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CBRNick
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
5 Posts |
 Posted - 03/03/2014 : 23:26:25
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Well hello all, having said hello in Facebook, its time i stuck my head in here too.
For those that didnt see the facebook post.
Ive been thinking about a corn snake for a while, but ended up rescuing one last weekend so it kind of landed in my lap.
He was housed in a plastic box far too small but is now much happier in his new terrarium with the space to move around and everything he needs.
I wont go over all the stuff on facebook again, Im going to be looking very carefully at the amount of and the size of food he eats next feed day to make sure hes getting enough.
So todays questions :-)
Ive started a record of all his details just for my reference, but I really have no idea how old he is, so hopefully with the accurate measurements I now have rather than estimates, hopefully someone will be able to pin down his age a little.
Hes exactly 423mm long from tip of nose to tip of tail and is exactly 15.5 grams in weight.
Hes on one pinky a week but as I say Im going to take a careful look at that on Saturday when he eats next.
Hes in a quiet back room otherwise known as 'my office' for the time being, because hs already been moved about a lot, and he probably appreciates the quiet to let him settle in to his new home.
Much as Id like him in the downstairs living room where we can see him more, there is the tv and the ps3 and the dog and the kids and the noise in there gives me a headache...
Hes been pretty active and climbs all over the terrarium, but doesnt like much movement outside his glass walls and will freeze if you are anywhere near him.
A couple of times ive been looking for him thinking he was under his bark hide, and found that hes climbed up the cable for the thermostat and is sitting on the tiny lip around the air vents. Its a terrarium that was recommended to me for a corn snake, so its secure.
Note to self, always make sure its closed properly.
So today was the first time Ive really handled him apart from putting him in his new home because hes been left for a good 48 hours since I fed him.
Hes not impressed with being handled.
He struck at my fingers when I moved them close to him, but he just bounced off.
After I gently put my fingers under his belly and lifted him, he as very active, and he wanted off my hands.
I had him in and around my hands and arms for about 10 or 15 minutes, and he just spent the whole time trying to get off. And hes quick..
Im assuming that he will gradually become used to my hands and my scent with regular gently handling three or four times a week? And will then relax a bit more when he is in my hands?
Is there anything else I should be doing?
And lastly for today, Im still really interested in what morph he is
I tried to take some clear pics of him but my other half is worried about losing him because hes so quick, so Ive not got the pictures as clear as I wanted, but I think Ive got some that are clear enough to identify his morph. I couldnt get a close up of his face, he just didnt sit still long enough.
I believe from what Ive been told now that he is probably a Hypomelanistic, but what I have noticed that is different from all the Hypomelanistic pics Ive seen so far, as well as the black outline on the dark brown saddles, there is also a white outline. So Im hoping that one of the oracles here can put me right and that these pics are good enough it id him, because i dont think Im going to get any better ones until he slows down a bit. :-)
So, once again many thanks in advance for any answers :-)
Extra code removed and moved to appropriate section by Kellog 
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Some days, not even my lucky rocketship underpants help |
Edited by - Kellog on 04/03/2014 08:47:02 |
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LadySybil
Hatchling
United Kingdom
231 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2014 : 23:46:06
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| I cant see his eyes properly but he looks like a Hypo or a carolina to me. |
   
0.1 Corn- Carolina- Lady Sybil Deidre Olgivanna Vimes (née Ramkin), Duchess of Ankh
1.0 Corn- Granite het charcoal- His Grace, His Excellency, The Duke of Ankh; Commander Sir Samuel Vimes.
1.0 MBK- Feegle
1.0 corn- anery/ghost motley, Pewsey Ogg
0.2 Cat- Tat and Gytha |
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witchy
Egg
United Kingdom
91 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2014 : 08:21:27
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He's really pretty!
definitely looks hypo with the reduced black, and the split checkers + funky head pattern indicate masque. My normals from last year showed that white border around the saddles really clearly too.
