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Originally posted by Fal

Hi all,

Basically, I have two lizards and three praying mantis, and have always wanted a snake, especially a corn snake after seeing a friend's a few years ago.

I won't be getting one just yet, may be later this year, but have been reading care sheets gallore and accumilating as much info as I can (as I always do with regards to pets eg: Bearded Dragon etc...). I like to make sure I have as much info as possible before ever getting something like this, so I know I am doing things right and am well prepared, and it certainly has worked with regards to my lizards and mantids. All of which are very healthy and I like to think happy! Therefore, I thought, the best place for more advice/info/oppinions (as, i'm sure you will all agree, and its the same for any herp, that there are so many differing care sheets out there written by people and posted, and as far as I am concerned, active forums are one of the best places to pick up accurate, up to date care for your animals).

Anywhoo... sorry for the essay and I will leave it at that for now.

Kind regards, and I look forward to speaking to you all about the wonderful corns!!

Jonathan

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Originally posted by Fal

Thanks all for such a warm welcome!!

The only welcome you will get from us is a warm one !!! I do hope you didnt mind me treating you like a 'Newbie' when, with all your research, you arent really one?


.........As for the lizards kellog, from what I have read (a fair lot), my leopard gecko is fairly similar in keeping than a corn snake. It doesn't need a huge enclosure/viv/tank, but there's nothing wrong with larger if you wish. They don't house well together unless opposite sex and you want to breed (at appropriate ages), they don't need a ubv or white light source, unless you want white light to simulate day/night etc... but need a warm/cool end so need a heat mat (which I use) or a heat bulb/ceramic heat emitter. Also they (once adult) only eat every other or 2-4 times a week and are very clean and tidy - all of which is great since i'm used to it and it seems similar to keeping a corn snake.
As for the bearded dragon :/ well... lol he's messy (poops and then decides to run through it and drag it everywhere - and poops at least once a day). He eats... a lot! Live food and veg (more veg than live when adult) and requires heat (hot and cool end, as well as a 100+F basking point) and UVB and bright white lite! Also a fair bit of space as he is very active. However, he is such a character and as well as our Leopard Gecko, we love him to bits!

Thank you so much for filling me in on your geckos and beardie (my sister had a beardie appear in her garden so has adopted it - she does live in South Africa, so it wasnt as shocking as it sounds!!) I am surprised at how similar the gecko care is to the corn snake, especially their set up. All I can say about the beardie is - pooing and running through it...yuck! My sister has had to get used to the live food part (she is squemish), but is doing great with the veg and herbs, has even started growing her own.


All of which really enforces my wanting of a corn snake. I know I can look after one from what I have read, I know I can put in the time and effort (I already do with the lizards and its totally worth it) and... well.. they're so cool and amazing to handle!! Our local store (we kinda know one of the guys through frequenting the place) had let my fiance and I handle both corn and hog nose snakes and I just can't wait to have my own! I just want to wait until I have the money (house is sucking it up at the moment) to have it all set up correctly - as much as I want to, I don't like rushing such matters as these.

It definitely sounds as though you are totally committed and informed on your beardie and gecko care and obviously have the time for them....and it also definitely seems that you have already committed time to the research of corns and can commit the time and effort to their care....which is so good to hear. You are lucky to have such a good local store that you already have a relationship with, many of us struggle to find a shop we can trust .


SO... thank you all again for the warm welcome and i do really appreciate the fact that I will have somewhere to come to ask before and once I have a corn, and to bleat all the stuff you've heard a million times when I see it happen for the first time with my own corn hehe...

Come, ask before you get your corn and after you have got it and bleat as much as you want about how wonderful it is , especially if it is accompanied by as many pics as possible!!!!


Oh, btw, I think (although there are SO many morphs out there), that i'd just love a normal carolina corn...... although there are some other morphs (not sure on names as there's so many) that I have seen and liked......

Not sure I should guide you to this site (or you may have found it already) because is can be a very dangerous site...once you go on it you come away with a HUGE list of the different morphs you want - . Personally I think it is best to go into a shop you trust and buy the snake you like the look of best rather than settle on any particular morph....and I agree with you, the carolinas are absolutely stunning (and I am not a fan of red-eyes!).


....... varying oppinions on hatchlings (i'd like a young snake ideally, I feel you get the whole experience and they get to know you better, as we did with our lizards), as to how you should house a young snake!? I've heard people recommending a small faunarium or rub to start with for quite some time (I have a faunarium), although i've heard contradicting things from keepers saying thats not necessary and they can go straight into a larger viv as they wouldn't be in a small enclosure in the wild??

You will find different opinions on this between forum members with the same justification for a larger viv as you have given - the unenclosed space of their wild habitat. Personally (and this is only my opinion) I believe that in the wild corns generally stay hidden and only come out into the open to hunt when necessary. Yes, you could have a large viv with lots of covering and hides etc, but I feel happier believing that a snake is less stressed being in a smaller viv with cover, rather than in a big viv. When you have the ability to start small and enlarge with the snake, and avoid any chance of stress, then I would take it....but I would stress that it is only my personal opinion.


Any thoughts/oppinions/experience on this would be grateful? Thanks!!! :) Also, any recommended ages to buy? 1week, 1month, 2, 3, 6... etc? Thanks all!!! :)

Unfortunately I cant help you here (*Jon breathes a sigh of relief*) I started with an adult and have gone on to a slightly younger adult. To be honest I am glad I started that way, because it has allowed me to gain experience and confidence before I finally get a younger snake. You, obviously, have experience in rep keeping already and so probably have the confidence to deal with a hatchling. I shall leave those 'in the know' to help guide you with this one!!

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Originally posted by Fal

Dunno if this is the right place to post any pics.....
If you checkout the 'off corn' topics, there is an 'other reptiles' photo topic. Put up as many as you want....they are amazing to see!!

Draco as a baby:

He is so small and so perfectly made! A true mini dragon!!

Mojo as a baby:

His marking are lovely at that age, looks like he has a collar on!!

Draco a bit older and on the sofa (they grow fast! Almost adult within 12months!):

I am in shock....from the 1st pic to that within a year???? He is a real stunner!

Mojo a bit older having a good look at camera:

Such big eyes staring straight into the camera!

Our African Lined Mantis, Zen (adult):

Zen truly looks prehistoric.

Our Dead Leaf/Ghost Mantis, Shadow (adult):

Are you sure you are not just balancing a leaf??!! Can you believe what amazing creatures are created?? Shadow just looks bizarre as a mantis, but amazing as a leaf!

Finally, our Spiny Flower Mantis, Spiny (adult):

Spiny is beautiful, the markings on his back are perfect.

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