A Few Question About My Snakes

[hutt132]

I have several question and I'm not sure what section to post this in but since I have questions about food I'll post it here.

I have a very small Scarlet King Snake (for about a month) and a Corn Snake (for about a week) that I found outside my house. I keep them in the same reptile tank that is fairly large with some nice mulch and paper towel tubes with a water bowl. The King Snake likes to bury itself in the bottom of the mulch and the Corn Snakes likes to hang out in the paper towel tube. I have a lamp with a 60W light bulb that I keep shining down on one side on the tank.

Is it very bad to keep them in the same tank? Will the Corn Snake try to eat the King Snake? What should I feed both of them, specifically the King Snake since it's so little? I've just been throwing worms in there, but they don't seem to be eating them.

How much do little Scarlet King Snakes sell for anyway and are they legal to have in Florida?

[Kera]

Kingsnakes are carnivorous. if you are gonna keep them, get separate tanks. If you can't, let them go. But they're both very pretty

[Mikoh4792]

No the king will eat the cornsnake no doubt about it. Kingsnakes are ophiophagus, meaning they eat other snakes.(Your kingsnake is smaller right now, but I can see it trying once it grows)

[Mikoh4792]

Feed the mice.

[alessia55]

Both are legal in Florida. They are both pretty affordable snakes. I would recommend you release these back into the wild, and get a captive-bred snake if you're interested in keeping a pet. Where in FL are you? If you're interested in getting a captive-bred snake, here are the upcoming FL reptile expos:

Nov. 9-10
Jacksonville, FL
Repticon Jacksonville, UNF University Center, 12000 Alumni Drive, Info: 863-268-4273;info@repticon.com;Repticon Home Page (http://www.repticon.com)

Nov. 23-24
Ft Lauderdale, FL
Repticon Ft Lauderdale, War Memorial Auditorium, 800 NE 8th Street, Info: 863-268-4273;info@repticon.com;Repticon Home Page (http://www.repticon.com)

Dec. 7-8
Orlando, FL
Repticon Orlando, Central Florida Fairgrounds, 4603 W. Colonial Dr. , Info: 863-268-4273;info@repticon.com;Repticon Home Page (http://www.repticon.com)

[EL Ziggy]

Im no expert but I can tell you that they definitely shouldn't be housed together. Its just a matter of time before something bad happens there. I also think you should probably release them near wherever you found them. Wild caught snakes don't always adjust well to captivity and they could also have parasites. If you do decide to keep them you can try feeding them frozen thawed pinky or fuzzy mice. Im not sure about the laws of your state regarding the keeping of native reptiles, you shoukd do a little research on that. Best wishes.

[hutt132]

How would I go about feeding the little King snake mice? Do they sell frozen mice that small for it?

[Terranaut]

Yup. Baby snakes eat baby mice. They are called pinkies.

[hutt132]

Yup. Baby snakes eat baby mice. They are called pinkies.
I'll go to my local PetSmart and hope they have some. :blink:

Also, what do those numbers next to pets in people's signatures mean?

[drumcrush]

I'll go to my local PetSmart and hope they have some. :blink:

Also, what do those numbers next to pets in people's signatures mean?

Male. Female. Unsexed

[formica]

release them and buy captive bred, you will find them much easier to work with :) and really there is little point trying to sell a baby WC King or Corn, they are very cheap when captive bred, and are far less likely to refuse food, among other things

and as said already, King Snakes eat snakes! the corn is in mortal peril.

[hutt132]

I got some small pinkies. They look pretty big compared to my king snake, the snake looks like a worm. Should I cut them up, and if so, how should I cut them?

[EL Ziggy]

No need to cut them up hutt. Snakes can eat prey 1.5 to 2x their girth. Just completely unthaw the pinky in hot tap water and either offer it to the snake on tongs or just drop it in the tank and leave it. If the snake is hungry enough it'll eat. Good luck.

[Terranaut]

Should be ok. Is the pinky more than 1.5-2 times the thicknes of the snake ? If not...feed away ;) snakes are amazing. You should see what some pythons can put back. As long as it can swallow the skull the rest is fine. Snakes almost never attempt over large prey anyway.

[hutt132]

Should be ok. Is the pinky more than 1.5-2 times the thicknes of the snake ? If not...feed away ;) snakes are amazing. You should see what some pythons can put back. As long as it can swallow the skull the rest is fine. Snakes almost never attempt over large prey anyway.
I think it may be more than 2x its girth. I'll check on Saturday when I'm home to see it.

[Kingsnakechris]

Be sure to let us know when your kingsnake eats the cornsnake. Or let them go or sepperate them!

[hutt132]

Be sure to let us know when your kingsnake eats the cornsnake. Or let them go or sepperate them!
I got another terrarium today for the king snake. Also, the king snake is way too small now to eat the corn snake.

