| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
dcap
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
2 Posts |
 Posted - 01/09/2011 : 07:50:51
|
Hello, I've just joined this cool looking forum. I've read the care sheet on this webiste, and the FAQ before dipping into the forum. I bought a book on Monday (Corn & Rat Snakes, Philip Puser) - and i read it already. But I have a few questions left over. I had a browse through this forum at the weekend and on Monday, especially enjoyed the photos. We've decided we want a corn snake (or maybe two). And this weekend we'll be visiting the three shops near us that sell all the gear to make a final list of everything, and then probably buy the gear and set it up ready to get a snake the next weekend.
Here goes:
- is starting with two snakes (kept seperate) a silly idea?
- how bad does the snake poo smell (assuming you get it out same/next day, as soon as you see it), do they poo on the surface of the substrate or do they sometimes bury it or poo 'underground'. I'm assuming they don't poo in their hidey places.
- I'm really confused about the colors, I don't want to pay a premium for a lavendar or a ghost, what is the term for just a normal snake.
- what age/length corn snake is the best age to get (for your first corn snake), we handled a 7 year old on Monday, lovely but I want to watch it grow rather than go straight to a big one.
- I'd really like a vivarium, but I should start with a younger/small snake (something that has been used to handled), the vivariums that I saw in 4 pet shops over the weekend were all quite big (big enough for an adult, or even too big), can you get 'small vivs'? Or do I have to have the little plastic versions (okay, so cheaper set-up, but not pretty for me, snake should come first right).
- I've seen the plastic starter boxes, they don't look at pretty ... but is the snake happy in one of those, any links to size and how long the plastic boxes are good for (like from 1 year to 2 years).
- I've seen conflcting info on the size of the viv once its big enough to live in a viv, 'should be longer than the snake' or the 'viv length+width should equal snake length' (gotta be too small)
- can someone explain the 0.0.0 in everyone's footer?
thank you! |
|
|
Mamma
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
4494 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2011 : 08:03:49
|
- is starting with two snakes (kept seperate) a silly idea? no its not a silly idea. There are plenty of potential problems for not seperating them.
- how bad does the snake poo smell (assuming you get it out same/next day, as soon as you see it), do they poo on the surface of the substrate or do they sometimes bury it or poo 'underground'. I'm assuming they don't poo in their hidey places. sometimes they will poo in their hides. It doesnt smell bad when they are smaller. When they are big it can smell. Its the urates that smell the worst in my opinion.
- I'm really confused about the colors, I don't want to pay a premium for a lavendar or a ghost, what is the term for just a normal snake. Anormal snake is called a carolina.
- what age/length corn snake is the best age to get (for your first corn snake), we handled a 7 year old on Monday, lovely but I want to watch it grow rather than go straight to a big one. Thats entirely up to you really. whatever you feel confident with. Hatchlings can be flighty but with regualr habdling etc they calm down
- I'd really like a vivarium, but I should start with a younger/small snake (something that has been used to handled), the vivariums that I saw in 4 pet shops over the weekend were all quite big (big enough for an adult, or even too big), can you get 'small vivs'? Or do I have to have the little plastic versions (okay, so cheaper set-up, but not pretty for me, snake should come first right). smaller snakes are best kept in smaller enclosures, if the enclosure is too big, the snake will be too nervous and this may cause problems with feeds etc. You can get faunariums, or plastic storage boxes (with holes drilled/soldered in for air) until the snake is fully grown enough for a proper viv
- I've seen the plastic starter boxes, they don't look at pretty ... but is the snake happy in one of those, any links to size and how long the plastic boxes are good for (like from 1 year to 2 years). The general rule of thumb is that the length and width of the enclosure should be no bigger than the full length of the snake. Again not set in stone... just a general rule.
- I've seen conflcting info on the size of the viv once its big enough to live in a viv, 'should be longer than the snake' or the 'viv length+width should equal snake length' (gotta be too small) An Adult corn is fine in a 3 or 4 foot viv.
- can someone explain the 0.0.0 in everyone's footer? it stands for the number of males, females and unsexed snakes. EG 1.0.0 = 1 male....0.1.0 = 1 female.... 0.0.1 = 1 unsexed.
Ps. Welcome to the forum  |
Please feel free to add my photography page on facebook .... or check me out on deviantart :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MaliskaRodgersPhotography/
http://maliskarodgers.deviantart.com/ |
Edited by - Mamma on 01/09/2011 08:05:26 |
 |
|
|
polarchick
Egg
United Kingdom
73 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2011 : 11:21:15
|
Hi dcap!
I am a complete newbie too and won't be getting my snake until late September, so others will be able to answer your questions better than I can.
I just wanted to mention that if you want a small viv that looks nice have a look at a terranium. Pets at Home sell them for some extortionate rate, but I got mine online from Blue Lizard Reptiles for £29.99, http://www.bluelizardreptiles.co.uk/housing/vivariums/9632100002224 - looks like the price has gone up slightly. They're the same size as the Large Flat Faunarium that most startup packs seem to contain, but look a bit smarter, and I like the fact that the heat mat slides underneath. I think that they should last about a year or maybe a bit longer before a hatchling corn grows out of them.
Hope this helps,
Sue |
1.0.0 CB11 Carolina corn snake - Hygge |
|
|
|
scottishbluebird
it is all my fault
United Kingdom
8403 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2011 : 11:58:55
|
| Hi and welcome, and just what MAMMA said!! I took the question about two snakes differently, i thought you wanted two snakes and wondered if two at first was a bad idea, i'd say after having one snake, that you should be fine with two, obviously kept seperately, but if you do start with two, i dont think it will be long till you want another two!! |
     
0.1.0 Corn - Kellogs
1.0.0 Hognose - Storm
0.1.0 Staffy - Lyla
1.0.0 Spaffy(staffy x springer)-Spyro
1.0.0 Ferret - Peanut R.I.P
0.1.0 Crestie - Fudge. Wish List - Pygmy hedgehog. Tropiocolotes |
|
|
|
Seraea
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
35 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2011 : 15:23:07
|
Welcome to the forum!! Good luck with choosing your babies (I call them that, because that's what they'll be trust me :P)
Just be sure to post plenty of pics when you get them! :D x |
1.1.1 Corn Snakes (Nero, Gaia, Jeremy) 0.0.2 Bearded Dragons (Jack and Mojo) |
|
|
|
gingerpony
Queen Bee
United Kingdom
10455 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2011 : 20:45:58
|
heya and welcome  |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos
Location:Leeds/York/Selby area |
|
|
|
tordyjo
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
2036 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2011 : 20:48:18
|
| hi there and welcome, can really only echo what mamma said |
 Lilly Crystal Harry
1.2.0 corns, 1.1.0 cats tropical guppies who continually breed
|
|
|
|
dcap
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
2 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2011 : 22:03:40
|
quote:
Originally posted by Mamma
Ps. Welcome to the forum
great, thank you for the answers
... and the welcome from everyone
I popped back to the shop after work today and had a good look at the set-up, gonna pick up a starter viv tomorrow evening and bring it home to set it up.
Actually looked at the rat snakes and really like the colors. I was most interested in the grey and brown colored corn snakes but figured I'd go easy and start with a 'normal'. I think I'm switching to a grey rat snake instead now, very similar just not a breeding thing for the wild corn colors!
Sooooo excited
PS - girlfriend wants a python already  |
Edited by - dcap on 01/09/2011 22:07:07 |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
setting up for my first corn this weekend
