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Maddy
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
8 Posts |
 Posted - 29/12/2012 : 23:41:40
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My poor snake!
I met my first corn snake in November and fell head over heels for it - after a bit of research found out it was a reverse okeetee.
I'm 23 and live with Mum, she was TOTALLY against a snake. I kept telling her the pros and the minor cons (smelly poop, mice in the freezer!) but she was having none of it.
Dec 25th... What was put in my lap but the most beautiful yearling male corn snake! I couldn't have been happier. She'd done all the research herself and fallen for them too! Fab!
Now I have a couple of Qs:
1. The guy who introd me said he's got a custom viv built for his corn, 2ftx3ftx4ft tall. She's a 3fter, my Talisker is a 2ft yearling and I was going to get him a 1.5ftx2ftx3ft viv. Went into local herp shop and was told that was way too big even if it was filled with hides and cover. My issue is that the guy who introd me said corns like to climb, the RUB I have is 1.5ftx2ft... So what's the issue with going TALLER if they like to climb?
2. Since I got Talisker on Christmas Day.. He's been handled for 15min intervals 2x daily. We drove 7hrs with him in the RUB on my lap three days ago, has been handled by about 6-7 diff people in that 72hr time. He's been fab, active, interested, he took the first mouse I've ever fed a snake yesterday, ate the whole thing and no regurge. The guy who introd me handled him on Xmas day and aid his belly scales were lifting a little which meant he'd shed in 2-4 days. It's been 3... I'm worried the shed, the traveling and the new handlers and increased handling will stress him a lot. What happens when a corn gets really stressed? Is he being overwhelmed? What are the signs of a stressed snake?
I am a newbie, desperate to learn! I DO NOT want to cause this animal harm so please let me know what I need to do!
X Maddy |
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Donnie
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3215 Posts |
Posted - 30/12/2012 : 00:08:45
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Hi, as far as viv sizes go a 3x2x1.5 will be fine, you can go bigger/taller if you want it is down to you and if you think your snake will utilise the space. One of mine will as he is very active but another one probably wouldn't as she is never out (when I am up anyway, for all I know she is the most active snake in the world when I go to bed  )
As for him being stressed it is usually best to leave them for a week once you get them to let them settle in and just go in to change water and spot clean if needed and always leave it at least 48 hours after a feed before handling. If they are ready to shed then they are normally a bit more grumpy than usual so again I leave mine alone until they have shed, I am sure other people will handle but I choose not to. |
1.1 Corns (Anery Stripe, Amel) 1.0 Rootbeer 0.2 Jungle Carpet Python 1.0 Zebra Jungle Carpet Python 1.0 50% Diamond Zebra Carpet Python |
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Thorne Walker
Yearling
Canada
642 Posts |
Posted - 30/12/2012 : 00:37:18
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So step one is to keep your beans in a pile...
If you've just gotten him and moved him to a new home then any handling sessions are going to stress him out, you should let him mellow for a week or 2. As far as he's concerned you are a predator who hasn't eaten him yet rather then a friend. Just check for poop and provide fresh water, corns can live for 20 years so you'll have lots of time to bond and prove to him your not a threat.
He will shed when he's good and ready and that will come when he feels secure, Snakes are very vulnerable during the shed and will typically lay low to stay safe. Usually their colours get really dull and their eyes will go cloudy for a day or so 4-7 days before they shed. It's hard to miss unless he's a really light morph.
Typically the minimum viv sizing guideline is that the width + the depth should equal the length of the snake.
The other consideration is that snakes typically don't like 'open space' as youngsters because it makes them feel exposed and vulnerable to predation. So the key is ground cover and suitable hiding spots and by suitable I mean a spot that he only just fits in. Kitty is around the 3ft mark but still tucks himself into a kitchen roll tube even though he fills it 3/4ths full. His other fav thing was a bundle of wadded up newspaper held together at the ends with an elastic band.
Corns typically get to 4 - 5 ft so 3ft x 2 ft is ok for an adult but if your critter gets bigger then so should the enclosure. Since he's 2ft now the 2x1.5 will last him a good while as he grows.
Whether he is a climber or not will be mostly a personal thing as Donnie said, My Kitty sometimes is found at the top of his tank but usually he's at ground level and I have no plans to put him in a tall viv...
My Russian on the other hand will happily climb to the ceiling (of the room) on whatever he can find and so will be moving to a permanent enclosure that will give him room to express his instinct/desire to get high up.