[reptocarl]

I think you should release them and get a captive bred. Snakes are too valuable to the environment to remove from the wild. If you do keep them they need to be housed seperately and fed frozen/thawed pinkie mice. Dont feed them live because rodents know what a snake is and what the snake is going to do and they may try to defend themselves. I wouldnt risk my pets getting bit.

[hutt132]

Here's a picture with a quarter, king snake, and smallest pinkies they had at the store. You guys still sure it can eat it without me having to cut it up or something?

The corn snake ate it without a problem, though. :)

[drumcrush]

Yeah, that is too big. Try cutting it up then

[mistersprinkles]

release them and buy captive bred,
King Snakes eat snakes! the corn is in mortal peril.

Agreed. These snakes are wild animals and deserve to be in the wild. Imagine being born outdoors and only knowing the outdoors all your life, and suddenly being locked in an apartment. You'd go nuts because it was alien to you.

Buy a snake that was born in a captive environment. It'll eat better, wont be likely to harbor internal parasites, will have better temperment, and you can feel better about the whole situation.

As far as the kingsnake eating the cornsnake, that's a very real possibility. You'd be surprised at the size of prey that some snakes TRY to take down. Even if it was unsuccessful at swallowing the corn, the King could TRY, and kill the corn in the process. And then we get into the morality of having caused the snake's death and things get worse.

[drumcrush]

Agreed. These snakes are wild animals and deserve to be in the wild. Imagine being born outdoors and only knowing the outdoors all your life, and suddenly being locked in an apartment. You'd go nuts because it was alien to you

I do agree with you, as well as everyone else about releasing them however, they're babies. They havent been out their "all their lives," so its not as bad keeping them as it would be for a sub adult or an adult even. This is just my opinion, no bashing would be nice.

[hutt132]

The kingsnake is very little (about the size of a worm), so I think it will be fine keeping it since it hatched recently.
The snakes have been separated in different terrariums for a couple days now. I fed the corn snake a whole pinkie and it gobbled it down without a problem. I tried feeding the kingsnake the head of a pinkie today and it was still too big. It gave up trying to eat it after an hour. I'll have to cut off another piece of the pinkie tomorrow for it to try again.

As for internal parasites, why is this a bad thing? How common are they in young, wild snakes? If it bit me, would I get badly ill?

[formica]

The kingsnake is very little (about the size of a worm), so I think it will be fine keeping it since it hatched recently.
The snakes have been separated in different terrariums for a couple days now. I fed the corn snake a whole pinkie and it gobbled it down without a problem. I tried feeding the kingsnake the head of a pinkie today and it was still too big. It gave up trying to eat it after an hour. I'll have to cut off another piece of the pinkie tomorrow for it to try again.

As for internal parasites, why is this a bad thing? How common are they in young, wild snakes? If it bit me, would I get badly ill?

it is exactly because it is recently hatched, that it is not good for you to keep it, it requires experience to look after hatchlings, which you do not have....every day that it does not eat, is a day closer to its death.

[KORBIN5895]

Congratulations on following some of the more pertinent advice given. While it may be more natural to release these two I wouldn't try and say that it is better for them. I believe you can do a fine job raising these things.

Make sure you do a lot of research on the proper husbandry requirements for both snakes and that your enclosures are completely escape proof as snakes are amazing escape artists and can go out extremely tiny holes.

One snake has eaten and the other has tried so I say your battle is already won. Next time you feed the king try cutting the pinky in half from nose to tail. That will cut the diameter in half and it should take it just fine.

I can tell you are really new to this but if you are willing to learn I think you will truly enjoy them. Make sure you ask any question you can think of and pm me any time.

[KORBIN5895]

Three things that seriously need addressed because they are completely out of context or just plain fear mongering.

First the death of a snake isn't a morality issue.

Secondly baby pinkies will not bite your snake so they are a completely safe live food source ( I still don't recommend live feeding).

Finally regardless of if this baby eats or not everyday is a day closer to death.

[mistersprinkles]

Finally regardless of if this baby eats or not everyday is a day closer to death.

Okay :wacky:

[mistersprinkles]

Why is every day a day closer to death? Isn't that a terribly pessimistic way of looking at an animal's life? How is every day a day closer to death if the snake is eating and properly cared for? ( Technically, yes, every day is a day closer to death for any organism) but in the greater sense of things, I mean, isn't that terribly pessimistic?

[StudentoReptile]

I know a friend who works with scarlet kings. They are VERY difficult to convert to mice, and generally prefer their natural diet of lizards. Have fun catching anoles, skinks and geckos.

As others suggested, I recommend releasing them back into the wild. Judging by the questions you have asked, I assume you are a novice. The scarlet kingsnake is not a beginner species and a WC cornsnake can problematic as well. A captivebred cornsnake from a breeder or a petstore would a much easier and satisfying experience for you.

