.
And breeders.
B) age, sex, what does it eat, how frequently, when did it last eat, when did it last shed, was it complete/patchy, any special requirements eg. providing a damp hide to aid shedding
C) for hatchlings from £10 upwards for a common morph from a show/breeder, shops more like £30 upwards. juveniles and adults will be more as will different morphs.
D) vivs you can go as expensive as your wallet can stand! but bargains can be found on t'interweb sites and secondhand isn't a bad thing, just need to disinfect stuff as a precaution.
E) very little, that's why i've got 9 snakes now
F) Royals are over-rated! 
G) yes and i find my male corns are the most sociable
hope that's helped a little |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos
Location:Leeds/York/Selby area |
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105 Posts |
Posted - 31/03/2009 : 17:48:08
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Yes thank you!!!
So how does one go about finding breeders??? |
Mutt, Mog and mmmm...Snake! |
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Kazerella
The Corn Snake Admin
United Kingdom
3093 Posts |
Posted - 31/03/2009 : 18:07:28
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Just hang about on forums and you should come across a few.
Plus if your local rep shop is a good one then they usually breed their own or know someone that does.  |
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