Some babies are nervous of handling, most calm well once they get used to you & grow bigger so don't worry about him being a little grouch & I think keeping him somewhere quiet is a good idea, you can always move him to the lounge later. |
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Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2014 : 08:28:56
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Welcome to the forum Nick  . Glad you've joined us on here as well as on Facebook. As I said on there, I'm so glad that you were able to take him on when he was in need of a good home.
Well done with the records. I have books for all my snakes, keeping track of weight, when they're fed and what it is/how much it weighs, shedding date, viv cleans and health issues. I even used to record bowel movements but decided that was taking things a bit far  . For his length an easy way to measure it is using the Snake Measurer - http://serpwidgets.com/main/measure You take a photo of him next to something like a ruler and use that. I'm useless with computers and was really pleased with how easy it is.
Regarding his age, it's very hard to judge that based on length and weight. All corns grow at different rates. Even those from the same clutch and fed the same can be totally different sizes. This thread shows it brilliantly - http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=28426 I'm not sure of his history so don't know if he was fed as he should have been at the start of his life, which may effect his size now. All that's really important is that he's now with someone who cares and does everything he's supposed to, as in eats, drinks, sheds and poos  .
Regarding his food, it's good to do the first couple of feeds as he was used to. Did you get any records with him? I would also suggest that as he's so young and on pinkies you may want to consider feeding him every 5 days rather than weekly.
His behaviour is totally normal for a snake who's been through the stress of a move and is getting used to his new home and owner. I gather lots of little ones like to hide up high, seemingly doing the impossible by clinging to the inside lip of their faun. Well done for being aware of the escape potential  .
Your first handling attempt is no surprise. Again he's young and, with no idea of his history, it's hard to know how much he was handled before he came to you. It's just a case of patience and perseverance. And ignoring him when he pretends to be a big, bad snake who can damage you  . You might find this thread on handling tips helpful - http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=28249
Finally, I'm awful at morphs so won't even try to guess what he is but, whatever that is, he's gorgeous . Iansvivarium is a great site for working out morphs but also very dangerous  . There you can see the range of morphs and find more and more you want . These are the 2 LasySybil mentioned - the normal (Carolina/classic) http://iansvivarium.com/morphs/species/elaphe_guttata/normal/ and the Hypomelanistic http://iansvivarium.com/morphs/species/elaphe_guttata/hypomelanistic/ Often it's hard to tell from pics but hopefully these might help you work out what he is.
Xxx
(Don't worry about the extra code. Photobucket has been playing up for ages so it's not just you struggling with it. And fixing it is what us Admins are here for )
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CBRNick
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
5 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2014 : 14:41:15
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Thanks :-)
The thread on handling was a huge help and nice to know Im on the right lines and its just a case of perseverance.
Is it better for just one person to handle him until hes happy with it or is it ok for my son to handle him while hes a bit wild?
I had said to him that he must wait for me to get the snake out and I can then pass it to him by letting it run onto his hands from mine, and just as I was about to, he almost launched himself off myu hands, so my son is wary of him jumping out his hands at the moment and doesnt want to lose him. I think seeing him strike at my fingers didnt help my son either. Hes 12 at the moment.
I didnt get any records with him, he was basicly in a small box in the kitchen of a couple of teenagers for whom the novelty had worn off, but I have already started a record speadsheet of my own.
I did a search for record sheets on the internet, didnt find any that did exactly what i wanted, but did find one that I liked the basic layout of, so I made my own spreadsheet based on this and added my own formatting and code etc.
So now I have all the information that Ill probably ever need at a glance, and I can just add a worksheet tab from the template tab each year as he gets older.
Its here if anyone wants a copy of it to use, as I say I dont take credit for the basic layout, I just improved on something someone else had started. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/106556104/Dexter.xlsx
You are about the third person who has suggested reducing his feeding intervals to five days, so Ill look at his next feed on Thursday instead of Saturday and see how we go with that.