[drumcrush]

I know a friend who works with scarlet kings. They are VERY difficult to convert to mice, and generally prefer their natural diet of lizards. Have fun catching anoles, skinks and geckos.

As others suggested, I recommend releasing them back into the wild. Judging by the questions you have asked, I assume you are a novice. The scarlet kingsnake is not a beginner species and a WC cornsnake can problematic as well. A captivebred cornsnake from a breeder or a petstore would a much easier and satisfying experience for you.

You can buy feeder lizards, I even have a link Feeder Lizards for Sale (http://www.backwaterreptiles.com/feeder-lizards-for-sale.html) as of yes, a scarlet kingsnake is more challenging snake but I think he can do it. As far as the cornsnake, he can definitely do it. As long as humidity and temps are correct.


OP if you can, try purchasing some feeder anoles and lizards, if you want it to eat pinkies, maybe you can try scenting them. You can also try feeding nightcrawlers, dusted with a calcium powder(available at petsmart, Petco, etc)

[KORBIN5895]

Avoid backwater reptiles.

[drumcrush]

Avoid backwater reptiles.

Why's that?

[KORBIN5895]

Check the boi.

[Concept9]

Good morning and welcome. :)

First, I agree with Alessia. These are wild caught and maybe be illegal in your area to have wild caught snakes I'm not sure. Second, since these animals came from the wild they may have parasites or other issues. As Alessia stated, set them free, you can get cornsnakes and kingsnake pretty cheap.

Also, and I don't mean to sound rude, but based on the questions you are asking (good start) you have very little experience with snakes if any.

I would first do ALOT or reading on the forums and read the care sheets on the snakes you are interested in keeping.

[StudentoReptile]

You can buy feeder lizards, I even have a link Feeder Lizards for Sale (http://www.backwaterreptiles.com/feeder-lizards-for-sale.html) as of yes, a scarlet kingsnake is more challenging snake but I think he can do it. As far as the cornsnake, he can definitely do it. As long as humidity and temps are correct.


OP if you can, try purchasing some feeder anoles and lizards, if you want it to eat pinkies, maybe you can try scenting them. You can also try feeding nightcrawlers, dusted with a calcium powder(available at petsmart, Petco, etc)

Correction....YOU or I could do it, mainly because we've being working with snakes and we're experienced at the game and have the patience to deal with finicky eaters. The OP is a beginner. Neither of these are good choices for him, especially the scarlet. He will fighting an uphill battle, and the scarlet will be draining his pocket book faster for little reward. He just wants to keep them because they are "free snakes" he caught in his backyard and he doesn't want to actually pay for a quality animal that [godforbid!] may actually be a better pet for him.

I'm not trying to be rude, but I'm not sugarcoating it either. Hutt132, please do yourself and these snakes a favor and LET THEM GO. Go to a pet store, the next reptile expo, talk a breeder, whatever...find a captive-bred snake that will be an easier fit for you. There are plenty of tri-color milksnakes and kingsnakes to choose from in the captive-bred market, and they are much easier to feed and handle than scarlet kings. Same with corns; plenty of color & pattern mutations. And most of these are affordable, less than $50. Trust me, I know. I worked in petstores for over 10 yrs, helping people JUST LIKE YOU. I've been part of two different herp societies helping people JUST LIKE YOU.

One of my members who keeps and breeds scarlets catches his own feeder lizards. Know why? Buying them is TOO EXSPENSIVE! Why doesn't he make money selling the offspring, you may ask? THERE'S NO MARKET FOR SCARLET KINGS. Know why? They're so difficult to feed few people want to work with them. Just food for thought.

[formica]

yes please for the sake of the snake, let it go free, before its too late...seen to many threads where people catch baby snakes and ignore the advice of letting them go, only for them to die :(

[sharthun]

yes please for the sake of the snake, let it go free, before its too late...seen to many threads where people catch baby snakes and ignore the advice of letting them go, only for them to die :(

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^!

[hutt132]

I let the Kingsnake go a few days ago. It looked very healthy still, for the people who are extremely concerned.

I'm keeping the corn snake though. It eats frozen pinkies very well every Saturday and I can hold it without it biting me.

[dbank999]

I think you made the right choice.

The corn will be much easier to work with if you are insistant on keeping it.

This forum is a great source of information, no matter how it may be delivered to you (politely or not-so-politely)..

Hopefully if you are serious about the hobby you will stay around and gather as much knowledge as you can!

[smoothie4l]

I also think you made the right decision~! :D
It's really nice that you are willing to listen to others advice rather than some people..
If the corn continues to eat and eventually sheds out nicely for you I don't see why you can't keep it~!
There is so much information out there about corn snakes be sure to read it.

[Terranaut]

Good choice. Like above I think you are using good judgement and accepting of information. Stick to that attitude and your snake is in good hands.

[KORBIN5895]

Well played man.