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22 Posts |
 Posted - 02/04/2009 : 01:21:12
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Hi all
I'm a Cornsnake newbie looking for chat and advice as I'm struggling a little on my own and can't always make it to the shop as I work full time.
We got our first 'family' snake for Christmas - I use the term 'family' losely as I bought him for my daughter knowing only too well that I would end up caring for him as I do all of the animals (dogs, cats and son's spider). He settled in well, eating ok if not as often as he had at the shop but then he had his first shed and wouldn't eat again. I searched for advice and after doing the 'dancing pinkie' routine without success and turning my nose up at 'braining'  I've resorted to force feeding. It wasn't much of a 'force' as once I got his mouth open and the nose in he chomped the rest happily himself.
Now that I'm sat feeling pleased with myself and my now fat-if-a-little-miffed snake and the adrenaline is wearing off, I've decided I need a bit of support as this is going to be harder than just chucking a mouse in the tank every few days! (Not that I really thought it would be easy!!) 
Sue
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<:3O~~Sue~~
“Be civil to all;
sociable to many;
familiar with few;
friend to one;
enemy to none.
Benjamin Franklin”
0.0.1 Amel Motley Corn - Spud
1.0.0 Jack Russell Terrier - Jack
0.1.0 Chihuahua - Bijou
0.0.1 Chilean Rose Tarantula - Fang
2.6.0 LaPerm cats - Ichs, Grey, Sabi, Jonti, Emily, Nariko, Bubbles, Patches
0.1.0 Moggie cat - Kai |
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Kehhlyr
ǝʞɐɔ sǝʌoן
United Kingdom
8173 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2009 : 02:02:17
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Hiya and welcome to the forum.
There could be many reasons why snakie may not be a great feeder.
If possible, can we get a bit more info as well, it may help us be able to suggest things to try.
Roughly how big is snakie?
How big is the viv? and what sort is it? (glass tank, wood with glass front etc)
What are the temps like in the viv? (does it have heat mat/stat, and/or bulb etc)
What sort of stuff have you got in the viv? (bedding, plant etc)
And where are you located, we have loads of people on here, from all over the UK, assuming you are UK , and some may be able to recommend a proper decent shop or something similar. |
-=Kehhlyr - The Resident Loon
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Edited by - Kehhlyr on 02/04/2009 02:03:25 |
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22 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2009 : 21:26:47
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Hi Kehhlyr, thanks for the welcome
I'm in Darlington in the UK and I got the snake from Coast to Coast which I think is a really good shop. Got lots of advice and help when I bought the snake. I also went in when I was worried about him not eating and they suggested moving the pinkie which would get him interested enough to feed. He seems interested enough, even if I just put the pinkie in but never actually takes the plunge and opens his mouth to eat it.
Snake is approx 16 inches long. I've kept the log the shop made of his feeds and he was born July 08 and eating roughly one pinkie a week. Shed in September and November and seemed to feed normally after that.
He is still in his starter tank - plastic, 8 x 5 x 6 inches. Shop advised us to keep it simple until he grew into a full size tank. Having not eaten much, he hasn't grown visibly in the time we've had him. I have a heat mat under half the tank with a thermostat - I had this set to 24 but I'm beginning to think that is too cold?
I have blanked off 3 sides of the tank and he has only kitchen roll on the base which I change weekly or when dirty as well as spot cleaning - I'm surprised that he still poops even though he's not really eating but that's animals eh! Other than that just a water bowl (which he laps from very cutely) and his little hide.
He's very active. I try not to handle him too often to minimise stress but he seems happy to come out for the occasional squirm about. Although he rests in and on his hide I'm surprised at much he moves around - he seems a bit more settled today, maybe the activity was hunger?
Sue |
<:3O~~Sue~~
“Be civil to all;
sociable to many;
familiar with few;
friend to one;
enemy to none.