Im also going to get a bit more plastic vegetation for his faunarium.
I think it might have to wait a bit till hes calmed down to get some nice close pics of his face and eyes and some well lit pictures of his markings to get him id'd once and for all, but from all the suggestion Ive had so far, its been narrowed down to three :-)
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Some days, not even my lucky rocketship underpants help |
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Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2014 : 08:51:51
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I remember his story better now from Facebook so am not surprised you don't have records. Must admit that I'm a pen and paper sort of person. My worry is technology crashing....and I'm virtually computer illiterate .
Glad the Handling thread was helpful. Where your son is concerned it is going to be a case of building up his confidence as well as your snake's. By the way, does he have a name I've missed? Your snake that is . I think it's right that you are the one to get him out each time and when you do try to come at him from the sides rather than from above. Sometimes it's hard depending on what type of faun/RUB they are in but it will scare him less. As for handling I'd suggest that you see whether he slows down a bit when you're handling him, instead of all the darting away. Once you've had him out for a bit you can encourage your son to hold him. The best way is for him to sit on the floor or sofa or a bed and rest his hands on or just above his lap. That way he doesn't have to worry about your snake making a sudden leap and falling to the floor. Has your son read the Handling tips thread? He's old enough to understand so that might be helpful. It really is a case of being calm and faking your confidence until you feel it.
Hope that helps.
Xxx
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mrmagicpants
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2014 : 09:52:57
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| Hey, that spreadsheet is spot on. And just saved searching/creating. Thanks. |
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Razee
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
2525 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2014 : 20:05:47
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Hello and welcome, I'm not on Facebook, so it's nice you've come on here as well :-)
Re handling - good tip is to handle young and quick snakes over your bed. That way, if they do jump and fall, they land on something soft, and also on something large, so that you've got time to catch them again, before they disappear :-) |
0.1.0 late CB10 Carolina corn snake - Bazilishka
1.0.0 CB11 Abbots Okeetee- Little Twiddler
1.0.0 CB11 Hypo corn- Sebastianek
1.0.0. CB14 Butter Motley - Squidwood
0.0.2 CB18 normal/ Okeetee yearlings Bunny and Lalalishka
0.0.1 hognose
0.1.0 stable cat
0.1.0 house cat |
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CBRNick
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
5 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2014 : 13:14:03
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Sorry, the snake has been named Dexter, after the character from Dexter the TV series. Hes a bit ginger, hes handsome and hes a natural cold killer :-) Sons name is Josh.
As for confidence, its my son who lacks confidence with it. mostly because hes seen it try to launch itself from my hands and hes scared of losing it, but I dont think seeing it strike at my fingers helped much, even though I showed him there was no mark and that it didnt hurt.
He will get used to it though as he comes and watches it every time I handle it and once he sees it calming down in my hands he will come around. Hes dying to hold it, so desire will overcome his fear sooner or later :-)
Its feeding day today and hes itching to watch it eat, so hes going to help me feed it tonight. |
Some days, not even my lucky rocketship underpants help |
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Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2014 : 07:19:37
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I hope you had a successful first feed last night Nick. I'm not surprised your son is a bit reticent about handling Dexter, after seeing how fast he is and how he's struck at you a few times. His confidence will grow as he sees yours growing and Dexter settling down. It's great that he's showing so much interest and getting him to sit with you while you handle Dexter and even to stroke him if he's calmed down enough. Razee has made a good suggestion about handling on the bed. That way, if you're both sitting there, you can let Dexter begin to explore a bit more and slither onto Josh's lap, without any fear that he'll fall.
These are a couple of YouTube clips about handling baby corns that might be worth him watching, but you check them out first and see what you think - http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=scwmOiR3Gvg and http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kMIHc62VVq0
Love the name by the way. Great reasoning in choosing it .
Xxx
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Hello again