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1.0.0 CB'11 Volcano Corn 'Kitty'
0.0.1 CB'11 Russian Rat Snake 'Monster'
2.0.0 CB'04 Roof Rabbits 'Baka Neko-San' and 'Usagi Neko-San'
My Setup :http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=27228
The Kids: http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26248 |
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Moppet
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3315 Posts |
Posted - 30/12/2012 : 02:00:40
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Congrats on your new addition  Some good advice already been given, not a lot for me to add except that it is a good sign to be worrying about a pet, it shows you care. To begin with I worried about everything, shedding, feeding, handling, heat, humidity etc etc. There are lots of knowledgeable people on here to help out and it soon becomes routine
He'll shed when he's ready and there's not a lot you can do to help until he decides it is time (then you check the skin to make sure eye caps and tail tip came off etc).
It's a great sign that he has eaten for you, the one rule which is very very important to follow is no handling for 24 hours after feeding, you don't want to stress snakey out and cause a regurge.
If a snake is stressed, they'll let you know through their behaviour (acting aggressive when handling, trying to get away, refusing to eat are all signs of stress). The normal way to do it is to give a new snake a week without handling to settle into their new home but everyone is different and some snakes don't seem to need that long
Good luck and if you have anymore questions I'm sure we can help. |
2.4.0 Corn snakes
1.0.0 horse
0.1.0 Golden retriever
1.4.0 Guinea pigs |
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coxymk2
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
1245 Posts |
Posted - 30/12/2012 : 08:50:00
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| Congratulations on the new baby and welcome to the forum. |
0.0.1 ANERY (Liquorice)
0.0.1 CAROLINA (Bangle)
0.0.1 AMEL (Boozer)
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Lozzy
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
1556 Posts |
Posted - 30/12/2012 : 10:53:23
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| Congrats on your new snakey think everyone else has covered everything so welcome to the addiction and we look forward to pictures |
0.1 CB10 Snow Cornsnake - Galaxy ~(Currently MIA)
1.0 CB11 Ultramel Anery Consnake -Orion
0.1 CB11 Lavender Cornsnake - Star
0.1 Leopard Gecko-Simo
1.1 Jack Russell-T.J and Harley (Minature)
1.1 Cats-Rascal and Dizzee
1.0 TB Horse-Mickey |
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Maddy
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
8 Posts |
Posted - 30/12/2012 : 14:11:21
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Thanks for the warm welcome guys! Great advice too. I'd like to get Talisker something prettier than the RUB to live in and something that will last for a while too, ot neccessarily his whole lifetime but something that will serve him well for a while at least.
He went blue today, I wasn't sure if I would notice but boy what a difference! Phone was out of battery so I couldn't take a pic and I don't want to bother him but he went a beautiful muted sort of lilac and his eyes have glazed over. We're driving back home on the 2nd, another 7hr drive for poor Talisker, but when we get back he'll be left well alone to adjust to it all.
Pics as requested! I have no idea what morph he is! Any ideas?
Yum yum mousey... |
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Moppet
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3315 Posts |
Posted - 30/12/2012 : 15:59:47
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| I think Amel A very pretty one too. |
2.4.0 Corn snakes
1.0.0 horse
0.1.0 Golden retriever
1.4.0 Guinea pigs |
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lupi lou
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3670 Posts |
Posted - 30/12/2012 : 16:44:21
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| Hi and welcome, lovely little Amel you've got there hope the shed goes well. |
 
1.0.1 Corns
0.1.0 Dog: springer
1.0.0 Horse
0.4.0 Gerbils
2.2.0 Leopard gecko
0.2.0 Cave gecko |
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herriotfan
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
5853 Posts |
Posted - 30/12/2012 : 19:42:55
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| Hi and welcome. |
Husband....Very Understanding!!! (Phil)
Son & Daughter (Kevin & Carol)
Granddaughter (Eva)
3.4.0 Cornsnakes Amel (Sidney) Caramel Stripe (Sultan) Amber (Cleo) Carolina (Phoebe) Anery Motley Stripe (Penny) Snow (Lily) Caramel (Holmes)
1.2.0 Royal Pythons(Peeps, Pandora & Pepsi)
1.0.0 Hognose (Hudson)
2.1.0 Dogs (Dillon, Alfie, Ellie)
0.1.0 Senegal Parrot (Peanut)
1.1.0 Bearded Dragons (Bonnie & Clyde)
1.0.0 Crested Geckos (Echo)
0.2.1 Hermanns Tortoises (Ebbie, Rosie & Twiglet)
0.1.0 Guinea Pig (Dolly-Pipsqueak)
0.1.9 Tarantulas (Poppy, Gypsy, Bumble, Insey Winsey, Sonic, Cookie, Raven, Fudge, Titch & Sox)
??? Foster animals
Location: Near Saffron Walden, Essex
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A stressful time?