Benjamin Franklin”
0.0.1 Amel Motley Corn - Spud
1.0.0 Jack Russell Terrier - Jack
0.1.0 Chihuahua - Bijou
0.0.1 Chilean Rose Tarantula - Fang
2.6.0 LaPerm cats - Ichs, Grey, Sabi, Jonti, Emily, Nariko, Bubbles, Patches
0.1.0 Moggie cat - Kai |
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lee2308
The Corn Snake Moderator
United Kingdom
3348 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2009 : 22:02:29
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| Hi and welcome to the forum |
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Kehhlyr
ǝʞɐɔ sǝʌoן
United Kingdom
8173 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2009 : 22:25:13
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The heatmat is definately to low, it needs to be about 28-30c in the warm end, and about 22c in the cold end. They use the heat to help keep their bodies warm, and most importantly for helping digestion.
Try to get the heatmat to only cover about a third of the tank, and actually moving him up a size, maybe into a 10x6 inch one.
One pinky a week may not be enough, in the shops they only tend to maintain feed because of the costs of feeding, Depending on how thick he is in relation to the pinky, i'd probably have him on 2 pinks every 5-7 days.
Kitchen roll on the floor is perfect for a starter faun.
Umm, I've probably forgotten something, if I have, then let me know.
Oh yea, got any Pics???? we need piccys. |
-=Kehhlyr - The Resident Loon
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22 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2009 : 22:53:34
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Thanks for the advice. I've turned the temp up. Just to check I have it all correct - the matstat is taped to the mat...so I'm measuring that and not the tank. I wondered if maybe I'd got that bit of info wrong. I think I've been more frightened of frying the poor fella!
Hopefully the temperature will spur him on to eat more on his own and I can increase his meal size.
I'll get some piccies taken too so you can see the wee fella.
Sue |
<:3O~~Sue~~
“Be civil to all;
sociable to many;
familiar with few;
friend to one;
enemy to none.
Benjamin Franklin”
0.0.1 Amel Motley Corn - Spud
1.0.0 Jack Russell Terrier - Jack
0.1.0 Chihuahua - Bijou
0.0.1 Chilean Rose Tarantula - Fang
2.6.0 LaPerm cats - Ichs, Grey, Sabi, Jonti, Emily, Nariko, Bubbles, Patches
0.1.0 Moggie cat - Kai |
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43 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2009 : 23:42:15
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Hello and welcome great advice from Kehhlyr , things should improve with feeding with better
temps good luck... |
0.1.0 Amel Slinky
1.0.0 Normal Motley Charlie |
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Kehhlyr
ǝʞɐɔ sǝʌoן
United Kingdom
8173 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2009 : 00:23:03
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I'm assuming the mat is outside the tank?
If so, you'd be better off trying to get the probe in contact with whatever the snake is on.
You can lose some heat through transference, so although was set at 24, it could have been 20-22.
Do have have a digi thermometer? because it's still worth getting one to confirm that mat is giving off the heat that is set on the stat.
I used to have a stat that was nearly 8 degrees out. |
-=Kehhlyr - The Resident Loon
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22 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2009 : 12:37:33
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I'm now beginnning to wonder how my poor little snake has survived! He must have been freezing. I'm off to Wilkos to see if I can get the slightly bigger tank and will change the position of the probe.
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<:3O~~Sue~~
“Be civil to all;
sociable to many;
familiar with few;
friend to one;
enemy to none.
Benjamin Franklin”
0.0.1 Amel Motley Corn - Spud
1.0.0 Jack Russell Terrier - Jack
0.1.0 Chihuahua - Bijou
0.0.1 Chilean Rose Tarantula - Fang
2.6.0 LaPerm cats - Ichs, Grey, Sabi, Jonti, Emily, Nariko, Bubbles, Patches
0.1.0 Moggie cat - Kai |
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dantheman2944
Hatchling
United Kingdom
325 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2009 : 13:42:49
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| hey an welcome!! |
thanks to solid for the sig
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Jono2411
Yearling
United Kingdom
639 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2009 : 15:03:50
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Its good you came and asked for advice on here, hopefuly your little guy will be feeding on his own asap :)
and welcome |
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22 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2009 : 16:19:50
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This certainly is a great place, so glad I found it.
I just want to defend the shop I got Spud from and say it is really good and they were great with advice before and during the sale as well as telling us to phone or call in if we had questions. There is just so much information to absorb in one go I've obviously missed the heating bit. Going to the shop for a chat is usually difficult for me because of my working hours and hectic lifestyle. Although I pop in for food for both Spud and our spider, it's usually a fleeting visit and if they have someone else in I don't have time to linger for long. To be honest, I also feel a bit stupid asking these simple questions.
I don't want my being a numpty to reflect badly on the shop! But this forum is going to prove invaluable as I can dip in when it's convenient for me.
Sue |
<:3O~~Sue~~
“Be civil to all;
sociable to many;
familiar with few;
friend to one;
enemy to none.
Benjamin Franklin”
0.0.1 Amel Motley Corn - Spud
1.0.0 Jack Russell Terrier - Jack
0.1.0 Chihuahua - Bijou
0.0.1 Chilean Rose Tarantula - Fang
2.6.0 LaPerm cats - Ichs, Grey, Sabi, Jonti, Emily, Nariko, Bubbles, Patches
0.1.0 Moggie cat - Kai |
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143 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2009 : 17:30:05
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| hi sue we all have to learn somewhere and you came to the right place. |
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Kehhlyr
ǝʞɐɔ sǝʌoן
United Kingdom
8173 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2009 : 19:04:13
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There is only ONE possible stupid question that can be asked on this forum, and that is:
'I have an empty viv, what shall I do with it?'
The answer is simple, Fill it.
What with is the hard question. |
-=Kehhlyr - The Resident Loon
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14 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2009 : 23:38:12
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Hi Sue
Confusing isnt it? Theres so many variations in setups and takes some fine tuning to get the right balance and if this isnt bad enough our little friendly pets dont always play ball. They hide away for days on end and we keep trying to get a peek and see if there ok, Then theres feeding, talk about finicky little buggers lol
And yet for some sick reason we love every minute and every hurdle that is thrown at us,
Russ |
0.0.1 Amel (1 1/2 ft)(Lestat de Lioncourt)
0.0.1 Carolina (1 ft)
0.0.1 Goliath (spidey)(Curly)
0.0.1 Chilli Rose(spidey)(Boris)
0.0.4 Imperial Scorpions |
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22 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2009 : 23:52:31
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Ha, I have to admit that I'm so happy with Spud that I've already decided to fill his baby tank with a new hatchling when he goes up into the next size - so I don't think the question of an empty viv will ever arise here!
I'm really lucky too Russ because Spud is a tolerant little guy (as well as apparantly being extremely resiliant!) and he doesn't hide too much. I have his tank on a shelf by my bed and when I sit on an evening to email, read, watch tv etc he pops his head out of his hide as if he's watching me. I chat away to him and he flicks his tongue in reply ;) Actually, as I type this - I change his bedding tonight and the kitchen roll is lifted up the side of the tank a bit, blocking his view, so he has actually lifted his head and is peeking over the edge at me lol. We just need to get the temperature right and his eating and then we'll all be perfectly happy!! |
<:3O~~Sue~~
“Be civil to all;
sociable to many;
familiar with few;
friend to one;
enemy to none.
Benjamin Franklin”
0.0.1 Amel Motley Corn - Spud
1.0.0 Jack Russell Terrier - Jack
0.1.0 Chihuahua - Bijou
0.0.1 Chilean Rose Tarantula - Fang
2.6.0 LaPerm cats - Ichs, Grey, Sabi, Jonti, Emily, Nariko, Bubbles, Patches
0.1.0 Moggie cat - Kai |
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dan87
Egg
95 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2009 : 11:07:13
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| hi and welcome. you will get all the help you need here as u can probaly see. i hope all is working out ok for u now with the advice u was given and just remember 1 think dont give up it will all come together in the end and snake keeping can be very easy once everything is setup right. glad to have you with us |
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Ell
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
1640 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2009 : 19:37:25
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| Welcome to the forum ^^ I hope he starts munching by himself soon! |
 
1.0.0 Normal corn snake - Dusk
0.1.0 Strawberry Snow Stripe corn snake - Dawn
0.1.0 Harlequin Crested Gecko - Stickles
1.0.0 Sable Syrian Hamster - CoCo
0.1.0 Hognose snake - Truffles |
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gingerpony
Queen Bee
United Kingdom
10455 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2009 : 07:22:25
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| heya and welcome |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos
Location:Leeds/York/Selby area |
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